SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2923

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, March 1, 2004

Title: An act relating to authorizing magnetic levitation transportation systems.

Brief Description: Authorizing magnetic levitation transportation systems.

Sponsors: Representatives Ericksen, Dickerson, Sullivan, Nixon and G. Simpson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 2/26/04, 3/1/04 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Horn, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Esser, Haugen, Jacobsen, Kastama, Mulliken, Murray and Oke.

Staff: Tami Neilson (786-7452)

Background: Transit agencies, including Sound Transit, operating in urbanized areas may establish high-capacity transportation systems (HCTs). A HCT is defined as a system of public transportation services operating principally on exclusive rights of way that provides a substantially higher level of passenger capacity, speed, and service frequency than traditional public transportation systems that operate principally in general purpose roadways.

Regional transportation investment districts and agencies that operate HCTs may collect an employer tax, as well as a sales and use tax, to fund their programs.

Magnetic levitation is a technology in which magnetic forces lift, and propel a vehicle over a guideway. It is operated by electric power and control systems, eliminating the need for contact between the vehicle and guideway. A personal rapid transit system is a large fleet of automated taxi-sized vehicles running on an elevated network of monorail guideways.

Summary of Amended Bill: The definition of HCT includes magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill: Technical corrections were made. Additionally, the following two provisions were removed: 1) pilot program authorization; and 2) authority to counties to utilize public-private partnerships for implementing magnetic levitation technology.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2004.

Testimony For: Magnetic levitation systems are already operating in other countries, and it is a transportation solution. There may be funds available for this technology in federal legislation.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Washington State Representative Doug Ericksen (pro).