Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Requires the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to establish a Complete Streets Grant Program.
Creates the Complete Streets Grant Program Account in the State Treasury.
Requires the WSDOT to consult with local jurisdictions prior to any design work when constructing or making major repairs to city streets that are part of a state highway.

Background:

Executive Order E 1028, adopted by the Secretary of Transportation on November 24, 2003, directs the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) employees to implement a context sensitive solutions approach for all department projects. A context sensitive solutions approach means that the WSDOT employees working on projects and facilities should engage affected communities, assure the transportation objectives are clearly described and discussed with the local communities, recognize and address community and citizen concerns, and ensure the project is a safe facility for both the user and community.

The WSDOT's Office of Highways and Local Programs and the State Design Engineer are responsible for carrying out this Executive Order. One approach to context sensitive design is provided by the Institute of Transportation Engineers' (ITE) publication entitled Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. The publication provides context sensitive design principles and guidelines that can be implemented when designing major urban thoroughfares. This approach features community involvement throughout the planning process and addresses all modes of travel within the thoroughfare. "Complete streets" refers to the practice of designing and operating streets so that safe access is provided to all users, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit users. With regard to city streets that are part of a state highway system, currently local communities have jurisdiction and responsibility for curb maintenance and improvements while the WSDOT is responsible for maintaining and preserving the street itself. The WSDOT can relinquish control of street maintenance to the local jurisdiction.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Complete Streets Grant Program.

The Complete Streets Grant Program (grant program) is established in the WSDOT's Highways and Local Programs Division. The purpose of the grant program is to encourage local governments to adopt urban arterial retrofit street ordinances to provide safe access to all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users. Eligible projects:

must be from a local government that has adopted a jurisdiction-wide complete streets ordinance that plans for the needs of all users and is consistent with sound engineering principles; and

must be a street retrofit project that includes the addition of, or significant repair to, facilities that provide street access with all users in mind including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users.

Sound engineering principles are defined as peer-reviewed context sensitive solution guides, reports and publications including the 2006 urban design principles and guidelines found in the publication developed by the ITE entitled Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities. The Complete Streets Grant Program Account (Account) is created in the state treasury. The WSDOT may solicit and receive gifts, grants, or endowments from private and other sources and deposit those funds into the Account. Moneys in the Account may only be spent after appropriation. The WSDOT must report annually to the transportation committees of the Legislature on the status of any grant projects funded by the grant program.

State Highways that Include City Streets.

For the new construction or major street repair projects, which include city streets that are part of state highways and are initially planned or scoped after July 1, 2011, the WSDOT must consult with the local jurisdiction in the design and planning phase. This consultation must include public outreach, meetings with stakeholders, and identification of community goals and priorities. The WSDOT must consider the needs of all users by applying context sensitive design solutions consistent with peer-reviewed context sensitive solutions guides, reports, and publications, including the ITE publication.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The original bill defined local governments as incorporated cities or towns with a population of at least 20,000. The substitute bill removes the population requirement. The original bill defined sound engineering principles as those found in the ITE publication, while the substitute bill expands the definition of sound engineering principles to include peer-reviewed context sensitive solution guides and publications. The substitute bill removes the requirement for a local jurisdiction to provide a funding contribution.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The bill increases options and choices for moving people and goods on urban streets. Public rights of way should be safe and accessible to everyone in the public and complete streets ordinances support accessibility for all. Currently, 11 communities have adopted complete street ordinances and this bill incentivizes other communities to develop such ordinances. Complete streets are safer, preserve local character, promote healthy communities, and help to improve the environment by incentivizing non-motorized transportation that reduces air pollution. In addition, the bill is one piece of an overall approach to reducing diseases (such as obesity), and encouraging physical activities such as walking and cycling. Furthermore, the bill would provide incentives for municipalities to adopt ordinances to be eligible for the funds and would strongly position Washington to compete for designated federal funds for complete street projects.

(In support with concerns) Expanding the definition of eligible projects by allowing all cities and towns with a complete streets ordinance to be able to apply would improve the bill. Definitions of sound engineering principles and context sensitive solutions are too narrowly defined in the bill by referencing the ITE publication. A preferred option is language that references other peer-reviewed sources as well as the ITE resources.

(Opposed) None.