BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to nonhighway transportation planning and projects; adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW; and providing a contingent expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to recognize and affirm the change in policy direction for transportation planning and projects provided by the congressional enactment of the 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. Key to this is the directive in the act to "aggressively support proactive public involvement at all stages of planning and project development" in funding a transportation system responsive to public concern. To continue to build on this model of public involvement a pilot project is established to bring public involvement to the neighborhood level for nonhighway transportation planning and projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The pilot project must adhere to the following principles:

(a) It may not involve highway construction;

(b) It must serve community needs;

(d) It must provide response to public concerns brought by highway transportation projects.

(2) Examples of projects that would carry out these principles include traffic calming, noise mitigation, bicycle paths, sidewalks, and similar projects.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The nonhigway transportation planning and project account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The account is funded by legislative appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for projects selected under this chapter. Only the secretary of transportation or the secretary's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.

(2) The secretary shall distribute matching grants to qualified community level efforts. The grants will be distributed in equal amounts to each of the forty-nine state legislative districts, with the amount available to be determined by the appropriation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The department shall administer funds distributed from the account upon the approval of the corresponding legislative district committee established under this section.

(2) At the close of the legislative session in odd-numbered years, the three legislators from each legislative district shall convene to appoint members of their district committee. Committee membership is limited to twelve community members, one of whom must be a local elected official, and who will serve as the nonvoting chair of the committee.

(3) The department shall devise a process to guide committee determination of proposed project priorities for funding from available grant funds. Proposed projects must provide at least ten percent of the total project costs to be eligible for grant matching funds. The department shall give priority to those district projects that provide the highest percentage of the proposed project cost through community efforts. Eligible organizations include neighborhood associations and similar entities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department shall establish a pilot project to operate in each legislative district, and shall gather data on projects funded, community involvement, and completion outcomes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act expires ten years after the effective date of the first legislative appropriation into the account.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 6 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.