SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1316

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Transportation, March 31, 1997

Title:  An act relating to designation of state route number 35.

Brief Description:  Designating state route number 35.

Sponsors:  Representatives Honeyford, Lisk, Boldt, Sump, Fisher and Dunn.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/20/97, 3/31/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Haugen, Goings, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Rasmussen and Sellar.

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

Background:  Each state highway numerical designation and location is set forth in statute.  State law also prescribes criteria to guide the Legislature in determining whether to make additions, deletions or changes in the state highway system.  These criteria include:  being part of a national highway system or part of an integrated system of roads connecting population centers, serving a county seat, serving a commercial-industrial terminal, or carrying significant cargo to a port or terminal.  The Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) is charged with receiving petitions from cities, counties or state agencies for road additions or deletions from the state highway system.

Currently, there are three highway crossings of the Columbia River in the roughly 100-mile long SR 14 corridor between I-205 near Vancouver and SR 97 near Goldendale.  These crossings are the ABridge of the Gods@ at Cascade Locks, owned by the Port of Cascade Locks; the Port of Hood River Bridge at Hood River; and SR 197 near The Dalles. 

The bridge connecting Hood River, Oregon, with the communities of White Salmon and Bingen on the Washington side is a two-lane structure, constructed in 1923.  It is a toll bridge owned by the Port of Hood River,  and is currently being renovated to extend its useful life by 20 years.

Summary of Bill:  A new state route number 35 is added to the state highway system.  The route is to begin at the Washington-Oregon boundary line along the Columbia River to a junction with SR 14 near White Salmon.  No existing route may be maintained or improved by the Transportation Commission as a temporary SR 35 until such time as a bridge is constructed across the Columbia River.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The current bridge is structurally deficient and unsafe.  Lead time for a new bridge is long and we must start working now.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Honeyford, prime sponsor; Lane Smith, Klickitat County; Cecil Jaksha, Klickitat County; Mamie Gaddis, Klickitat County; Jerry Smith, WSDOT Southwest Region Administrator.