SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6437

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Highways & Transportation, January 29, 2004

Title: An act relating to highways of statewide significance.

Brief Description: Designating highways of statewide significance.

Sponsors: Senators Horn, Haugen, Swecker, Mulliken, Murray, Esser, Schmidt and Shin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Highways & Transportation: 1/28/04, 1/29/04 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHWAYS & TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6437 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)

Background: The Transportation Commission or the Legislature may designate highways of statewide significance. If the commission designates a highway of statewide significance, it must submit a list of such facilities for adoption by the Legislature.

Designation of a highway route as a highway of statewide significance means the improvements along the route are a higher priority. It also means that the segments are essential public facilities under the Growth Management Act (GMA) plans, GMA concurrency requirements do not apply, and the state is responsible for establishing a level of service standards. Additionally, regional transportation investment district legislation requires that 90 percent of district revenues be expended along highways of statewide significance.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The Legislature designates as highways of statewide significance those designated by Transportation Commission Resolution Number 660 as adopted on January 21, 2004. The designation of SR509 as a highway of statewide significance is removed (it is included in the commission's resolution).

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The original bill was not considered.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: The Transportation Commission looked at criteria in the statutes, input from the Legislative Transportation Committee workgroup, and input from public hearings to establish the Highways of Statewide Significance designation recommendations.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Ed Barnes, Transportation Commission; Charlie Howard, Washington State Department of Transportation.