SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5963

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 30, 1993

Brief Description:  Providing for priority programming of multimodal solutions to address state highway deficiencies.

SPONSORS: Senators Vognild, Loveland, Newhouse and Nelson; by request of Department of Transportation

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5963 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Barr, Drew, Haugen, Nelson, Oke, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, and Winsley.

Staff:  Gene Schlatter (786‑7316)

Hearing Dates: March 29, 1993; March 30, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Anticipated transportation revenues will fall substantially short of the amount required to satisfy all transportation needs.  Thus, in order to make the key tradeoffs and choices required for resource allocation decisions, RCW 47.05 prescribes that the Transportation Commission use a priority programming system to rank the selection of projects.

Under the current priority programming scheme, there are four construction program categories:  system preservation and safety (Program A), interstate system (Program B), non-interstate capacity improvements (Program C), and bridge replacement and rehabilitation (Program H). 

An overhaul of WSDOT's current approach to programming and prioritization under RCW 47.05 is deemed necessary to incorporate and respond to recent changes in approach being implemented at the state and federal levels.  For instance, there is no clear and explicit linkage between many of the policy objectives in the State Transportation Policy Plan (e.g. personal mobility, economic development, growth management, environmental protection, etc.) and the existing programming and prioritization process.

In order to promote flexibility in the selection of solutions to identified deficiencies, regardless of mode or jurisdiction, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) has changed the federal funding program structure.

Also, requirements and policy objectives reflected in recent state and federal legislation concerning growth management, demand management, and air quality require fresh approaches for addressing transportation needs.

And more generally, as highway programs become more complex and diverse, there has been a shift promoting management of existing capacity and multimodal solutions.

SUMMARY:

The intent section of RCW 47.05 is revised to promote solutions to deficiencies both on and off the state highway system, including non-traditional, multimodal solutions.  The objectives of the priority programming system are:  transportation of people and goods, preservation of the existing state highway system, support of the state's economy, and promotion of environmental protection and energy conservation.

Priority programming selection criteria reflect a regional emphasis as required by GMA and ISTEA.

The priority programming system shall incorporate a broad range of solutions as identified in the statewide multimodal transportation plan including:  highway expansion, efficiency improvements, nonmotorized transportation facilities, high occupancy vehicle facilities, transit facilities and services, rail facilities and services, and transportation demand management programs.

In order to target intrastate investments under ISTEA, programs are reduced to two categories, i.e., preservation and improvement. 

The preservation program shall consist of investments needed to preserve the existing state highway system and to restore existing safety features.  A comprehensive six-year investment program for preservation shall identify projects for two years and an investment plan for the remaining four years. 

The improvement program shall consist of investments needed to address identified deficiencies on the state highway system to improve mobility, safety, support for the economy, and protection of the environment.  A comprehensive six-year investment program for improvements shall identify projects for two years and major deficiencies proposed to be addressed during the six-year period.

Analysis of investment trade-offs is established between the preservation and improvement programs.  These choices are linked to policy and service objectives.  Performance measures and monitoring systems shall be implemented for specific program objectives in order to determine the extent to which the program objectives were met.

Protection of the state's investment is perpetuated by using lowest life cycle costing, which is an important factor for determining investment priorities.

Duplicative language created by previous revisions is eliminated.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Transportation Commission shall designate a freight and goods system.  This statewide system shall include state highways, county roads, and city streets.  The commission shall review and make recommendations to the Legislature regarding policies governing weight restrictions and road closures which affect the transportation of freight and goods.  The first report is due by December 15, 1993 and biennially thereafter.

Priority programming for the improvement program shall take into account support for the state's economy, including job creation and preservation.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

A revision of the current WSDOT priority programming statute is necessary in order to ensure consistency with the federal program structure designated in ISTEA.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Skip Burch, Washington State Department of Transportation (pro); Joseph Elfelt, President, Friends of the Law (pro)