Washington State House of Representatives	BILL ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

HB 1691

Brief Description:  Allocating transportation funding.

Sponsors:  Representatives Fisher and Mitchell; by request of The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Calls for baseline funding of operation, maintenance, preservation, and safety for state highways, county roads, city streets, transit, ferries, and alternate modes.

$Requires that agencies adopt pavement management and lowest life-cycle cost approaches as a condition of funding.

Hearing Date:  2/7/01

Staff:  Gene Baxstrom, (786-7303).

Background: 

In December 2000, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation issued its findings and recommendations on how to improve the state's transportation system.  Several commission findings and recommendations addressed requirements for, and the allocation of, transportation revenues.

One of the recommendations related to the allocation of transportation funds provided that there be a baseline of funding for operations, maintenance, preservation, and safety functions for state highways, county roads, city streets, transit, ferries, and alternate modes.

Summary of Bill: 

The Department of Transportation, in cooperation with local governments, is to direct a baseline allocation of funding for operations, maintenance, preservation, and safety functions of state highways, county roads, city streets, transit, ferries, and alternate modes.

As a condition of receiving the baseline allocation, all agencies must demonstrate to the legislature the use of maintenance management systems and pavement management systems.  To receive any funding, the department, cities and counties must demonstrate within three years that their preservation investments are based on lowest life cycle cost principles.

Grant programs are not to be used to fund preservation projects funded from baseline fund allocations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 1, 2001.

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