BILL REQ. #:  H-2278.4 

READ FIRST TIME 03/07/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to increasing state participation in public transportation service and planning; amending RCW 47.01.081, 47.66.030, and 47.66.040; adding new sections to chapter 47.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 47.66 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the state needs to reestablish itself as a leader in public transportation.
     The legislature also finds that increased demands on transportation resources require increased coordination among public transportation service providers.
     The legislature also finds that the efficiency of transportation corridors would be enhanced by a more proactive and integrated approach to public transportation service delivery and planning.
     The legislature also finds that the state department of transportation is in the unique position of being able to improve connectivity between service territories of transit agencies and modes of transportation.
     The legislature also finds that the state should be a center of excellence in public transportation planning and research and providing technical assistance to transit agencies serving urban, suburban, and rural areas.
     Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that the state department of transportation be a leader in public transportation. The department shall play a guiding role in coordinating decentralized public transportation services, increasing connectivity between them, advocating for public transportation as a means to increase corridor efficiency, and increasing the integration of public transportation and the highway system.

Sec. 2   RCW 47.01.081 and 1984 c 48 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Initially the department shall be organized into divisions, including the division of highways, the division of public transportation, the division of aeronautics, the division of marine transportation, and the division of transportation planning and budget.
     (2) The secretary may reorganize divisions in order to attain the maximum possible efficiency in the operation of the department. Each division shall be headed by an assistant secretary to be appointed by the secretary. The secretary may also appoint a deputy secretary as may be needed for the performance of the duties and functions vested in the department and may also appoint up to twelve ferry system management positions as defined in RCW 47.64.011. The secretary may delegate to officers within the several divisions of the department authority to employ personnel necessary to discharge the responsibilities of the department. The secretary shall establish an office of transit mobility to strive to ensure the integration of decentralized public transportation services with the state transportation system. The director of the office must report directly to the secretary.
     (3) The officers appointed under this section shall be exempt from the provisions of the state civil service law and shall be paid salaries to be fixed by the governor in accordance with the procedure established by law for the fixing of salaries for officers exempt from the operation of the state civil service law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The primary goals of the office of transit mobility are to facilitate: (a) Connection and coordination of transit services and planning; and (b) maximizing opportunities to use public transportation to improve the efficiency of transportation corridors.
     (2) The duties of the office include, but are not limited to, the following:
     (a) Developing a statewide strategic plan that creates common goals for transit agencies and reduces competing plans for cross-jurisdictional service;
     (b) Developing a park and ride lot program;
     (c) Encouraging long-range transit planning;
     (d) Providing public transportation expertise to improve linkages between regional transportation planning organizations and transit agencies;
     (e) Strengthening policies for inclusion of transit and transportation demand management strategies in route development, corridor plan standards, and budget proposals;
     (f) Providing staff assistance to the regional mobility steering committee established in section 5 of this act. Periodically, the office of transit mobility shall report to the steering committee, identifying needs for increased transit and multimodal coordination and corridor efficiency;
     (g) Developing standards to integrate transit and demand management strategies with regional and local land use plans in order to reduce traffic and improve mobility and access;
     (h) Producing recommendations for the public transportation section of the Washington transportation plan; and
     (i) Participating in all aspects of corridor planning, including freight planning, ferry system planning, and passenger rail planning.
     (3) In forming the office, the secretary shall use existing resources to the greatest extent possible. Specifically, the office of transit mobility shall take over functions as appropriate from the division of public transportation and rail and the urban planning office, including but not limited to the administration of the commute trip reduction program, special needs transportation grants, planning and construction of high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and planning and construction of high-occupancy toll lanes.
     (4) The office of transit mobility shall establish measurable performance objectives for evaluating the success of its initiatives and progress toward accomplishing the overall goals of the office. The office is subject to review by the transportation performance audit board.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     Local and regional transportation agencies shall adopt common transportation goals. The office of transit mobility shall review local and regional transportation plans, including plans required under RCW 35.58.2795, 36.70A.070(6), 36.70A.210, and 47.80.023, to provide for the efficient integration of multimodal and multijurisdictional transportation planning.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 47.66 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The regional mobility steering committee is created. The committee is composed of twelve voting members and four nonvoting, legislative members.
     (2) The twelve voting members are the secretary of transportation or a designee, the director of the transportation improvement board or a designee, and ten members appointed by the governor as follows:
     (a) Three representatives of transit agencies, one from an urban area with a population more than five hundred thousand, one from an area with a population of one hundred thousand to five hundred thousand, and one from an area with a population less than one hundred thousand;
     (b) One representative of nonmotorized transportation interests;
     (c) One representative of transit users;
     (d) One representative of commute trip reduction users;
     (e) One representative from a regional transportation planning organization;
     (f) One representative of counties;
     (g) One representative of cities; and
     (h) One representative from a labor union that represents the most transit workers in this state.
     (3) The four nonvoting members are legislators as follows:
     (a) Two members from the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
     (b) Two members from the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate.
     (4) Gubernatorial appointees of the committee serve two-year terms. Members may not receive compensation for their service on the committee, but will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as members as set forth in RCW 43.03.220.
     (5) The secretary of transportation or a designee shall serve as the chair.

Sec. 6   RCW 47.66.030 and 1996 c 49 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (((1)(a))) The ((transportation improvement board)) regional mobility steering committee is authorized and responsible for the final selection of programs and projects funded from the central Puget Sound public transportation account; public transportation systems account; and ((the intermodal surface transportation and efficiency act of 1991, surface transportation program, statewide competitive)) twenty-two percent of the surface transportation program flexible funds authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the Twenty-first Century and the successor to that act.
     (((b))) The ((board)) steering committee may establish subcommittees as well as technical advisory committees to carry out the mandates of this chapter.
     (((2) Expenses of the board, including administrative expenses for managing the program, shall be paid in accordance with RCW 47.26.140.))

Sec. 7   RCW 47.66.040 and 1995 c 269 s 2606 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The ((transportation improvement board)) regional mobility steering committee shall select programs and projects based on a competitive process consistent with the mandates governing each account or source of funds. The competition shall be consistent with the following criteria:
     (a) Local, regional, and state transportation plans;
     (b) Local transit development plans; and
     (c) Local comprehensive land use plans.
     (2) The following criteria shall be considered by the ((board)) steering committee in selecting programs and projects:
     (a) Objectives of the growth management act, the high capacity transportation act, the commute trip reduction act, transportation demand management programs, federal and state air quality requirements, and federal Americans with Disabilities Act and related state accessibility requirements; and
     (b) Enhancing the efficiency of regional corridors in moving people among jurisdictions and modes of transportation, energy efficiency issues, reducing delay for people and goods, freight and goods movement as related to economic development, regional significance, rural isolation, the leveraging of other funds ((including funds administered by this board)), and safety and security issues.
     (3) The ((board)) steering committee shall determine the appropriate level of local match required for each program and project based on the source of funds.