HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5028
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to jurisdictional route transfers.
Brief Description: Transferring jurisdictional route transfer responsibilities from the transportation improvement board to the transportation commission.
Sponsors: Senator Haugen.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 3/16/09, 3/23/09 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Campbell, Driscoll, Eddy, Finn, Flannigan, Moeller, Rolfes, Sells, Simpson, Springer, Takko, Upthegrove, Wallace, Williams and Wood.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Rodne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Cox, Ericksen, Herrera, Johnson, Klippert, Kristiansen and Shea.
Staff: Christie Parker (786-7322)
Background:
A route jurisdiction transfer is the conversion of a state highway into a local road or the conversion of a local road into a state highway. Since 1991, the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) has received and reviewed these transfer requests. The criteria for evaluating these requests is established in state law. If the TIB agrees with the transfer request, the TIB forwards a recommendation to the House and Senate transportation committees.
The TIB is an independent state agency that distributes transportation grant funds to cities and urban counties. The Washington State Transportation Commission's (Commission) duties include setting highway tolls and ferry fares. The Commission also produces the Washington Transportation Plan, which outlines statewide transportation goals and objectives.
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Summary of Bill:
The review of route jurisdiction transfer requests is transferred from the Transportation Improvement Board to the Washington State Transportation Commission.
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Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) The Commission is the natural place for reviewing these requests. When the process was created in 1991, the Commission was viewed as being too close to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Things are different today. The Commission supports this change and can objectively review the transfer requests.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Reema Griffith, Washington State Transportation Commission; and Steve Gorcester, Transportation Improvement Board.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.