Z-0662.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5423

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1993 Regular Session

By Senators Skratek and Prince; by request of Department of Transportation

Read first time 01/27/93.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Developing a public transportation policy plan.

    AN ACT Relating to development of a public transportation policy plan; and adding a new section to chapter 47.01 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:

    The state-interest component of the state-wide transportation plan must include a state public transportation plan that recognizes that while public transportation service is essentially a local responsibility in Washington, there is significant state interest in assuring that viable public transportation services are available throughout the state.  The public transportation plan shall:

    (1) Articulate the state vision of and interest in public transportation and provide quantifiable objectives, including benefits indicators;

    (2) Identify the goals for public transportation and the roles of federal, state, regional, and local entities in achieving those goals;

    (3) Recommend mechanisms for coordinating federal, state, regional, and local planning for public transportation;

    (4) Recommend mechanisms for coordinating public transportation with other transportation services;

    (5) Recommend criteria, consistent with the goals identified in subsection (2) of this section and with RCW 82.44.180 (2) and (3), for existing federal authorizations administered by the department to transit agencies; and

    (6) Recommend a state-wide public transportation facilities and equipment management system as required by federal law.

    In developing the state public transportation plan, the department shall involve local jurisdictions, public and private providers of public transportation services, and state agencies with an interest in public transportation, including but not limited to the departments of community development, social and health services, and ecology, the state energy office, the office of financial management, and the office of the governor.

    The department shall submit an initial report to the legislative transportation committee by December 1, 1993, and shall provide annual reports summarizing the plan's progress each year thereafter.

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