Brief Description: Increasing the population threshold for state highway maintenance responsibility in cities and towns.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Swecker and Murray.

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Certain city streets are designated as part of the state highway system. The jurisdiction and control of these streets is defined in statute. Statute provides that in cities or towns with a population of 22,500 or less, the Department of Transportation is responsible and has authority for: roadway surfaces and shoulders; slope stability; route markers and directional signs; traffic control signals; and snow plowing when necessary.

In 1991, a task force was created to study the maintenance responsibilities of cities and towns and to reexamine the population threshold. As a result of the task force's recommendations, the Legislature raised the population threshold from 15,000 to 22,500.

Once a city or town is determined to have exceeded the threshold, the transfer of maintenance responsibilities takes effect three years from the date of the determination. During this time, cities and towns may plan for additional staffing, budgetary and equipment requirements.

Summary: The population threshold at which cities and towns must assume additional responsibility for their streets that are part of the state highway system is raised from 22,500 to 25,000.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   1
House      97   0

Effective:   July 22, 2007