Brief Description: Authorizing the creation of a small city or town street and sidewalk improvement program.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Mulliken).

Hearing Date: 3/30/05

Staff: Gene Baxstrom (786-7303).

Background:

The 1999-2001 biennial transportation budget provided five million dollars to fund a grant program for small city pavement preservation through the Department of Transportation's Local Program. Competitive grants were made available to cities or towns with a population of two thousand five hundred or less who agreed to adopt a pavement management system. Grants made under the program averaged fifty to seventy thousand dollars per project and were exhausted by 2003.

Summary of Bill:

The Small City Pavement and Sidewalk Account is created in the State Treasury. State funds appropriated from the account must be used for small city pavement or sidewalk projects selected by the Transportation Improvement Board. Eligibility for funds is restricted to cities and towns with both a population of less than five thousand and, depending on the project, a pavement management system or proposed sidewalk improvement that meets certain criteria. The account will retain its own interest income.

The bill contains a null and void clause if funding is not provided by June 30, 2005.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2005.