S-3904.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6795

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Parlette, Hochstatter, Deccio, Rasmussen, Brown, Honeyford and Kline

Read first time 02/05/2002.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Studying and reporting on the feasibility of state-supported east-west rail passenger service.

    AN ACT Relating to studying and reporting on the feasibility of state-supported east-west rail passenger service; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The BNSF RR now operates freight rail service over its mainlines between Seattle and Spokane via Wenatchee, Seattle, and Pasco via Yakima, and Portland and Spokane via Pasco.  The passenger trains that serve Spokane, eastbound and westbound, arrive and depart between 12:15 a.m. and 2:45 a.m.  The westbound passenger trains that serve Pasco, Ephrata, and Wenatchee arrive and depart before 6:00 a.m.  There is no rail passenger service for Kennewick, Yakima, Ellensburg, Leavenworth, and the many other communities located on mainline track in eastern Washington.  There are more than twenty thousand cars, with many occupied only by the driver, and eight thousand trucks, on average each day, traveling over the interstate 90 and state route 2 highways between eastern and western Washington.  The population of eastern Washington exceeds one million three hundred thousand people.  There is significant interest in eastern Washington in fast and convenient intercity rail passenger service and commuter rail passenger service.

    (2) In eastern Washington, sixteen city councils, four county commissions, and the Spokane regional transportation council have declared their support for a feasibility study of state-sponsored rail passenger service in eastern Washington.  The 2000 legislature authorized a study of eastern Washington rail passenger service with limited funding.  The study was completed and a report filed in 2001 with the recommendation by the department of transportation as follows, in part:

"...in light of the finding of this preliminary assessment, the study team recommends that Washington state undertake a detailed study of the east-west passenger rail service on all three cross state corridors."

    (3) A comprehensive study of railroad passenger service over the lines running from Portland to Spokane via Pasco, Seattle to Spokane via Pasco, and Seattle to Spokane via Wenatchee would be helpful and in the public interest.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The department of transportation shall conduct a comprehensive study concerning the feasibility of the operation of rail passenger service from:

    (a) King Street station in Seattle via Wenatchee to the rail station in Spokane;

    (b) King Street station in Seattle via Yakima to the rail station in Pasco;

    (c) The rail station in Pasco via Ritzville to the rail station in Spokane; and

    (d) The rail station in Portland via Vancouver and Pasco to the rail station in Spokane.

    (2) The department of transportation shall assess, analyze, and report about the possibility of intercity rail service or commuter rail service over any segment of any of the rail lines under subsection (1) of this section.

    (3) The department of transportation shall consider whether passenger trains can be safely operated at sufficient speeds between Auburn and Pasco via Yakima under the present track, tunnel, and signal conditions.

    (4) The department of transportation may exercise discretion when assessing, analyzing, and reporting on issues, including ridership and any necessary funding and potential sources of funding.

    (5) The department of transportation shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 15, 2002.

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