CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                   SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1678

 

 

                   Chapter 201, Laws of 2001

 

                         (partial veto)

 

                        57th Legislature

                2001 Regular Legislative Session

 

 

ADVANCE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/22/01

Passed by the House April 13, 2001

  Yeas 89   Nays 0

 

 

              FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

     

 

 

             CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

 

 

Passed by the Senate April 4, 2001

  Yeas 48   Nays 0

             CERTIFICATE

 

We, Timothy A. Martin and Cynthia Zehnder, Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1678 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

           CYNTHIA ZEHNDER

                          Chief Clerk

 

 

          TIMOTHY A. MARTIN

                          Chief Clerk

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

 

 

 

Approved May 7, 2001, with the exception of section 9, which is vetoed.Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.               

                                FILED                

 

              May 7, 2001 - 1:43 p.m.

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                 Secretary of State

                 State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1678

          _______________________________________________

 

                     AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

             Passed Legislature - 2001 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Mitchell and Poulsen; by request of The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation)

 

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Funding advance right-of-way acquisitions.  


    AN ACT Relating to advance right-of-way acquisition; amending RCW 43.79A.040, 47.44.010, 47.44.020, 47.44.050, and 47.24.020; adding new sections to chapter 47.26 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

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

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.26 RCW to read as follows:

    The term "advance right-of-way acquisition" as used in this chapter means the acquisition of property and property rights, together with the engineering costs necessary for the advance right-of-way acquisition.  Property or property rights purchased must be for projects approved by the transportation improvement board or the county road administration board as part of a city or county six-year plan or program.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 47.26 RCW to read as follows:

    The city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund is created in the custody of the treasurer.  The transportation improvement board is the administrator of the fund and may deposit directly and spend without appropriation.

    The transportation improvement board and the county road administration board, in consultation with the association of Washington cities and the Washington association of counties, shall adopt reasonable rules and develop policies to implement this program.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 47.26 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) After any properties or property rights are acquired through funds in the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund, the acquiring city or county is responsible for the management of the properties in accordance with sound business practices and shall provide annual status reports to the board.  Funds received by the city or county from the interim management of the properties must be deposited into the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund.

    (2) When the city or county proceeds with the construction of an arterial project that will require the use of any of the property so acquired, the city or county shall reimburse the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund.  Reimbursement must reflect the original cost of the acquired property or property rights required for the project plus an interest rate as determined annually by the board.  The board shall report on the interest rate set to the transportation committees through its annual report.

    (3) When the city or county determines that any properties or property rights acquired from funds in the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund will not be required for an arterial construction project or the property has been held by the city or county for more than six years, the city or county shall either sell the property at fair market value or reimburse the fund at fair market value.  All proceeds of the sale must be deposited in the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund.  At the board's discretion, a portion of savings on transportation improvement board projects realized through the use of the city and county advance revolving fund may be deposited back into the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund.

    (4) Deposits in the fund may be reexpended without further or additional appropriations.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 43.79A.040 and 2000 c 79 s 45 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited, invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the money were in the state treasury.

    (2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust fund shall be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be known as the investment income account.

    (3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds including, but not limited to, depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state agencies.  The investment income account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to financial institutions.  Payments shall occur prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.

    (4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings credited to the investment income account to the state general fund except under (b) and (c) of this subsection.

    (b) The following accounts and funds shall receive their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period:  The Washington advanced college tuition payment program account, the agricultural local fund, the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the basic health plan self-insurance reserve account, the Washington international exchange scholarship endowment fund, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the energy account, the fair fund, the game farm alternative account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the juvenile accountability incentive account, the rural rehabilitation account, the stadium and exhibition center account, the youth athletic facility ((grant)) account, the self-insurance revolving fund, the sulfur dioxide abatement account, and the children's trust fund.  However, the earnings to be distributed shall first be reduced by the allocation to the state treasurer's service fund pursuant to RCW 43.08.190.

    (c) The following accounts and funds shall receive eighty percent of their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance for the period:  The advanced right of way revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving account, the city and county advance right-of-way revolving fund, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account, and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.

    (5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.

 

    Sec. 5.  RCW 47.44.010 and 1980 c 28 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department of transportation may grant franchises to persons, associations, private or municipal corporations, the United States government, or any agency thereof, to use any state highway for the construction and maintenance of water pipes, flume, gas, oil or coal pipes, telephone, telegraph and electric light and power lines and conduits, trams or railways, and any structures or facilities ((which)) that are part of an urban public transportation system owned or operated by a municipal corporation, agency, or department of the state of Washington other than the department of transportation, and any other such facilities.  In order to minimize the disruption to traffic and damage to the roadway, the department is encouraged to develop a joint trenching policy with other affected jurisdictions so that all permittees and franchisees requiring access to ground under the roadway may do so at one time.

    (2) All applications for ((such)) the franchise ((shall)) must be made in writing and subscribed by the applicant, and ((shall)) describe the state highway or portion thereof over which franchise is desired and the nature of the franchise.  The application must also include the identification of all jurisdictions affected by the franchise and the names of other possible franchisees who should receive notice of the application for a franchise.

    (3) The department of transportation shall adopt rules providing for a hearing or an opportunity for a hearing with reasonable public notice thereof with respect to any franchise application involving the construction and maintenance of utilities or other facilities within the highway right of way which the department determines may (((1))) (a) during construction, significantly disrupt the flow of traffic or use of driveways or other facilities within the right of way, or (((2))) (b) during or following construction, cause a significant and adverse effect upon the surrounding environment.

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 47.44.020 and 1980 c 28 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) If the department of transportation deems it to be for the public interest, the franchise may be granted in whole or in part, with or without hearing under such regulations and conditions as the department may prescribe, with or without compensation, but not in excess of the reasonable cost for investigating, handling, and granting the franchise.  The department may require that the utility and appurtenances be so placed on the highway that they will, in its opinion, least interfere with other uses of the highway.

    (2) If a hearing is held, it ((shall)) must be conducted by the department, and may be adjourned from time to time until completed.  The applicant may be required to produce all facts pertaining to the franchise, and evidence may be taken for and against granting it.

    (3) The facility ((shall)) must be made subject to removal when necessary for the construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of the highway and at the expense of the franchise holder, except that the state shall pay the cost of ((such)) the removal whenever the state ((shall be)) is entitled to receive proportionate reimbursement therefor from the United States in the cases and in the manner set forth in RCW 47.44.030.  Renewal upon expiration of a franchise ((shall)) must be by application.

    (4) A person constructing or operating such a utility on a state highway is liable to any person injured thereby for any damages incident to the work of installation or the continuation of the occupancy of the highway by the utility, and except as provided above, is liable to the state for all necessary expenses incurred in restoring the highway to a permanent suitable condition for travel.  A person constructing or operating such a utility on a state highway is also liable to the state for all necessary expenses incurred in inspecting the construction and restoring the pavement or other related transportation equipment or facilities to a permanent condition suitable for travel and operation in accordance with requirements set by the department.  Permit and franchise holders are also financially responsible to the department for trenching work not completed within the contractual period and for compensating for the loss of useful pavement life caused by trenching.  No franchise may be granted for a longer period than fifty years, and no exclusive franchise or privilege may be granted.

    (5) The holder of a franchise granted under this section is financially responsible to the department for trenching work not completed within the period of the permit and for compensating for the loss of useful pavement life caused by trenching.  In the case of common trenching operations, liability under this subsection will be assessed equally between the franchisees.  The assessed parties may thereafter pursue claims of contribution or indemnity in accord with such fault as may be determined by arbitration or other legal action.

 

    Sec. 7.  RCW 47.44.050 and 1984 c 7 s 237 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The department ((is empowered to)) may grant a permit to construct or maintain on, over, across, or along any state highway any water, gas, telephone, telegraph, light, power, or other such facilities when they do not extend along the state highway for a distance greater than three hundred feet.  The department may require such information as it deems necessary in the application for any such permit, and may grant or withhold the permit within its discretion.  Any permit granted may be canceled at any time, and any facilities remaining upon the right of way of the state highway after thirty days written notice of the cancellation ((is [are])) are an unlawful obstruction and may be removed in the manner provided by law.

    (2) The holder of a permit granted under this section is financially responsible to the department for trenching work not completed within the period of the permit and for compensating for the loss of useful pavement life caused by trenching.  In the case of common trenching operations, liability under this subsection will be assessed equally between the permit holders.  The assessed parties may thereafter pursue claims of contribution or indemnity in accord with such fault as may be determined by arbitration or other legal action.

 

    Sec. 8.  RCW 47.24.020 and 1993 c 126 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    The jurisdiction, control, and duty of the state and city or town with respect to such streets ((shall be)) is as follows:

    (1) The department has no authority to change or establish any grade of any such street without approval of the governing body of such city or town, except with respect to limited access facilities established by the commission;

    (2) The city or town shall exercise full responsibility for and control over any such street beyond the curbs and if no curb is installed, beyond that portion of the highway used for highway purposes.  However, within incorporated cities and towns the title to a state limited access highway vests in the state, and, notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the department shall exercise full jurisdiction, responsibility, and control to and over such facility as provided in chapter 47.52 RCW;

    (3) The department has authority to prohibit the suspension of signs, banners, or decorations above the portion of such street between the curbs or portion used for highway purposes up to a vertical height of twenty feet above the surface of the roadway;

    (4) The city or town shall at its own expense maintain all underground facilities in such streets, and has the right to construct such additional underground facilities as may be necessary in such streets.  However, pavement trenching and restoration performed as part of installation of such facilities must meet or exceed requirements established by the department;

    (5) The city or town has the right to grant the privilege to open the surface of any such street, but all damage occasioned thereby shall promptly be repaired either by the city or town itself or at its direction.  Pavement trenching and restoration performed under a privilege granted by the city under this subsection must meet or exceed requirements established by the department;

    (6) The city or town at its own expense shall provide street illumination and shall clean all such streets, including storm sewer inlets and catch basins, and remove all snow, except that the state shall when necessary plow the snow on the roadway.  In cities and towns having a population of twenty-two thousand five hundred or less according to the latest determination of population by the office of financial management, the state, when necessary for public safety, shall assume, at its expense, responsibility for the stability of the slopes of cuts and fills and the embankments within the right of way to protect the roadway itself.  When the population of a city or town first exceeds twenty-two thousand five hundred according to the determination of population by the office of financial management, the city or town shall have three years from the date of the determination to plan for additional staffing, budgetary, and equipment requirements before being required to assume the responsibilities under this subsection.  The state shall install, maintain, and operate all illuminating facilities on any limited access facility, together with its interchanges, located within the corporate limits of any city or town, and shall assume and pay the costs of all such installation, maintenance, and operation incurred after November 1, 1954;

    (7) The department has the right to use all storm sewers on such highways without cost; and if new storm sewer facilities are necessary in construction of new streets by the department, the cost of the facilities shall be borne by the state and/or city as may be mutually agreed upon between the department and the governing body of the city or town;

    (8) Cities and towns have exclusive right to grant franchises not in conflict with state laws and rules, over, beneath, and upon such streets, but the department is authorized to enforce in an action brought in the name of the state any condition of any franchise which a city or town has granted on such street.  No franchise for transportation of passengers in motor vehicles may be granted on such streets without the approval of the department, but the department shall not refuse to approve such franchise unless another street conveniently located and of strength of construction to sustain travel of such vehicles is accessible;

    (9) Every franchise or permit granted any person by a city or town for use of any portion of such street by a public utility ((shall)) must require the grantee or permittee to restore, repair, and replace ((to its original condition)) any portion of the street damaged or injured by it to conditions that meet or exceed requirements established by the department;

    (10) The city or town has the right to issue overload or overwidth permits for vehicles to operate on such streets or roads subject to regulations printed and distributed to the cities and towns by the department;

    (11) Cities and towns shall regulate and enforce all traffic and parking restrictions on such streets, but all regulations adopted by a city or town relating to speed, parking, and traffic control devices on such streets not identical to state law relating thereto are subject to the approval of the department before becoming effective.  All regulations pertaining to speed, parking, and traffic control devices relating to such streets heretofore adopted by a city or town not identical with state laws shall become null and void unless approved by the department heretofore or within one year after March 21, 1963;

    (12) The department shall erect, control, and maintain at state expense all route markers and directional signs, except street signs, on such streets;

    (13) The department shall install, operate, maintain, and control at state expense all traffic control signals, signs, and traffic control devices for the purpose of regulating both pedestrian and motor vehicular traffic on, entering upon, or leaving state highways in cities and towns having a population of twenty-two thousand five hundred or less according to the latest determination of population by the office of financial management.  Such cities and towns may submit to the department a plan for traffic control signals, signs, and traffic control devices desired by them, indicating the location, nature of installation, or type thereof, or a proposed amendment to such an existing plan or installation, and the department shall consult with the cities or towns concerning the plan before installing such signals, signs, or devices.  Cities and towns having a population in excess of twenty-two thousand five hundred according to the latest determination of population by the office of financial management shall install, maintain, operate, and control such signals, signs, and devices at their own expense, subject to approval of the department for the installation and type only.  When the population of a city or town first exceeds twenty-two thousand five hundred according to the determination of population by the office of financial management, the city or town shall have three years from the date of the determination to plan for additional staffing, budgetary, and equipment requirements before being required to assume the responsibilities under this subsection.  For the purpose of this subsection, striping, lane marking, and channelization are considered traffic control devices;

    (14) All revenue from parking meters placed on such streets belongs to the city or town;

    (15) Rights of way for such streets shall be acquired by either the city or town or by the state as shall be mutually agreed upon.  Costs of acquiring rights of way may be at the sole expense of the state or at the expense of the city or town or at the expense of the state and the city or town as may be mutually agreed upon.  Title to all such rights of way so acquired shall vest in the city or town:  PROVIDED, That no vacation, sale, rental, or any other nontransportation use of any unused portion of any such street may be made by the city or town without the prior written approval of the department; and all revenue derived from sale, vacation, rental, or any nontransportation use of such rights of way shall be shared by the city or town and the state in the same proportion as the purchase costs were shared;

    (16) If any city or town fails to perform any of its obligations as set forth in this section or in any cooperative agreement entered into with the department for the maintenance of a city or town street forming part of the route of a state highway, the department may notify the mayor of the city or town to perform the necessary maintenance within thirty days.  If the city or town within the thirty days fails to perform the maintenance or fails to authorize the department to perform the maintenance as provided by RCW 47.24.050, the department may perform the maintenance, the cost of which is to be deducted from any sums in the motor vehicle fund credited or to be credited to the city or town.

 

    *NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the transportation appropriations act, this act is null and void.

*Sec. 9 was vetoed.  See message at end of chapter.


    Passed the House April 13, 2001.

    Passed the Senate April 4, 2001.

Approved by the Governor May 7, 2001, with the exception of certain items that were vetoed.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 7, 2001.


 

    Note:  Governor's explanation of partial veto is as follows:

 

    "I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 9, Substitute House Bill No. 1678 entitled:

 

"AN ACT Relating to advance right-of-way acquisition;"

 

    Substitute House Bill No. 1678 creates the city and county advance right of way revolving fund.  This account was recommended by the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation, and will allow local governments to acquire land in advance of construction, as funds become available.  This has proved to be a very effective tool at the state level, allowing construction to start as soon as construction funding is available.

 

    Section 9 of the bill would have rendered the fund null and void if there is no appropriation for the fund in this year's biennial transportation budget.  I strongly support the revolving fund, and have recommended an appropriation in my transportation budget proposal. I urge the legislature to do the same.  Clearly, the merits of this bill extend beyond June 30th of this year.

 

    For these reasons I have vetoed section 9 of Substitute House Bill No. 1678.

 

    With the exception of section 9, Substitute House Bill No. 1678 is approved."