BILL REQ. #:  S-4437.1 

Read first time 01/19/2006.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing personal rapid transit and magnetic levitation transit systems; amending RCW 81.104.015; adding new sections to chapter 81.104 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 81.104.015 and 1999 c 202 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "High-capacity transportation system" means a system of public transportation services within an urbanized region operating principally on exclusive rights of way, and the supporting services and facilities necessary to implement such a system, including interim express services and high occupancy vehicle lanes, which taken as a whole, provides a substantially higher level of passenger capacity, speed, and service frequency than traditional public transportation systems operating principally in general purpose roadways. "High-capacity transportation system" also includes magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems.
     (2) "Rail fixed guideway system" means a light, heavy, or rapid rail system, monorail, inclined plane, funicular, trolley, or other fixed rail guideway component of a high-capacity transportation system that is not regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration, or its successor. "Rail fixed guideway system" does not mean elevators, moving sidewalks or stairs, and vehicles suspended from aerial cables, unless they are an integral component of a station served by a rail fixed guideway system.
     (3) "Regional transit system" means a high-capacity transportation system under the jurisdiction of one or more transit agencies except where a regional transit authority created under chapter 81.112 RCW exists, in which case "regional transit system" means the high-capacity transportation system under the jurisdiction of a regional transit authority.
     (4) "Transit agency" means city-owned transit systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal corporations, and public transportation benefit areas.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 81.104 RCW to read as follows:
     Counties are authorized to impose with voter approval, by a simple majority of those voting, dedicated funding sources for magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems as set forth in RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and 81.104.170. The maximum tax rate authorized in RCW 81.104.150, 81.104.160, and 81.104.170 is the maximum allowable rate that may be imposed by all entities in a county for magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 81.104 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Counties implementing magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems are exempt from the population requirements in RCW 81.104.030.
     (2) Counties implementing magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems are authorized to utilize public-private partnerships.
     (3) The department of transportation shall develop, implement, and administer a grant program for state and federal funding identified for magnetic levitation systems and personal rapid transit systems. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint four representatives, two from each legislative caucus, the president of the senate shall appoint four senators, two from each legislative caucus, and the governor shall appoint a business person from private industry and a person with academic credentials in magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems technology to work with the department of transportation to develop the criteria for the grant program. To obtain grants through the grant program, entities shall submit magnetic levitation and personal rapid transit systems technology design proposals to the department of transportation and compete for grant funding.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act takes effect August 1, 2006.