BILL REQ. #:  Z-0256.1 

Read first time 01/18/2005.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to transferring overweight sealed ocean-going containers between ocean marine terminals and railheads; adding a new section to chapter 46.44 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 it is often necessary to move sealed ocean-going containers over segments of state highway within port district property to complete transfer between ship and railcar. The legislature finds that the movement of sealed ocean-going containers within port district property at legal weight limits can be a hardship to the ports and their contractors due to the frequency of moves, the scarcity of appropriate chassis, and the economic incentive to load each container to capacity. The legislature finds that the creation of a heavy haul industrial corridor within port district property would dramatically improve the economy and efficiency of moving sealed ocean-going containers by allowing for permitted moves in excess of legal weight limits over relatively short distances. The legislature finds that the department of transportation has the expertise to analyze vehicle size and weight impacts on the infrastructure and determine the suitability of state highway segments to be heavy haul industrial corridors, set permitted weight limits within established parameters, and manage multijurisdictional agreements for maintenance and repair of the identified corridors.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.44 RCW to read as follows:
     The department of transportation, with respect to state highways maintained within port district property, may make and enter into agreements with port districts and adjacent jurisdictions or agencies of the districts, for the purpose of identifying, managing, and maintaining heavy haul industrial corridors within port district property. The purpose of a heavy haul industrial corridor is to accommodate the movement of overweight sealed ocean-going containers over relatively short distances to complete transfer between ocean marine terminals and railheads.
     The department may issue special permits to vehicles operating in the heavy haul industrial corridor to carry weight in excess of weight limits established in RCW 46.44.041. However, the excess weight on a single axle, tandem axle, or any axle group must not exceed that allowed by RCW 46.44.091 (1) and (2), weight per tire must not exceed six hundred pounds per inch width of tire, and gross vehicle weight must not exceed one hundred five thousand five hundred pounds.
     The entity operating vehicles moving overweight sealed ocean-going containers must pay a fee for each special permit of one hundred dollars per month or one thousand dollars annually, beginning from the date of issue, for all movements under the special permit made on state highways within the heavy haul industrial corridor. All funds collected, except the amount retained by authorized agents of the department under RCW 46.44.096, must be forwarded to the state treasurer and deposited in the motor vehicle fund.
     For purposes of this section, a sealed ocean-going container, including its contents, is considered nondivisible when transported within a heavy haul industrial corridor defined by the department.
     The department of transportation may adopt reasonable rules to implement this section.