Title: An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description: Making 2005-07 transportation appropriations.

Sponsors: Representatives Murray, Linville and Morris; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Transportation: 1/19/05, 4/12/05 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 18 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Lovick, Morris, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Upthegrove and Wood.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Wallace, Vice Chair; Appleton, Buck, Ericksen, Kilmer, Nixon, Rodne, Schindler and Takko.

Staff: Gary Lebow (786-7304).

Background:

The transportation budget provides appropriations to the major transportation agencies: the Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, Traffic Safety Commission, Transportation Improvement Board, and the County Road Administration Board. The budget also provides appropriations to many smaller agencies with transportation related activities.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

Provides biennial appropriations for the 2005-07 biennium transportation budget.
(dollars in thousands)

Department of Transportation	$4,413,874
Washington State Patrol	$286,289
Department of Licensing	$200,117
Transportation Improvement Board	$208,067
County Road Administration Board	$102,088
Traffic Safety Commission	$21,211
State Employee Compensation Adjustment	$37,390
Bond Retirement and Interest	$457,136
Small Agencies with Transportation Related Activities	$8,641
Total Appropriations:	$5,734,813

Adjusts the biennial appropriations for the 2003-05 biennium transportation budget.

Department of Transportation
1.   recognizes under spending in the current biennium $11.650 million;
2.   funds $11.328 million in ferries fuel cost increases based on the latest estimated consumption rates and fuel cost index;
3.   funds $240,000 for ferries insurance increase; and
4.   reduces $630,000 for the negotiated contract with Amtrak.

Washington State Patrol
Funds $1,152,000 in vehicle fuel cost increases based on the latest estimated consumption rates and fuel cost index.

Department of Licensing            
Reduction of $100,000 due to partial implementation of Chapter 273, Laws of 2004, which authorized voluntary collection of biometric identifiers from applicants for drivers licenses and identicards.



(dollars in thousands)

Agency	Original 2003-05 Appropriations	House Transportation Adjustments	Proposed Revised 2003-05 Appropriations
Department of Transportation	$3,717,491	$1,938	$3,719,429
Department of Licensing	$189,163	-$100	$189,063
Washington State Patrol	$254,864	$1,152	$256,016
Bond Retirement and Interest	$344,743	-$17,426	$327,317
Agencies with No Changes	$320,208	$0	$320,208
Total Appropriations	$4,826,469	-$14,436	$4,812,033

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

2005-07 Biennial Budget Changes

Agency	Original Bill	Substitute Bill
Department of Transportation	$4,413,874	$4,413,911
Washington State Patrol	$286,289	$286,289
Department of Licensing	$200,117	$200,256
Transportation Improvement Board	$208,067	$208,067
County Road Administration Board	$102,088	$102,088
Traffic Safety Commission	$21,211	$21,211
State Employee Compensation	$37,390	$37,390
Bond Retirement and Interest	$457,136	$457,136
Small Agencies with Transportation Related Activities	$8,641	$8,641
Totals	$5,734,813	$5,734,989

The substitute bill:

2005-07 Biennial Budget Changes
1.   made technical corrections;
2.   added language requiring Department of Transportation to implement GASB 34;
3.   added tolling language for the Cross Base Highway; and
4.   prohibits toll credits or state funds to be used on the Bremerton tunnel.

Added seven transportation projects:
1.   Issaquah traffic light synchronization;
2.   SR 99, Aurora Avenue Improvements - Phase 2;
3.   SR 9, Marsh Road Intersection Improvements;
4.   I-205, Mill Plain to 28th - New Intersection;
5.   Georgia Pacific Track Realignment on the Bellingham waterfront;
6.   SR 3, Belfair vicinity improvements; and
7.   accelerate Strander Boulevard and delay Shaw Road (FMSIB projects).

2003-05 Supplemental Budget Changes

Agency	Original Bill	Changes	Substitute Bill
Department of Transportation	$3,719,429	$0	$3,719,429
Department of Licensing	$189,063	$0	$189,063
Washington State Patrol	$256,016	$0	$256,016
Bond Retirement and Interest	$327,317	$0	$327,317
Marine Employees Commission	$365	$10	$375
Agencies with no changes	$319,843	$0	$319,843
Totals	$4,812,033	$10	$4,812,043

2003-05 Supplemental Budget Changes
1.   technical correction on the ferry fuel proviso number;
2.   added $10,000 to Marine Employees Commission to address caseload backlog; and
3.   removes roundabout from SR 206 safety project.

Appropriation: The sum of $5,734,813 for 2005-07; $4,812,033 revised appropriation for 2003-05.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This package raises awareness of safety issues on county roads, and provides ways to help get local projects done. The package does a good job at identifying the projects that relate to the state's transportation needs. It is time for the state to move ahead. Both the 520 bridge and the viaduct are important projects to the state. This package and the budget have many of the top priority projects for Clark County on the list, one of them being the Columbia River Crossing. They also appreciated the establishment of a Freight Mobility Investment Account, and a rail study. The state needs to make strategic investments to compete in the international market. The budget has the projects in it that are critical to the State of Washington to be able to get freight moving, help with congestion relief and fix safety issues on many of the roadways. The projects will help the state economy by attracting new business to Washington if transportation can move goods from one location to another efficiently.

The Department of Licencing (DOL) appreciated the support that they have received in the past and in this budget. There were a couple of items that the DOL would like the members to reconsider. The first is the replacement of the take a number and the driver testing machines at the driver license offices and also funding the agency's requested indirect costs.

Testimony Against: The 520 Floating Bridge is an important corridor and its funding is critical since there are no alternative routes if something was to happen to the 520 bridge. Recommendation that the 520 bridge receives additional funding.

There was also talk about a provisoes that would not allow toll credits or federal pass through funding for the Bremerton Tunnel project.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Mark Brown, City of Vancouver, City of Ridgefield, and Clark County Transportation Alliance; Rick Wickman, Identity Clark County; Liz Luce, Department of Licensing; Michael Shaw, Washington State Association of Counties; Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association; Terry Finn, Port of Seattle; Cliff Benson, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board; Bill Stauffacher, Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway; David Foster, City of Seattle; Ashley Probart, Association of Washington Cities; Douglas MacDonald, Washington State Department of Transportation; Steve Gorcester, Transportation Improvement Board; Vickie Mercer, Vashon Maury Island Community Council Transportation Quorum; Peter Thein, Washington State Transit Association; and Randy Ray, Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.

(Opposed): Will Knedlik, 520 User Coalition; Del Knauss; Louis Soriano; and Larry Tonge.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.