SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2964

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Transportation, February 25, 1998

Title:  An act relating to regional transportation planning.

Brief Description:  Enhancing regional transportation planning.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation Policy & Budget (originally sponsored by Representatives Murray, K. Schmidt, Mitchell, Fisher, Hatfield, Cooper, Romero, Cairnes, Skinner, Scott, O'Brien, Wood, Radcliff, Cody, Keiser, Constantine, Regala and Ogden).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/24/98, 2/25/98 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Staff:  Ashley Probart (786-7319)

Background:  There are 14 regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) in Washington State.  Each RTPO has a policy board that provides direction on the implementation of their six-year transportation improvement program (TIP) and their regional transportation plan.

An RTPO policy board is required to include cities, counties, port districts, transit districts, major employers and the Department of Transportation (DOT).  Several RTPOs provide information to their state legislators on RTPO functions, but it is not a state requirement.

The six-year TIP proposes regionally significant transportation projects and a financial plan that demonstrates how the program is to be funded.  The six-year TIP is updated at least every two years, but can be amended during the interim.

The regional transportation planning process establishes standards for a regional transportation plan, coordination between RTPOs, and in conjunction with state planning efforts, identifies and plans improvements that are important to moving people and goods on a regional and statewide basis.

Summary of Amended Bill:  RTPO board membership is modified.  Any member of the House of Representatives or the state Senate whose districts are within the boundaries of the regional transportation planning organization are considered ex-officio, nonvoting board members of the regional transportation planning organization.

RTPO policy board membership is expanded to include at least one member from the state Senate and the House of Representatives whose districts are within the boundaries of the RTPO.

RTPOs are required to provide a schedule of their six-year TIP to state legislators within their boundaries.  The schedule is to include decision process points, updates and amendments to the six-year TIP.

Through the regional transportation planning process, and through state planning efforts, RTPOs are required to identify and jointly plan the most efficient strategy to address identified deficiencies, including investments in modal integration, in corridors that are important to moving people and goods on a regional and statewide basis.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  RTPO board membership is modified.  Any member of the House of Representatives or the state Senate whose districts are within the boundaries of the regional transportation planning organization are considered ex-officio, nonvoting board members of the regional transportation planning organization.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill will strengthen communication between regional transportation planning organizations and members of the state Legislature.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Murray, prime sponsor; Charlie Howard, Department of Transportation.