SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5662

                    As of February 11, 1997

Title:  An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description:  Funding transportation.

Sponsors:  Senators Prince, Haugen, Wood, Heavey, Oke, Prentice and Jacobsen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/11/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff:  Gene Schlatter (786-7316); Brad Lovaas (786-7307)

Background: Appropriation authority is required for the expenditure of state funds.  State government operates on the basis of a fiscal biennium that begins on July 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Two-thirds of the moneys appropriated in the transportation budget are for capital programs, and one-third is for operating programs of the transportation agencies.

The motor vehicle fund is the primary funding source of transportation programs, providing for 45 percent, or $1.4 billion, of transportation appropriations in the 1995-97 transportation budget.

The 1995-97 transportation budget totaled $3.3 billion.

Summary of Bill: Department of Transportation.  No funds are provided for new projects to expand highway capacity.  Funding is provided for the completion of construction projects that are currently under construction.

$30 million is added for highway and bridge preservation.  Resurfacing existing highways to eliminate potholes and ruts is a critical safety factor (5.6 percent increase over the Transportation Commission=s recommendation).

$6 million is added for highway maintenance for pavement striping, repairing of raised pavement reflectors and control of vegetation obstructions, and more emphasis on culvert cleaning and storm drainage systems.  The snow and ice control program is continued at the  current level.

$5 million is provided for improved traffic operations, including coordinating signals, freeway ramp metering and additional school crosswalks.  This helps make more efficient use of existing freeways and highways.

  Washington State Patrol.  Existing Washington State Patrol trooper levels are maintained.

Savings anticipated from the consolidation of the Washington State Patrol and Department of Transportation computer centers are recognized.

Weigh station equipment on Interstate 5 and in Eastern Washington is repaired and upgraded to help reduce road damage caused by overweight vehicles.

Two capital projects (Yakima District office and the Microwave Migration from analog to digital) that were started in the 1995-97 biennium are completed, and funding is provided for maintenance of existing facilities.  No new capital projects are started.

Department of Licensing.  Funding is provided to cover increased costs of doing business.  Examples include:  increases in the price of film, increased inventory for plates and tabs, costs of implementing 1996 DUI legislation, mail and postage increases, GA motorpool increases, etc.

The Governor Lowry-recommended level of funding is provided for the LAMP computer project.

Funding is provided to finish and occupy capital facilities initiated in the 1995-97 biennium.

  Other Agencies: 

  1.Traffic Safety Commission:  Funded at current level.

2.Transportation Improvement Board:  Approximately $250 million provided for projects.

3.County Road Administration Board:  Approximately $102 million provided for projects.

4.Special Appropriations to the Governor:  The amount of estimated tort claims is reduced according to the 1996 actuarial report

5.Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development:  Funding continued for the six Washington State Gateway Visitor Information Centers.

6.Office of Financial Management:  Funding continued for transportation management analyst to work with transportation agencies.

7.Board of Pilotage Commissioners:  On-going funding provided at the 1995-97 level for the commission=s pilotage account.

8.Utilities and Transportation Commission:  Continued funding provided for the grade crossing protection account.

9.Marine Employees Commission:  Funding continued for the Marine Employees Commission.

   10.State Parks and Recreation Commission:  On-going funding provided for roadway maintenance for snow removal and small roadway repairs.

   11.Department of Agriculture:  Funding continued for the Motor Fuel Quality Program.

   12.Transportation Commission:  Current service level operations of the commission provided.

   13.Legislative Agencies:  Continued funding provided for on-going operations at the current service level.

Appropriation:  $3.1 billion.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.