BILL REQ. #:  S-4086.1 

Read first time 01/11/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to allocating federal surface transportation program enhancement funds; adding a new section to chapter 47.04 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 47.80 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.04 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Any steering committee that makes final selection of projects funded from federal surface transportation program enhancement funds or a similar program shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that funding for each transportation enhancement activity is allocated such that the allocation meets or exceeds the national average of allocations made for each respective activity. The secretary of transportation may not approve a project list submitted by the steering committee unless it reflects allocation decisions that comply with this section. For the purpose of this section, "transportation enhancement activity" means the eligible project categories designated under 23 U.S.C. Sec. 101(a)(35).
     (2) By December 1, 2007, and every two years thereafter, the department shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature detailing the national average of allocations for each transportation enhancement activity and indicating whether the state's allocations have met or exceeded the national average of allocations made for each respective activity.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 47.80 RCW to read as follows:
     Any regional transportation planning organization that makes funding recommendations regarding the selection of projects funded from federal surface transportation program enhancement funds or a similar program shall ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that funding for each transportation enhancement activity is allocated such that the allocation meets or exceeds the national average of allocations made for each respective activity. For the purpose of this section, "transportation enhancement activity" means the eligible project categories designated under 23 U.S.C. Sec. 101(a)(35).