Washington State
House of Representatives
 BILL
ANALYSIS
Transportation Committee

SSB 5483

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Retaining the distribution of city hardship assistance program funds to cities and towns for street maintenance.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Kauffman, Holmquist, Haugen, Clements, Rasmussen and Shin; by request of Transportation Improvement Board).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Moves City Hardship Assistance Program (CHAP) funding to the Small City Pavement Preservation and Sidewalk Account.
  • Makes unused CHAP funding available to the Small City Pavement Preservation and Sidewalk Program.

Hearing Date: 3/29/07

Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).

Background:

The City Hardship Assistance Program (CHAP) is administered by the Transportation Improvement Board. The CHAP was created by the 1991 Legislature to provide state funding to offset extraordinary costs associated with the transfer of state highways to cities. The CHAP is funded by 1 percent of the motor fuel tax funds distributed to cities and is deposited into the Urban Arterial Trust Account. An eligible agency is a city that has a population of less than 20,000 and has received a transfer of roadway responsibility for a former state route. Projects are selected based on structural condition, accident experience, and relationship to other local agency projects. Cities are reimbursed for the entire project cost. In every odd year, funding not used is distributed to all of the cities in the state based on population.

Summary of Bill:

The CHAP funding will be deposited in the Small City Pavement Preservation and Sidewalk Account. The CHAP is available to cities with a population of 20,000 or less that have received responsibility for a state roadway. Funding not used will remain in the Small City Pavement Preservation and Sidewalk Account. The funding will provide grants to cities with a population under 5,000 through the Small City Preservation and Sidewalk Grant Program. The CHAP provides grant funding for chip seal and overlay of existing pavement and sidewalk maintenance.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.