SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6701

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 6, 1996

Title:  An act relating to intercity transportation.

Brief Description:  Improving public transportation connections.

Sponsors:  Senators Fraser and Wood.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/5/96, 2/6/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6701 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Goings, Oke, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar, Thibaudeau and Wood.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

Background:  North/south travel between locations in Snohomish, King, Pierce and Thurston counties is growing.  Each of these counties is served by many providers of public conveyance.  Yet, in many instances, connecting between providers is difficult, in part because of jurisdictional boundaries and because of limited information regarding connections.

Local public transit jurisdictions have exclusive authority within their boundaries for providing public transit services.  Over the past several years, many of these agencies have taken steps to provide connections with adjoining jurisdictions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A grant process is established to enhance public conveyance among King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties along corridors of state interest.   These efforts may include contracts with public and private agencies for service, integrated fare collection approaches, and development of fare and schedule information among providers.  The Transportation Improvement Board is to develop, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, a grant process for moneys in the Intercity Passenger Account, which is established to help fund implementation of these activities. 

The exclusive right granted to metropolitan municipal corporations and public transportation benefit areas to offer services within their jurisdictions is preempted for services provided pursuant to grants from the Intercity Passenger Account.

Transit agencies in the King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties are directed to prepare and distribute by July 1, 1997, a brochure providing scheduling information to address methods of travel among the four counties by public conveyance.  Conveyances are to include transit, ferries, intercity busses and trains, and aeroporter services.

The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of General Administration and other appropriate jurisdictions, is to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a pilot project to provide shuttle services connecting Olympia with major state employment centers in the central Puget Sound region.

A null and void clause provides that if this act is not funded in the 1996 supplemental appropriations act, it is null and void.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The dedication of 0.4 percent of the motor vehicle excise tax to fund the Intercity Passenger Account is eliminated, as is the $2.5 million appropriation to the Transportation Improvement Board from the Intercity Passenger Account.  A null and void clause is added.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 31, 1996.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Improved linkages and coordination of transit services is important within the region and this bill aids that effort.  The bill works to eliminate barriers among jurisdictions in the region.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Fraser, prime sponsor; Dan Snow, WA State Transit Assn.; Mike Harber, Thurston Co. ITT; Jackie White, Community Transit; Ian McGowan, Pierce Transit; Lois Anderson, WSDOT; Cherie Tessier, People First of WA.