5803-S.E AMH TR LEAT 053

SSB 5803 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Transportation

   Strike all material after the enacting clause and insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 101. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:

   (1) In 2006, the regional transportation commission was created and tasked with evaluating transportation governance in the central Puget Sound area within the jurisdiction of the puget sound regional council, and with developing options for a new regional transportation governance proposal. The commission's 2006 report to the legislature strongly recommended creating a regional governance entity that has authority over the planning, prioritizing, and funding of regional projects in the area.

   (2) The existing approach to transportation governance could be strengthened and improved such that a more coordinated effort is made to maintain our transportation infrastructure and road and transit capacity, as well as provide for planning and funding of transportation, that increases public confidence in governmental ability to solve transportation problems.

   (3) While establishing a regional governance entity would help streamline decision-making, reduce congestion, and integrate multimodal transportation planning and prioritization in the region, such an undertaking is complex and there is considerable value in continuing to examine relevant issues as we take steps towards establishing a regional governance entity.

   (4) A more unified regional transportation governance structure in the central Puget Sound region would result in improved planning, funding, and prioritization of roads and transit systems, and would better meet the current and future needs of the state."

   Correct the title.

EFFECT: Strikes all material in the underlying bill. Makes findings related to regional governance, including the finding that a more unified regional transportation governance structure in the central Puget Sound region would result in improved planning, funding, and prioritization of roads and transit systems, and would better meet the current and future needs of the state.