AN ACT Relating to high-speed ground
transportation; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.
The legislature recognizes that major intercity transportation corridors in
this state are becoming increasingly congested. In these corridors, population
is expected to grow by nearly forty percent over the next twenty years, while
employment will grow by nearly fifty percent. The estimated seventy-five
percent increase in intercity travel demand must be accommodated to ensure
state economic vitality and protect the state's quality of life.
The legislature finds that high-speed ground
transportation offers a safer, more efficient, and environmentally responsible
alternative to increasing highway capacity. High-speed ground transportation
can complement and enhance existing air transportation systems. High-speed
ground transportation can be compatible with growth management plans in
counties and cities served by such a system. Further, high-speed ground
transportation offers a reliable, all-weather service capable of significant
energy savings over other intercity modes.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.
The legislature finds that there is substantial public benefit to establishing
a high-speed ground transportation program in this state. The program shall
implement the recommendations of the high-speed ground transportation steering
committee report dated October 15, 1992. The program shall be administered by
the department of transportation in close cooperation with the utilities and
transportation commission and affected cities and counties.
The high-speed ground transportation program
shall have the following goals:
(1) Implement high-speed ground transportation
service offering top speeds over 150 m.p.h. between Everett and Portland,
Oregon by 2020. This would be accomplished by meeting the intermediate
objectives of a maximum travel time between downtown Portland and downtown
Seattle of two hours and thirty minutes by the year 2000 and maximum travel
time of two hours by the year 2010;
(2) Implement high-speed ground transportation
service offering top speeds over 150 m.p.h. between Everett and Vancouver, B.C.
by 2025;
(3) Implement high-speed ground transportation
service offering top speeds over 150 m.p.h. between Seattle and Spokane by
2030.
The department of transportation shall, subject
to legislative appropriation, implement such projects as necessary to achieve
these goals in accordance with the implementation plans identified in sections
3 and 4 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.
The legislature finds it important to develop public support and awareness of
the benefits of high-speed ground transportation by developing high-quality
intercity passenger rail service as a first step. This high-quality intercity
passenger rail service shall be developed through incremental upgrading of the
existing service. The department of transportation shall, subject to
legislative appropriation, develop a prioritized list of projects to improve
existing passenger rail service and begin new passenger rail service, to
include but not be limited to:
(1) Improvement of depots;
(2) Improved grade crossing protection or grade
crossing elimination;
(3) Enhanced train signals to improve rail
corridor capacity and increase train speeds;
(4) Revised track geometry or additional
trackage to improve ride quality and increase train speeds; and
(5) Contract for new or improved service in
accordance with federal requirements to improve service frequency.
Service enhancements and station improvements
must be based on the extent to which local comprehensive plans contribute to
the viability of intercity passenger rail service, including providing
efficient connections with other transportation modes such as transit,
intercity bus, and roadway networks. Before spending state moneys on these
projects, the department of transportation shall seek federal, local, and
private funding participation to the greatest extent possible. Funding
priorities for station improvements must also be based on the level of local
and private in-kind and cash contributions.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The
legislature recognizes the need to plan for the high-speed ground
transportation service and the high-quality intercity rail passenger service
set forth in sections 2 and 3 of this act. The department of transportation
shall, subject to legislative appropriation, develop a rail passenger plan
through the conduct of studies addressing, but not limited to, the following
areas:
(1) Refined ridership estimates;
(2) Preliminary location and environmental
analysis on new corridors;
(3) Detailed station location assessments in
concert with affected local jurisdictions;
(4) Coordination with the air transportation
commission on state-wide air transportation policy and its effects on
high-speed ground transportation service; and
(5) Coordination with the governments of Oregon
and British Columbia, when appropriate, on alignment, station location, and
environmental analysis.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.
This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.
