1645-S AMS TRAN S3096.1

1645-S AMS TRAN S3096.1

SHB 1645 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Transportation

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:

Cities and counties that have not included state-owned transportation facilities in their comprehensive plans by January 1, 1995, shall include, no later than December 31, 1997, a state-owned transportation subelement of the transportation element required under RCW 36.70A.070 consisting of:

(1) An inventory of state-owned transportation facilities within the city or county jurisdictional boundaries;

(2) Identification of level of service standards as prescribed in chapter 47.06 RCW for all highways of state-wide significance and chapter 47.80 RCW for all other state highways to serve as a gauge to judge performance of the system;

(3) Estimated traffic impacts on state-owned transportation facilities resulting from land use assumptions in order to assist the department of transportation in monitoring the performance of state facilities, to plan improvements for such facilities, and to assess the impact of land use decisions on state-owned facilities.

The sole purpose of the level of service standards for state highways shall be to monitor the performance of the system and to evaluate improvement strategies and to facilitate coordination between the county's or city's six-year street, road, or transit program required by RCW 35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public transportation systems and the department of transportation's six-year investment program required under chapter 47.05 RCW. The concurrency requirements under RCW 36.70A.070 do not apply to state-owned transportation facilities or transportation facilities and services of state-wide significance.

Level of service standards adopted before January 1, 1995, by the local government for those state-owned transportation facilities designated under section 4 of this act as having state-wide significance remain in effect unless amended by the local government. If the comprehensive plan is amended, the local government, in consultation with the department of transportation, shall set the level of service standards for transportation facilities of state-wide significance.

Sec. 2. RCW 47.05.021 and 1993 c 490 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The transportation commission is hereby directed to conduct periodic analyses of the entire state highway system, report thereon to the chairs of the transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees, biennially and based thereon, to subdivide, classify, and subclassify according to their function and importance all designated state highways and those added from time to time and periodically review and revise the classifications into the following three functional classes:

(a) The "principal arterial system" shall consist of a connected network of rural arterial routes with appropriate extensions into and through urban areas, including all routes designated as part of the interstate system, which serve corridor movements having travel characteristics indicative of substantial state-wide and interstate travel;

(b) The "minor arterial system" shall, in conjunction with the principal arterial system, form a rural network of arterial routes linking cities and other activity centers which generate long distance travel, and, with appropriate extensions into and through urban areas, form an integrated network providing interstate and interregional service; and

(c) The "collector system" shall consist of routes which primarily serve the more important intercounty, intracounty, and intraurban travel corridors, collect traffic from the system of local access roads and convey it to the arterial system, and on which, regardless of traffic volume, the predominant travel distances are shorter than on arterial routes.

(2) In making the functional classification the transportation commission shall adopt and give consideration to criteria consistent with this section and federal regulations relating to the functional classification of highways, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Urban population centers within and without the state stratified and ranked according to size;

(b) Important traffic generating economic activities, including but not limited to recreation, agriculture, government, business, and industry;

(d) Directness of travel and distance between points of economic importance;

(e) Length of trips;

(f) Character and volume of traffic;

(g) Preferential consideration for multiple service which shall include public transportation;

(h) Reasonable spacing depending upon population density; and

(i) System continuity.

(3) The transportation commission shall designate ((~~a system of~~)) state highways ((~~that have~~)) of state-wide significance under section 4 of this act, and shall submit a list of such facilities for adoption by the 1996 legislature. This state-wide system shall include at a minimum interstate highways and other state-wide principal arterials that are needed to connect major communities across the state and support the state's economy.

(4) The transportation commission shall designate a freight and goods transportation system. This state-wide system shall include state highways, county roads, and city streets. The commission, in cooperation with cities and counties, 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.

Sec. 3. RCW 47.05.030 and 1993 c 490 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The transportation commission shall adopt a comprehensive six-year investment program specifying program objectives and performance measures for the preservation and improvement programs defined in this section. In the specification of investment program objectives and performance measures, the transportation commission, in consultation with the Washington state department of transportation, shall define and adopt standards for effective programming and prioritization practices including a needs analysis process. The needs analysis process shall ensure the identification of problems and deficiencies, the evaluation of alternative solutions and trade-offs, and estimations of the costs and benefits of prospective projects. The investment program shall be revised biennially, effective on July 1st of odd-numbered years. The investment program shall be based upon the needs identified in the state-owned highway component of the state-wide multimodal transportation plan as defined in RCW 47.01.071(3).

(1) The preservation program shall consist of those investments necessary to preserve the existing state highway system and to restore existing safety features, giving consideration to lowest life cycle costing. The comprehensive six-year investment program for preservation shall identify projects for two years and an investment plan for the remaining four years.

(2) 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. The six-year investment program for improvements shall identify projects for two years and major deficiencies proposed to be addressed in the six-year period giving consideration to relative benefits and life cycle costing. The transportation commission shall give higher priority for correcting identified deficiencies on those facilities classified as facilities of state-wide significance as defined in section 4 of this act.

The transportation commission shall approve and present the comprehensive six-year investment program to the legislature in support of the biennial budget request under RCW 44.40.070 and 44.40.080.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 47.06 RCW to read as follows:

The legislature declares the following transportation facilities and services to be of state-wide significance: The interstate highway system, interregional state principal arterials including ferry connections that serve state-wide travel, intercity passenger rail services, intercity high-speed ground transportation, major passenger intermodal terminals excluding all airport facilities and services, the freight railroad system, the Columbia/Snake navigable river system, marine port facilities and services that are related solely to marine activities affecting international and interstate trade, and high-capacity transportation systems serving regions as defined in RCW 81.104.015. The department shall lead efforts, in cooperation with regional transportation planning organizations, counties, cities, transit agencies, public ports, and the private sector, to effectively plan for and include improvements to transportation facilities and services of state-wide significance into the state-wide multimodal plan. Facilities and services of state-wide significance are considered to be essential state public facilities under RCW 36.70A.200 if such facilities and services are identified in the state-wide multimodal plan developed under RCW 47.01.071(3).

Local governments, in consultation with the department of transportation, shall set level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of state-wide significance. Although local governments shall consult with the department when setting level of service standards, local governments retain authority to make final decisions regarding level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of state-wide significance. In establishing level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of state-wide significance, local governments shall consider the necessary balance between providing for the free interjurisdictional movement of people and goods and the needs of local commuters using these facilities.

Sec. 5. RCW 47.80.023 and 1994 c 158 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Each regional transportation planning organization shall have the following duties:

(1) Prepare and periodically update a transportation strategy for the region. The strategy shall address alternative transportation modes and transportation demand management measures in regional corridors and shall recommend preferred transportation policies to implement adopted growth strategies. The strategy shall serve as a guide in preparation of the regional transportation plan.

(2) Prepare a regional transportation plan as set forth in RCW 47.80.030 that is consistent with county-wide planning policies if such have been adopted pursuant to chapter 36.70A RCW, with county, city, and town comprehensive plans, and state transportation plans.

(3) Certify by December 31, 1996, that the transportation elements of comprehensive plans adopted by counties, cities, and towns within the region reflect the guidelines and principles developed pursuant to RCW 47.80.026, are consistent with the adopted regional transportation plan, and, where appropriate, conform with the requirements of RCW 36.70A.070.

(4) Where appropriate, certify that county-wide planning policies adopted under RCW 36.70A.210 and the adopted regional transportation plan are consistent.

(5) Develop, in cooperation with the department of transportation, operators of public transportation services and local governments within the region, a six-year regional transportation improvement program which proposes regionally significant transportation projects and programs and transportation demand management measures. The regional transportation improvement program shall be based on the programs, projects, and transportation demand management measures of regional significance as identified by transit agencies, cities, and counties pursuant to RCW 35.58.2795, 35.77.010, and 36.81.121, respectively. The program shall include a priority list of projects and programs, project segments and programs, transportation demand management measures, and a specific financial plan that demonstrates how the transportation improvement program can be funded. The program shall be updated at least every two years for the ensuing six-year period.

(6) Designate a lead planning agency to coordinate preparation of the regional transportation plan and carry out the other responsibilities of the organization. The lead planning agency may be a regional organization, a component county, city, or town agency, or the appropriate Washington state department of transportation district office.

(7) Review level of service methodologies used by cities and counties planning under chapter 36.70A RCW to promote a consistent regional evaluation of transportation facilities and corridors.

(8) Work with cities, counties, transit agencies, the department of transportation, and others to develop alternative transportation performance measures in addition to the level of service standard.

Sec. 6. RCW 47.80.030 and 1994 c 158 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each regional transportation planning organization shall develop in cooperation with the department of transportation, providers of public transportation and high capacity transportation, ports, and local governments within the region, adopt, and periodically update a regional transportation plan that:

(a) Is based on a least cost planning methodology that identifies the most cost-effective facilities, services, and programs;

(b) Identifies existing or planned transportation facilities, services, and programs, including but not limited to major roadways including state highways and regional arterials, transit and nonmotorized services and facilities, multimodal and intermodal facilities, marine ports and airports, railroads, and noncapital programs including transportation demand management that should function as an integrated regional transportation system, giving emphasis to those facilities, services, and programs that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:

(i) ((~~Physically~~)) Crosses member county lines;

(ii) Is or will be used by a significant number of people who live or work outside the county in which the facility, service, or project is located;

(iii) Significant impacts are expected to be felt in more than one county;

(iv) Potentially adverse impacts of the facility, service, program, or project can be better avoided or mitigated through adherence to regional policies; ((~~and~~))

(v) Transportation needs addressed by a project have been identified by the regional transportation planning process and the remedy is deemed to have regional significance; and

(vi) Provides for system continuity;

(c) Establishes level of service standards ((~~at a minimum for all~~)) for state highways and state ferry routes, with the exception of transportation facilities of state-wide significance as defined in section 4 of this act. These regionally established level of service standards for state highways and state ferries shall be developed jointly with the department of transportation, to encourage consistency across jurisdictions. In establishing level of service standards for state highways and state ferries, consideration shall be given for the necessary balance between providing for the free interjurisdictional movement of people and goods and the needs of local commuters using state facilities;

(d) Includes a financial plan demonstrating how the regional transportation plan can be implemented, indicating resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the plan, and recommending any innovative financing techniques to finance needed facilities, services, and programs;

(e) Assesses regional development patterns, capital investment and other measures necessary to:

(i) Ensure the preservation of the existing regional transportation system, including requirements for operational improvements, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of existing and future major roadways, as well as operations, maintenance, modernization, and rehabilitation of existing and future transit, railroad systems and corridors, and nonmotorized facilities; and

(ii) Make the most efficient use of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the mobility of people and goods;

(f) Sets forth a proposed regional transportation approach, including capital investments, service improvements, programs, and transportation demand management measures to guide the development of the integrated, multimodal regional transportation system; and

(g) Where appropriate, sets forth the relationship of high capacity transportation providers and other public transit providers with regard to responsibility for, and the coordination between, services and facilities.

(2) The organization shall review the regional transportation plan biennially for currency and forward the adopted plan along with documentation of the biennial review to the state department of transportation.

(3) All transportation projects, programs, and transportation demand management measures within the region that have an impact upon regional facilities or services must be consistent with the plan and with the adopted regional growth and transportation strategies.

Sec. 7. RCW 36.87.130 and 1969 ex.s. c 185 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no county shall vacate a county road or part thereof which abuts on a body of salt or fresh water unless the purpose of the vacation is to enable any public authority to acquire the vacated property for port purposes, boat moorage or launching sites, or for park, viewpoint, recreational, educational or other public purposes, or unless the property is zoned for industrial uses.

(2) After an open public meeting conducted under chapter 42.30 RCW, which meeting has been preceded by notice via publication containing the date, place, time, and agenda of the meeting not less than three days and no more than ten days before the date of the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which vacation of a public right of way will be considered, a county may vacate a public right of way that: (a) Has been a right of way for at least ten consecutive years; (b) has not been opened for public use; (c) leads to a fresh water stream that is less than fifty feet wide measured between the mean high water marks on both sides of the stream bed, at the intersection of the center line of the right of way sought to be vacated and the stream bed; and (d) the center line of which right of way is within one thousand feet of any part of another public right of way that is open for public use, is owned by the state or a municipal subdivision thereof or by the federal government, and that abuts or goes across the stream."

SHB 1645 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Transportation

On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "planning;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 47.05.021, 47.05.030, 47.80.023, 47.80.030, and 36.87.130; adding a new section to chapter 36.70A RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 47.06 RCW."