SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6061

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Transportation, April 15, 1997

Title:  An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description:  Funding transportation for 1997‑1999.

Sponsors:  Senators Prince, Haugen and Wood; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/25/97, 4/15/97 [DPS, DNPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6061 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Prince, Chair; Wood, Vice Chair; Haugen, Heavey, Horn, Morton, Oke, Prentice and Rasmussen.

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute.

  Signed by Senators Benton, Vice Chair; and Jacobsen.

Staff:  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 Substitute Bill:  Two distinct sets of appropriations are provided:  (1) current revenues to transportation agencies  for the 1997-99 biennium (parts 1 through 4 and 6); and (2) supplemental appropriations to transportation agencies for the 1995-97 biennium (part 5).

1997-99 Current Law Appropriation (parts 1-4)

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 ($25 million) and bridge ($5 million) preservation.  Resurfacing existing highways to eliminate potholes and ruts is a critical safety factor.

$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.  Assumes the general fund will pay for Washington State Patrol general fund activities that the transportation budget assumed in the 1993 session, and redirects motor vehicle fund dollars to pay for 89 new WSP troopers.

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.

Funding has not been provided for the Licensing Application Migration Project (LAMP).

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 $222 million provided for projects.

3.County Road Administration Board:  Approximately $88 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.

1995-97 Supplemental Appropriations (part 5)

1.$25.1 million of federal funding for floods (DOT).

2.$4 million additional snow and ice funding (includes $2 million that was placed in snow and ice reserve in 1996 supplemental budget) (DOT).

3.$1.1 million of federal funding for railroad crossing projects (DOT).

4.$700,000 of federal funding for metropolitan planning organizations (DOT).

5.$500,000 of federal funding for King Street Station design work (DOT).

6.$500,000 for additional ferry tort claim payments (DOT).

7.$250,000 for manual processing of accident reports due to delay in implementing the CRASH project (DOL).

8.$250,000 for Washington State=s share of Wahkiakum ferry costs (DOT).

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation:  $3.178 billion.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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