S-4767.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6730

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1996 Regular Session

By Senators Strannigan, Rasmussen, Heavey, Schow, Finkbeiner, West, Winsley, Long, Johnson and Roach

Read first time 01/29/96.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Authorizing HOV lane restrictions only during peak traffic periods.

    AN ACT Relating to high-occupancy vehicle lanes; and amending RCW 46.61.165.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 46.61.165 and 1991 sp.s. c 15 s 67 are each amended to read as follows:

    The state department of transportation and the local authorities are authorized to reserve all or any portion of any highway under their respective jurisdictions as high-occupancy vehicle lanes, including any designated lane or ramp, for the exclusive or preferential use of public transportation vehicles or private motor vehicles carrying no fewer than a specified number of passengers when such limitation will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources.  ((There is hereby appropriated from the transportation fund‑-state to the department of transportation, program C for the period ending June 30, 1993, an additional $15 million for the sole purpose of expediting completion of the HOV core lane system.))  Regulations authorizing such exclusive or preferential use of a highway facility ((may be declared to be)) are effective ((at all times or at specified times of day or on specified days)) only from 6:00 through 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 through 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.  ((The department shall evaluate the efficacy of the vehicle occupancy requirements and shall report to the legislative transportation committee by January 1, 1992.))

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