S-0289.2  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8003

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Benton, Johnson, Hale, Finkbeiner and West

Read first time 01/12/2001.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Asking Congress to require the secretary of transportation to waive repayment of federal-aid highway funds used to build high occupancy vehicle lanes.

    TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The establishment of high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions was intended as a means of promoting car pooling in an effort to improve the State's air quality; and

    WHEREAS, The number of eligible vehicles that use the high occupancy vehicle lanes has not come close to meeting the State's expected projections for lane usage, which shows that the high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions have not had the effect of encouraging car pooling at satisfactory levels; and

    WHEREAS, Because of the high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions, a much larger number of citizens who use the nonrestricted lanes of that highway are subjected to frequent heavy traffic situations, which result in high costs in fuel burned and hourly wages lost, while the overall levels of air pollution and noise increase, all of which represent a severe reduction in the quality of life of those citizens; and

    WHEREAS, Since a considerable amount of effort is used by the State Patrol in enforcing the high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions, the availability of the State Patrol in combating other motor vehicle-related crimes on other highways of this State is diminished; and

    WHEREAS, It is appropriate for the Legislature to express this policy to protect the citizens of this State who are adversely affected by excessive automobile, bus, and truck traffic as a result of the high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress require the United States Secretary of Transportation to waive repayment of any federal-aid highway funds expended on the construction of high occupancy vehicle lanes if the Washington State Secretary of Transportation assures the United States Secretary of Transportation that the removal of high occupancy vehicle lane restrictions is in the public interest.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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