Z-1472.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2836
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By Representatives K. Schmidt, R. Fisher and Blanton
Read first time 01/22/96. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to authority for setting speed limits; and amending RCW 46.61.410.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.410 and 1987 c 397 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Subject to subsection (2) of this section the secretary may increase the maximum speed limit on any highway or portion thereof to not more than seventy miles per hour in accordance with the design speed thereof (taking into account all safety elements included therein), or whenever the secretary determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that such greater speed is reasonable and safe under the circumstances existing on such part of the highway.
(b) ((If
the federal government increases the national maximum speed limit to at least
sixty-five miles per hour on any part of the highway system, the secretary of
transportation shall forthwith increase to that same speed the maximum speed
limit on any such highway or portion thereof then posted at fifty-five miles
per hour to a maximum of sixty-five miles per hour, subject to subsection (2)
of this section, if such limit had been established for that highway or portion
thereof in order to comply with the former national maximum speed limit.
However, if an engineering and traffic investigation conducted by the
department clearly indicates that a speed limit above fifty-five miles an hour
would be unsafe for that highway or a portion thereof, the secretary of
transportation shall not increase the speed limit for that highway or portion
thereof above the safe speed indicated by the investigation. The speed limit
on interstate route number 5 between Everett and Olympia may not be increased
above fifty-five miles per hour under this subsection (b).
(c))) The
greater maximum limit established under (a) ((or (b))) of this subsection
shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected, or
if a maximum limit is established for auto stages which is lower than the limit
for automobiles, the auto stage speed limit shall become effective thirty days
after written notice thereof is mailed in the manner provided in subsection (4)
of this section.
(((d)))
(c) Such maximum speed limit may be declared to be effective at all
times or at such times as are indicated upon said signs or in the case of auto
stages, as indicated in said written notice; and differing limits may be
established for different times of day, different types of vehicles, varying
weather conditions, and other factors bearing on safe speeds, which shall be
effective when posted upon appropriate fixed or variable signs or if a maximum
limit is established for auto stages which is lower than the limit for
automobiles, the auto stage speed limit shall become effective thirty days
after written notice thereof is mailed in the manner provided in subsection (4)
of this section.
(2) The maximum speed limit for vehicles over ten thousand pounds gross weight and vehicles in combination except auto stages shall not exceed sixty miles per hour and may be established at a lower limit by the secretary as provided in RCW 46.61.405.
(3) The word "trucks" used by the department on signs giving notice of maximum speed limits means vehicles over ten thousand pounds gross weight and all vehicles in combination except auto stages.
(4) Whenever the secretary establishes maximum speed limits for auto stages lower than the maximum limits for automobiles, the secretary shall cause to be mailed notice thereof to each auto transportation company holding a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Washington utilities and transportation commission. The notice shall be mailed to the chief place of business within the state of Washington of each auto transportation company or if none then its chief place of business without the state of Washington.
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