Brief Description: Including four public port districts on the executive board of regional transportation planning organizations.

Sponsors: Senators Rockefeller and Oke.

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law, regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) are voluntary associations of local governments established for transportation planning purposes. In order to qualify for state planning funds, an RTPO containing a county with a population greater than one million must provide voting membership on its executive board to the state Transportation Commission, the state Department of Transportation, and the three largest port districts within the region. Additionally, the RTPO must assure that at least 50 percent of the local elected officials serving on its executive board also serve on transit agency boards or on a regional transit authority.

Summary: In order to qualify for state planning funds, an RTPO containing a county with a population greater than one million must provide voting membership on its executive board to the fourth largest port district within the region, in addition to the other representatives required under existing law.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      47   2
House      95   0   (House amended)
Senate      34   8   (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005