FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6078

                           FULL VETO

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Representing regional transit authority projects.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Heavey, Prince and Owen).

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committee on Transportation

Background:  A regional transit authority in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties and transit agencies in Clark, Kitsap, Spokane, Thurston and Yakima counties are authorized to impose voter-approved taxes to develop a high capacity transportation system.

There are numerous preconditions which must be met before these agencies can put a high capacity plan and funding plan on the ballot, including publication of a brochure for distribution to all registered voters describing the system and its relationship to regional issues, such as land use.  In addition, these agencies are also required to publish a voters' pamphlet as is done for general elections.  The brochure prepared by the Regional Transit Authority for the March 1995 election was viewed by many as promotional for the proposal.

The Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority assumed $2 billion in federal and state funds as part of its funding plan for voter approval.  At that time, only about $300 million in federal funds had been authorized for such a project.

Summary:  A regional transit authority or transit agencies submitting high capacity transportation funding plans for voter approval are no longer required to publish and distribute a brochure describing the proposal.

In developing financial plans for high capacity transportation projects, regional transit authorities and transit agencies are prohibited from assuming or implying the availability of state funds, unless those funds are specifically authorized.  The same prohibition applies in the case of federal funds, unless those funds are based on authorizations in the current six-year transportation authorization law and appropriations based on that authorization.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    49 0

House     66 27 (House amended)

Senate    41 3 (Senate concurred)