6061-S AMS JACO S3202

6061-S AMS JACO S3202.1

SSB 6061 - S AMD - 413

By Senator Jacobsen

On page 48, after line 21, insert the following:

"PART VII

NEW REVENUE BUDGET

NEW SECTION. Sec. 701. (1) The legislature finds and declares that it is essential for the economic, social, environmental, and economic well-being of the state and the maintenance of a high quality of life that the people of the state have an efficient and effective multimodal transportation system. Increased investment in state and local transportation programs is necessary to preserve and maintain the existing state-wide transportation system and provide safety and capacity improvements that increase the accessibility, mobility, and safety to the traveling and commuting public.

Deteriorating transportation infrastructure and growing traffic congestion on public highways, streets, and roads that also serve as freight corridors, threaten to erode Washington's strategic position as a gateway to the global economy and the state's competitive edge in domestic trade markets. Transportation system improvements that reduce barriers to freight movement, enhance work force productivity by facilitating "just-in-time" management strategies, promote out-of-state sales of goods and services and encourage business location and investment decisions are critical to the economic health of Washington's rural and urban communities.

(2) In order to meet the forecasted travel demands of citizens traveling on Puget Sound state ferry routes, reduce single occupancy vehicle usage in congested urban centers, facilitate and promote attainment of federal and state clean air requirements and regional land use policies, it is necessary to invest in an expanded, high-speed passenger-only ferry program that provides service between the Olympic Peninsula and the greater Puget Sound metropolitan area.

(3) Completion of the core high occupancy vehicle lanes system in the Puget Sound region is an essential and cost-effective method for meeting the burgeoning demand for person and freight trips in the region.

(4) An increase in the number of Washington state patrol troopers is necessary to ensure there are adequate troopers on state highways to promote a safe driving environment, provide motorist assistance services, and ensure state-wide emergency response services for the motoring public.

(5) Unlike other state taxes, the motor vehicle fuel tax does not rise with inflation and economic growth. Therefore, periodic adjustments to the tax rate is necessary to keep pace with inflation and ensure that public highways, streets, and roads are maintained, preserved, and improved.

Significant shortfalls in funding for city and county transportation infrastructure improvements require additional local taxing authority sufficient to address local transportation priorities that improve safety, relieve congestion, support economic development, and the movement of agricultural products from farm to market.

(6) State investment of new revenue should: (a) Support a long-term investment strategy; focus on high priority projects that offer the best return on investment; (b) leverage state money with other federal, local government, and private matching funds to increase the volume of transportation projects; (c) facilitate multijurisdictional transportation solutions; address the minimization of adverse impacts on the environment, and mitigation measures that promote cost-effective environmental stewardship when adverse impacts are unavoidable; (d) support alternative transportation modes, including, but not limited to, transit, passenger-only ferry, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities; (e) balance investments in both eastern and western areas of the state; and (f) take advantage of bond sales to maximize available revenue.

(7) The legislature, therefore, declares a need for the funding program embodied in this act for: (a) State-wide funding for capacity, safety, and mobility improvements on state urban and rural highways; (b) improvements that support the efficient movement of freight and goods through important freight corridors; (c) the completion of the core high occupancy vehicle lanes system to meet the growing demand for moving people in the Puget Sound region; (d) funding for city and county transportation facilities that provide capacity, safety, and mobility improvements to more efficiently move people, freight, and goods on city streets and county roads; (e) funding for expanded state passenger-only ferry service; and (f) funding for additional Washington state patrol troopers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 702. FOR THE COUNTY ROAD ADMINISTRATION BOARD

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-County Road Equalization

Account‑-State Appropriation............... $ 17,242,000

NEW SECTION. Sec. 703. FOR THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-City Major Urban Project

Account‑-State Appropriation............... $ 17,242,000

NEW SECTION. Sec. 704. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-IMPROVEMENTS‑-PROGRAM I

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-State Appropriation........ $ 489,427,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations and the specified amount is provided solely for that activity:

(1) The motor vehicle fund‑-state appropriation includes $489,427,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by sections 2 through 7 of Senate Bill No. 6090. The transportation commission may authorize the use of current revenues available to the department of transportation in lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(2)(a) The project called "SR 520 Corridor Alternative Analysis" in Program I shall be hereafter called the "Trans-Lake Washington Study."

(b) The department of transportation shall conduct a comprehensive study examining alternative transportation options for east-west traffic in King county addressing mobility, mitigation, preservation, and access. Such study shall include but not be limited to: Transportation flows east and west across Lake Washington on SR 520 and I-90, as well as north around Lake Washington; alternatives for enhancing traffic flow for those currently using SR 520 from the eastern side of Lake Washington through to the terminus of SR 520 in Redmond; integration of such alternatives with I-5 and I-405; long-term maintenance and safety needs for the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge; and consideration of all modes of transportation, including transit and transportation demand management. Comprehensive mitigation of existing and future impacts shall be an integral and inseparable part of any alternatives studied. The study shall be conducted with extensive citizen, local jurisdiction, community, and user stakeholder involvement in both scoping and in development of alternatives. The goal of the study shall be to develop a set of reasonable and feasible solutions.

(c) By November 1997, the department shall submit a study schedule to the legislative transportation committee setting forth major milestones, and the process developed for scoping and conducting the study, which process shall be developed with the affected stakeholders. The study shall be completed by December 1998.

(d) The motor vehicle fund appropriation includes $1,500,000 to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 705. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-PRESERVATION‑-PROGRAM P

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-State............. Appropriation $ 14,000,000

NEW SECTION. Sec. 706. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT--PROGRAM S

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-State............. Appropriation $ 1,400,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations and the specified amount is provided solely for that activity: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure in fiscal year 1998 for upgrading the department's state-wide data communication network. The department shall provide a progress report to the legislative transportation committee and the office of financial management by January 31, 1998.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 707. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES CONSTRUCTION‑-PROGRAM W

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-Puget Sound Capital

Construction Account‑-State Appropriation... $ 39,707,000

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-Puget Sound Capital

Construction Account‑-Federal

Appropriation.............................. $ 13,669,000

TOTAL APPROPRIATION............. $ 53,376,000

The appropriations in this section are provided for improving the Washington state ferry system, including, but not limited to, vessel acquisition, vessel construction, major and minor vessel improvements, and terminal construction and improvements. The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations and specified amounts are provided solely for that activity:

(1) The Puget Sound capital construction account--state appropriation includes $36,466,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by sections 8 through 12 of Senate Bill No. 6090 for construction of passenger-only vessel and terminal facilities. However, the department of transportation may use current revenues available to the Puget Sound capital construction account in lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(2) The appropriations in this section include funding for acquisition of the second passenger-only fast ferry included in the department's 1997-99 current law budget proposal and for acquisition of only two of the remaining four passenger-only fast ferries included in the department's 1997-99 agency request budget proposal. It is the intent of the legislature that the remaining two vessels not be funded during the 1997-2003 fiscal period.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 708. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-MARINE‑-PROGRAM X

Marine Operating Fund‑-State Appropriation..... $ 3,245,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations and specified amounts are provided solely for that activity:

(1) The appropriation is based on the budgeted expenditure of $687,000 for vessel operating fuel in the 1997-99 biennium. If the actual cost of fuel is less than this budgeted amount, the excess amount may not be expended. If the actual cost exceeds this amount, the department shall request a supplemental appropriation.

(2) The appropriation provides for the compensation of ferry employees. The expenditures for compensation paid to ferry employees during the 1997-99 biennium may not exceed $1,952,000 plus a dollar amount, as prescribed by the office of financial management, that is equal to any insurance benefit increase granted general government employees in excess of $313.95 a month annualized per eligible marine employee multiplied by the number of eligible marine employees for the respective fiscal year, a dollar amount as prescribed by the office of financial management for costs associated with pension amortization charges, and a dollar amount prescribed by the office of financial management for salary increases during the 1997-99 biennium. For the purposes of this section, the expenditures for compensation paid to ferry employees shall be limited to salaries and wages and employee benefits as defined in the office of financial management's policies, regulations, and procedures named under objects of expenditure "A" and "B" (7.2.6.2).

The prescribed salary and insurance benefit increase or decrease dollar amount that shall be allocated from the governor's compensation appropriations is in addition to the appropriation contained in this section and may be used to increase or decrease compensation costs, effective July 1, 1997, and thereafter, as established in the 1997-99 general fund operating budget.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 709. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RAIL‑-PROGRAM Y

Transportation Fund‑-State Appropriation........ $...................................... 22,000,000

The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations and specified amounts are provided solely for that activity:

(1) Up to $2,000,000 of this appropriation is provided for the rural mobility program administered by the department of transportation. Priority for grants provided from this account shall be given to projects and programs that can be accomplished in the 1997-99 biennium.

(2) Up to $20,000,000 of this appropriation is provided for implementation of the state's responsibilities under the Americans with disabilities act. This appropriation shall be available for a grant program to municipalities, as defined in RCW 35.58.272, providing public transportation. This program shall consist of a competitive grant program for projects meeting the specific grant criteria. The program elements shall be developed by the department, in consultation with the legislative transportation committee, office of financial management, and eligible transit agencies. The grantees shall be accountable to both the legislative transportation committee and the department to ensure that the program criteria are met. Grant recipients shall submit program and project proposals to the department that address efficiency, effectiveness, community responsiveness, coordination, innovation, and need in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act and providing special needs transportation. Programs and projects that can be completed within the 1997-99 biennium will be given preference. Up to two and one-half percent of the money provided in this subsection shall be available to the department for administration purposes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 710. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-LOCAL PROGRAMS‑-PROGRAM Z

Motor Vehicle Fund‑-State............. Appropriation $ 153,443,000

The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations and specified amounts are provided solely for that activity:

(1) $160,000 of the appropriation in this section is provided to inspect the Washington state parks and recreation bridges. This activity will be performed in conjunction with department of transportation inspection already in place. Each Washington state park ranger will send to the Washington state parks engineering office in Tumwater, Washington an inventory of the bridges in their respective parks along with descriptions and other structural information that is available. Parks and recreation's engineering department will work with the department of transportation on the bridge inspection plan to be completed June 30, 1999.

(2) The motor vehicle fund--state appropriation includes $152,283,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by sections 2 through 7 of Senate Bill No. 6090. The transportation commission may authorize the use of current revenues available to the department of transportation in lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(3) The motor vehicle fund--state appropriation includes $1,000,000 for a fish passage barrier grant program. Any local jurisdiction receiving a project grant under this program must pay a minimum of fifty percent of the project cost.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 711. If Senate Bill No. 6091 (transportation revenue) which provides funding for sections 701 through 710 of this act is not enacted by June 30, 1997, sections 701 through 710 of this act are null and void."

Renumber the remaining part and sections consecutively.