BILL REQ. #:  H-4000.1 

Read first time 01/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to mountains to Sound greenway outdoor recreation projects; creating new sections; making appropriations; and providing expiration dates.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The sum of six million one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the department of community, trade, and economic development mountains to Sound greenway project account, created in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The department of community, trade, and economic development mountains to Sound greenway project account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the appropriation in section 1 of this act must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of projects listed in section 3 of this act. Only the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
     (2) This section expires June 30, 2009. Any moneys remaining in the account on June 30, 2009, must be transferred to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The department of community, trade, and economic development shall expend funds from the department of community, trade, and economic development mountains to Sound greenway project account for the purposes of the projects listed in this section. The department may expend funds for direct project management. The department may expend more or less funds on each project than the amounts listed in this section, provided that the total expenditures do not exceed the funds in the account.
     (1) Squak mountain trail upgrades: Improve twenty-two-mile equestrian and hiking trail network, including multiple bridges, on state parks and recreation commission and King county lands . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $400,000
     (2) Tiger mountain trail and trailhead upgrades: Improve seventy-three-mile equestrian/biker/hiker trail system on Washington state department of natural resources' lands, including multiple bridges, improve high point trailhead . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000,000
     (3) Rattlesnake mountain trailhead and trail: Build a new trailhead and complete a new ten-mile trail along ridgetop primarily on Washington state department of natural resources' lands . . . . . . . . . . . . $600,000
     (4) Mailbox peak trail: Build a new trail to the summit to create a new "Mt. Si trail" type opportunity on Washington state department of natural resources' land . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
     (5) Middle fork valley access improvements: Improve family and other user access to this wildland valley forty miles from Seattle. Priority projects include: Building CCC trailhead and opening of the bike/equestrian/hiker CCC trail into the middle fork; toilets, signage, parking, and picnic facilities at access points for kayakers and other users . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500,000
     (6) Greenway site signage for major trailheads and recreation sites: Create unified system of user and agency information, greenway history, and directional and safety messages to educate people concerning proper use and increase identity. Install signage at a minimum of twenty different sites . . . . . . . . . . . . $450,000
     (7) Mountain bike and equestrian trail network enhancements: Priorities include: Developing a new forty-plus-mile network in the south fork Snoqualmie basin (part of state parks and recreation commission's centennial vision); building a new trailhead; and upgrading a twelve-plus-mile network on Taylor mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . $900,000
     (8) Greenway legacy planning: Assist greenway land managers (the Washington state parks and recreation commission, the department of natural resources, King and Kittitas counties, and the United States forest service) in creating a cooperative and cost-effective long-range management plan for the 700,000 acre greenway . . . . . . . . . . . . $250,000
     (9) Snoqualmie Point greenway scenic viewpoint park: Leverage matching funds from the Gates foundation ($500,000) and federal highways ($596,000) to complete view promontory, view shelter, and restroom facilities at a dramatic regional visitor facility on I-90, managed by the city of Snoqualmie . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The sum of three million nine hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the state parks and recreation commission mountains to Sound greenway project account, created in section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) The state parks and recreation commission mountains to Sound greenway project account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the appropriation in section 4 of this act must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the projects listed in section 6 of this act. Only the director of the parks and recreation commission or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
     (2) This section expires June 30, 2009. Any moneys remaining in the account on June 30, 2009, must be transferred to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The state parks and recreation commission shall expend funds from the state parks and recreation commission mountains to Sound greenway project account to the state parks and recreation commission for the purposes of the projects listed in this section. The commission may expend funds for direct project management. The commission may expend more or less funds on each project than the amounts listed in this section, provided that the total expenditures do not exceed the funds in the account.
     (1) Upper Kittitas county snopark improvements: Priorities include: Upgrading the state parks and recreation commission's busiest winter recreation snopark at Crystal Springs and building a new Cabin Creek snopark; improving parking; adding sanitation/water; creating areas for different users; and developing as access for Iron Horse state park/John Wayne trail . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000
     (2) Iron Horse state park/John Wayne trail enhancements and access: Priority projects include: Acquiring twenty-plus-acre rail yard at south Cle Elum depot for Iron Horse trailhead; creating connection of Coal Mines and John Wayne trails near Cle Elum; and improving group campsites, trailheads, parking, water supplies, railings, and trail tread on Kittitas county portion of this cross-state trail . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500,000
     (3) Olallie/Mt. Washington state park enhancements: Improve access at this state park. Priorities include: Acquiring inholding on Mt. Washington and upgrading rock climber and hiker route to the summit; building group camp for Iron Horse users and climbers; and building picnic shelters, sanitation facilities, and trail upgrades for family river access . . . . . . . . . . . . $900,000

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the department of transportation mountains to Sound greenway project account, created in section 8 of this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   (1) The department of transportation mountains to Sound greenway project account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the appropriation in section 7 of this act must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of projects listed in section 9 of this act. Only the director of the department of transportation or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
     (2) This section expires June 30, 2009. Any moneys remaining in the account on June 30, 2009, must be transferred to the state general fund.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   The sum of five million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the department of transportation mountains to Sound greenway project account to the department of transportation for the purposes of the projects listed in this section. The department may expend funds for direct project management. The department may expend more or less funds on each project than the amounts listed in this section, provided that the total expenditures do not exceed the funds in the account.
     (1) Protect I-90/state route no. 18 interchange from commercial development: Acquire unprotected parcels in undeveloped interchange to protect visual characteristics of the national scenic byway . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000,000
     (2) City to mountains regional trail gap fund: Finish one of the four short gaps that remain in the major one hundred mile city-to-mountains trail for walkers, bicyclists, and horse riders. Gaps include: (a) High point to Preston; (b) Eastgate; (c) south Lake Sammamish; and (d) Preston to Snoqualmie. This project relates to the state parks and recreation commission's centennial vision . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000,000