SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6555

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 8, 1994

Brief Description:  Coordinating local government approvals for major transportation projects.

SPONSORS: Senators Prentice, Nelson, Vognild, Sheldon, Oke and Winsley

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6555 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Vognild, Chairman; Loveland, Vice Chairman; Skratek, Vice Chairman; Drew, Haugen, Morton, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, M. Rasmussen, Schow, Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff:  Robin Rettew (786‑7306)

Hearing Dates: February 7, 1994; February 8, 1994

BACKGROUND:

There is not currently a mechanism in place for coordinating environmental permits between local jurisdictions.  A number of transportation projects cross jurisdictional boundaries and require permits from each local jurisdiction.

SUMMARY:

Each county planning under the Growth Management Act must establish an early review process of major transportation projects.  This review must include procedures to designate a single coordinator for all local permits and environmental planning requirements for major transportation projects.  The designated coordinator shall be a county.  The designated coordinator may issue a consolidated permit or a package of permits that contain all of the requirements of the local governments affected by the transportation project.

Eligible transportation projects are those that a county has designated as essential public facilities under the Growth Management Act.

Counties required to adopt major transportation review processes must adopt such processes by the deadline for adoption of development regulations under the Growth Management Act.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The definition of eligible transportation projects is changed from those requiring complex or multiple permits to those projects that cross more than one city or county boundary.

The deadline for adoption of a collaborative process to review and coordinate state and local permits for eligible transportation projects is changed from one year from the date of adoption of development regulations, pursuant to RCW 36.70A, to December 31, 1994.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

There is a need for earlier review of transportation projects and better coordination of required permits.  Establishing a designated coordinating agency to facilitate multi-jurisdictional review and approval of transportation projects will provide a more effective and efficient permit process.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Local agencies do not have adequate staffing levels to review a multitude of transportation projects.  The universe of eligible projects should be narrowed.

TESTIFIED:  Dave Williams, Association of WA Cities; Don Cairns, City of Redmond; David Stevens, DOT (pro); Curt Eschels, Association of Counties (pro)