[atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to building a second bridge over the Tacoma Narrows; amending 2001 2nd sp.s. c 14 s 217 (uncodified); and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The state of Washington is committed to building a second bridge over the Tacoma Narrows using the most efficient methods possible to deliver this critical transportation project that is essential for public safety and welfare. While recognizing that users will pay the majority of the construction costs in the form of tolls, the legislature intends to keep those tolls as low as possible. The Tacoma Narrows bridge plan approved by voters clearly provided for a state contribution to pay for the construction of the approaches to the bridge so that toll payers would be responsible for paying only for the bridge itself. The legislature hereby reaffirms its intent to provide an appropriation sufficient to meet that commitment made to voters on the Tacoma Narrows bridge advisory ballot.

Sec. 2. 2001 2nd sp.s. c 14 s 217 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION‑-IMPROVEMENTS‑-PROGRAM I

Motor Vehicle Account‑-State Appropriation..... $ 508,936,000

Motor Vehicle Account‑-Federal Appropriation... $ 219,538,000

Motor Vehicle Account‑-Private/Local

Appropriation.............................. $ 40,904,000

Special Category C Account‑-State

Appropriation.............................. $ 72,608,000

Multimodal Transportation Account‑-State

Appropriation.............................. $ 4,880,000

TOTAL APPROPRIATION................. $ 846,866,000

The appropriations in this section are provided for the location, design, right of way acquisition, or construction of state highway projects designated as improvements under RCW 47.05.030. The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations and specified amounts are provided solely for that activity:

(1) The special category C account‑-state appropriation of $72,608,000 includes $63,500,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized in RCW 47.10.812. The transportation commission may authorize the use of current revenues available to the department of transportation in lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(2) The department shall report December 1st and June 1st of each year to the senate and the house of representatives transportation committees and the office of financial management on the timing and the scope of work being performed for the regional transit authority known as sound transit. This report shall provide a description of all department activities related to the regional transit authority including investments in state‑owned infrastructure.

(3) The motor vehicle account‑-state appropriation includes $391,637,000 in proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by RCW 47.10.843. The transportation commission may authorize the use of current revenues available to the department of transportation in lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(4) At least $554,714,000 of the total appropriation is provided for the construction phase of the improvement program.

(5) $4,880,000 of the multimodal transportation account--state appropriation is provided solely for the state program share of freight mobility projects as identified by the freight mobility strategic investment board.

(6) The motor vehicle account--state appropriation includes $3,898,000 in unexpended proceeds from the January 2001 bond sale authorized in RCW 47.10.834 for the Tacoma Narrows bridge project. The transportation commission may authorize the use of current revenues available to the department of transportation in-lieu of bond proceeds for any part of the state appropriation.

(7) The motor vehicle account‑-state appropriation includes $47,682,000 for the state contribution to the design, right of way, and construction of the voter-approved Tacoma Narrows bridge project. This appropriation is made in satisfaction of the commitment made to the voters who approved the project that an amount sufficient to pay for the approaches to the bridge would be provided by the state rather than the toll payers.