BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to public-private initiatives in transportation; adding a new chapter to Title 36 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares:

It is essential for the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the state and the maintenance of a high quality of life that the people of the state have an efficient transportation system.

The ability of the state to provide an efficient transportation system will be enhanced by a public-private sector program providing for private entities to undertake all or a portion of the study, planning, design, development, financing, acquisition, installation, construction or improvement, operation, and maintenance of transportation systems and facility projects.

A public-private initiatives program will provide benefits to both the public and private sectors. Public-private initiatives provide a sound economic investment opportunity for the private sector. The initiatives will provide the counties in the state with increased access to property development and project opportunities, financial and development expertise, and will supplement county transportation revenues, allowing the counties to use their limited resources for other needed projects.

The public-private initiatives program should be implemented in cooperation and consultation with affected local jurisdictions.

The legislative authority of each county should be permitted and encouraged to test the feasibility of building privately funded transportation systems and facilities or segments thereof through the use of innovative agreements with the private sector. The legislative authority of each county should be vested with the authority to solicit, evaluate, negotiate, and administer public-private agreements with the private sector relating to the planning, construction, upgrading, or reconstruction of transportation systems and facilities.

The legislative authority of each county should be encouraged to take advantage of new opportunities provided by federal legislation under section 1012 of the intermodal surface transportation efficiency act of 1991 (ISTEA). That section establishes a new program authorizing federal participation in construction or improvement or improvement of publicly or privately owned toll roads, bridges, and tunnels, and allows states to leverage available federal funds as a means for attracting private sector capital.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "transportation systems and facilities" means capital-related improvements and additions to the counties' transportation infrastructure, including but not limited to highways, roads, bridges, vehicles, and equipment, marine-related facilities, vehicles, and equipment, park and ride lots, transit stations and equipment, transportation management systems, and other transportation-related investments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The county legislative authority shall solicit proposals from, and negotiate and enter into agreements with, private entities to undertake as appropriate, together with the department of transportation and other public entities, all or a portion of the study, planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of transportation systems and facilities, using in whole or in part private sources of financing.

The public-private initiatives program may develop up to six demonstration projects. Each proposal shall be weighed on its own merits, and each of the six agreements shall be negotiated individually, and as a stand-alone project. The transportation commission created in RCW 47.01.051 shall approve each of the selected projects.

Proposals and demonstration projects may be selected by the public and private sectors at their discretion. All projects designed, constructed, and operated under this authority must comply with all applicable rules and statutes in existence at the time the agreement is executed, including but not limited to the following provisions: RCW 39.12.030, Title 47 RCW, RCW 49.60.180, and 49 C.F.R. Part 21.

The county legislative authority shall consult with legal, financial, and other experts within and outside state and county government in the negotiation and development of the agreements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Agreements shall provide for private ownership of the projects during the construction period. After completion of each project or discrete segment thereof, the agreement shall provide for county ownership of the transportation systems and facilities and lease to the private entity unless the county elects to provide for ownership of the facility by the private entity during the term of the agreement.

The county shall lease each of the demonstration projects, or applicable project segments, to the private entities for operating purposes for up to fifty years.

The county may exercise any power possessed by it to facilitate the development, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of transportation projects under this chapter. Agreements for maintenance services entered into under this section shall provide for full reimbursement for services rendered by the county or other government agencies. Agreements for police services under the agreement may be entered into with any qualified law enforcement agency, and shall provide for full reimbursement for services rendered by that agency. The county may provide services for which it is reimbursed, including but not limited to preliminary planning, environmental certification, and preliminary design of the demonstration projects.

The plans and specifications for each project constructed under this section shall comply with the county's standards for county projects. A facility constructed by and leased to a private entity is deemed to be a part of the county highway system for purposes of identification, maintenance, and enforcement of traffic laws and for the purposes of applicable sections of Title 47 RCW. Upon reversion of the facility to the county, the project must meet all applicable county standards.

For the purpose of facilitating these projects and to assist the private entity in the financing, development, construction, and operation of the transportation systems and facilities, the agreements may include provisions for the county to exercise its authority, including the lease of facilities, rights of way, and airspace, exercise of the power of eminent domain, granting of development rights and opportunities, granting of necessary easements and rights of access, issuance of permits and other authorizations, protection from competition, remedies in the event of default of either of the parties, granting of contractual and real property rights, liability during construction and the term of the lease, authority to negotiate acquisition of rights of way in excess of appraised value, and any other provision deemed necessary by the county legislative authority.

The agreements entered into under this section may include provisions authorizing the county to grant necessary easements and lease to a private entity existing rights of way or rights of way subsequently acquired with public or private financing. The agreements may also include provisions to lease to the entity airspace above or below the right of way associated or to be associated with the private entity's transportation facility. In consideration for the reversion rights in these privately constructed facilities, the county may negotiate a charge for the lease of airspace rights during the term of the agreement for a period not to exceed fifty years. If, after the expiration of this period, the county continues to lease these airspace rights to the private entity, it shall do so only at fair market value. The agreement may also provide the private entity the right of first refusal to undertake projects utilizing airspace owned by the state in the vicinity of the public-private project.

Agreements under this section may include any contractual provision that is necessary to protect the project revenues required to repay the costs incurred to study, plan, design, finance, acquire, build, install, operate, enforce laws, and maintain toll highways, bridges, and tunnels and which will not unreasonably inhibit or prohibit the development of additional public transportation systems and facilities. Agreements under this section must secure and maintain liability insurance coverage in amounts appropriate to protect the project's viability and may address county indemnification of the private entity for design and construction liability where the county has approved relevant design and construction plans. Nothing in this chapter limits the right of the county legislative authority and its agents to render advice and to make recommendations as it deems to be in the best interests of the county and the public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The county may enter into agreements using federal, state, and local financing in connection with the projects, including without limitation, grants, loans, and other measures authorized by section 1012 of ISTEA, and to do such things as necessary and desirable to maximize the funding and financing, including the formation of a revolving loan fund to implement this section.

Agreements entered into under this section shall authorize the private entity to lease the facilities within a designated area or areas from the county and to impose user fees or tolls within the designated area to allow a reasonable rate of return on investment, as established through a negotiated agreement between the county and the private entity. The negotiated agreement shall determine a maximum rate of return on investment, based on project characteristics. If the negotiated rate of return on investment is not affected, the private entity may establish and modify toll rates and user fees.

Agreements may establish "incentive" rates of return beyond the negotiated maximum rate of return on investment. The incentive rates of return shall be designed to provide financial benefits to the affected public jurisdictions and the private entity, given the attainment of various safety, performance, or transportation demand management goals. The incentive rates of return shall be negotiated in the agreement.

Agreements shall require that over the term of the ownership or lease the user fees or toll revenues be applied to payment of the private entity's capital outlay costs for the project, including interest expense, the costs associated with operations, toll collection, maintenance and administration of the facility, reimbursement to the county for the costs of project review and oversight, technical and law enforcement services, establishment of a fund to assure the adequacy of maintenance expenditures, and a reasonable return on investment to the private entity. The use of any excess toll revenues or user fees may be negotiated between the parties.

After expiration of the lease of a facility to a private entity, the county legislative authority may continue to charge user fees or tolls for the use of the facility, with these revenues to be used for operations and maintenance of the facility, or to be paid to the local transportation planning agency, or any combination of such uses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 36 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.