Title: An act relating to modifying goals for the planning, operation, and performance of and investment in the state transportation system.

Brief Description: Revising transportation goals.

Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Ericks, Hankins, Simpson, Jarrett, Upthegrove, Murray and Dickerson).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/10/05, 95-0.

Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/31/05.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Staff: Dalene Sprick (786-7321)

Background: In 2002 the Legislature adopted certain recommendations of the state's Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation, including establishing operation, performance, and investment policy goals related to transportation. Some of these policy goals were codified.

Summary of Bill: The transportation goals are changed as follows:

• Maintaining the existing system. The state's transportation system, including interstate highways, state routes, bridges, and local arterials must be maintained and preserved at an optimal percentage life cycle rating.
• Managing the existing system. The performance of the state's transportation system must be measured, and transportation agencies will manage to achieve levels of service that improve system performance over time for all transportation users.
• Investing in the system. Capacity investment decisions relating to the state's transportation system must optimize performance for multiple modes of use and be based on differential performance standards for off-peak and peak hours.

The Legislature's intent is expanded to include an expectation that the Transportation Commission or its successor entity will identify in the budget submission:

• percentage life-cycle ratings,
• service levels, and
• performance standards funded by the budget.

In adopting the budget the Legislature will make changes to those standards necessary to balance transportation needs and economic capabilities of the state and document the changes to the budget findings.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Other: It is obvious that much thought and good intention was behind the revisions made to this legislation, however, it failed to recognize or consider work that has been recently completed in this areas. There needs to be continuity in reporting criteria and it must be simple so that the results conveyed are meaningful to the public. It would be our recommendation to make this into a study that would thoughtfully consider the original language, the new language, and the work being done in this areas and to synthesize this work into a recommendation.

Who Testified: OTHER: Doug Hurley, Chair of TPAB.