2124-SAMSHAUGS3452.2SHB 2124S AMD653By Senators Haugen, SweckerADOPTED 04/22/2005 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert thefollowing:NEW SECTION.Sec. The legislature finds that the state needsto reestablish itself as a leader in public transportation. The legislature also finds that increased demands on transportationresources require increased coordination among public transportationservice providers. The legislature also finds that the efficiency of transportationcorridors would be enhanced by a more proactive and integrated approachto public transportation service delivery and planning. The legislature also finds that the state department oftransportation is in the unique position of being able to improveconnectivity between service territories of transit agencies and modesof transportation. The legislature also finds that the state should be a center ofexcellence in public transportation planning and research and providingtechnical assistance to transit agencies serving urban, suburban, andrural areas. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that the statedepartment of transportation be a leader in public transportation. Thedepartment shall play a guiding role in coordinating decentralizedpublic transportation services, increasing connectivity between them,advocating for public transportation as a means to increase corridorefficiency, and increasing the integration of public transportation andthe highway system.NEW SECTION.Sec. A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCWto read as follows: (1) The secretary shall establish an office of transit mobility.The purpose of the office is to facilitate the integration of 1 decentralized public transportation services with the statetransportation system. The goals of the office of transit mobilityare: (a) To facilitate connection and coordination of transit servicesand planning; and (b) maximizing opportunities to use publictransportation to improve the efficiency of transportation corridors. (2) The duties of the office include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: (a) Developing a statewide strategic plan that creates common goalsfor transit agencies and reduces competing plans for crossjurisdictional service; (b) Developing a park and ride lot program; (c) Encouraging longrange transit planning; (d) Providing public transportation expertise to improve linkagesbetween regional transportation planning organizations and transitagencies; (e) Strengthening policies for inclusion of transit andtransportation demand management strategies in route development,corridor plan standards, and budget proposals; (f) Recommending best practices to integrate transit and demandmanagement strategies with regional and local land use plans in orderto reduce traffic and improve mobility and access; (g) Producing recommendations for the public transportation sectionof the Washington transportation plan; and (h) Participating in all aspects of corridor planning, includingfreight planning, ferry system planning, and passenger rail planning. (3) In forming the office, the secretary shall use existingresources to the greatest extent possible. (4) The office of transit mobility shall establish measurableperformance objectives for evaluating the success of its initiativesand progress toward accomplishing the overall goals of the office. (5) The office of transit mobility must report quarterly to thesecretary, and annually to the transportation committees of thelegislature, on the progress of the office in meeting the goals andduties provided in this section.NEW SECTION.Sec. A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCWto read as follows: Local and regional transportation agencies shall adopt common 2 transportation goals. The office of transit mobility shall reviewlocal and regional transportation plans, including plans required underRCW 35.58.2795, 36.70A.070(6), 36.70A.210, and 47.80.023, to providefor the efficient integration of multimodal and multijurisdictionaltransportation planning.Sec. RCW 47.66.030 and 1996 c 49 s 3 are each amended to readas follows: (1)(((a))) The ((transportation improvement board is authorized andresponsible for the final selection of programs and projects fundedfrom the central Puget Sound public transportation account; publictransportation systems account; and the intermodal surfacetransportation and efficiency act of 1991, surface transportationprogram, statewide competitive)) department shall establish a regionalmobility grant program. The purpose of the grant program is to aidlocal governments in funding projects such as intercounty connectivityservice, park and ride lots, rush hour transit service, and capitalprojects that improve the connectivity and efficiency of ourtransportation system. The department shall identify costeffectiveprojects that reduce delay for people and goods and improveconnectivity between counties and regional population centers. Thedepartment shall submit a prioritized list of all projects requestingfunding to the legislature by December 1st of each year. (((b))) (2) The ((board)) department may establish ((subcommitteesas well as technical)) an advisory committee((s)) to carry out themandates of this chapter. (((2) Expenses of the board, including administrative expenses formanaging the program, shall be paid in accordance with RCW 47.26.140.)) (3) The department must report annually to the transportationcommittees of the legislature on the status of any grants projectsfunded by the program created under this section.Sec. RCW 47.66.040 and 1995 c 269 s 2606 are each amended toread as follows: (1) The ((transportation improvement board)) department shallselect ((programs and)) projects based on a competitive process((consistent with the mandates governing each account or source of 3 funds)). The competition shall be consistent with the followingcriteria: (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))department in selecting programs and projects: (a) Objectives of the growth management act, the high capacitytransportation act, the commute trip reduction act, transportationdemand management programs, federal and state air quality requirements,and federal Americans with Disabilities Act and related stateaccessibility requirements; and (b) Enhancing the efficiency of regional corridors in moving peopleamong jurisdictions and modes of transportation, energy efficiencyissues, reducing delay for people and goods, freight and goods movementas related to economic development, regional significance, ruralisolation, the leveraging of other funds ((including funds administeredby this board)), and safety and security issues. (3) The ((board)) department shall determine the appropriate levelof local match required for each ((program and)) project based on thesource of funds.NEW SECTION.Sec. A new section is added to chapter 47.66 RCWto read as follows: Beginning in 2005, and every other year thereafter, the departmentshall examine the division's existing grant programs, and the methodsused to allocate grant funds, to determine the program's effectiveness,and whether the methods used to allocate funds result in an equitabledistribution of the grants. The department shall submit a report ofthe findings to the transportation committees of the legislature.NEW SECTION.Sec. If Senate Bill No. 6103 is not enacted byJune 30, 2005, this act is null and void. 4 SHB 2124S AMD653By Senators Haugen, SweckerADOPTED 04/22/2005 In line 2 of the title, after planning; strike the remainder ofthe title and insert amending RCW 47.66.030 and 47.66.040; adding newsections to chapter 47.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 47.66RCW; and creating new sections.--- END --- 5