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HOUSE BILL 2001
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Passed Legislature - 1993 Regular Session
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993
Regular Session
By
Read first time 02/19/93. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
Clarifying voter-approval procedures
for transit agencies.
AN ACT Relating to
transit agencies; and amending RCW 81.104.030 and 81.104.120.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 81.104.030 and 1992
c 101 s 20 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) In any county with
a population of from two hundred ten thousand to less than one million that is
not bordered by a county with a population of one million or more, and in each
county with a population of less than two hundred ten thousand, transit agencies
may elect to establish high capacity transportation service. Such agencies
shall form a regional policy committee with proportional representation based
upon population distribution within the designated service area and a
representative of the department of transportation, or such agencies may use
the designated metropolitan planning organization as the regional policy
committee.
Transit agencies
participating in joint regional policy committees shall seek voter approval
within their own service boundaries of a high capacity transportation system
plan and financing plan. For transit agencies in counties adjoining state
or international boundaries where the high capacity transportation system plan
and financing plan propose a bi-state or international high capacity
transportation system, such voter approval shall be required from only those
voters residing within the service area in the state of Washington.
(2) Transit agencies in
counties adjoining state or international boundaries are authorized to
participate in the regional high capacity transportation programs of an
adjoining state or Canadian province.
Sec. 2. RCW 81.104.120 and 1992
c 101 s 24 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Transit agencies
and regional transit authorities may operate or contract for commuter rail
service where it is deemed to be a reasonable alternative transit mode. A
reasonable alternative is one whose passenger costs per mile, including costs
of trackage, equipment, maintenance, operations, and administration are equal
to or less than comparable bus, entrained bus, trolley, or personal rapid
transit systems.
(2) A county may use
funds collected under RCW 81.100.030 or 81.100.060 to contract with one or more
transit agencies or regional transit authorities for planning, operation, and
maintenance of commuter rail projects which: (a) Are consistent with the
regional transportation plan; (b) have met the project planning and oversight
requirements of RCW 81.104.100 and 81.104.110; and (c) have been approved by
the voters within the service area of each transit agency or regional transit
authority participating in the project. For transit agencies in counties
adjoining state or international boundaries where the high capacity transportation
system plan and financing plan propose a bi-state or international high
capacity transportation system, such voter approval shall be required from only
those voters residing within the service area in the state of Washington.
The phrase "approved by the voters" includes specific funding
authorization for the commuter rail project.
(3) The
utilities and transportation commission shall maintain safety responsibility
for passenger rail service operating on freight rail lines. Agencies providing
passenger rail service on lines other than freight rail lines shall maintain
safety responsibility for that service.
