BILL REQ. #:  H-1625.1 

Read first time 02/15/11.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to public transportation systems; amending RCW 35.58.2795 and 35.58.2796; adding a new section to chapter 43.19 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 47.04 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 35.58.2795 and 1994 c 158 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     By ((April)) September 1st of each year, the legislative authority of each municipality, as defined in RCW 35.58.272, and each regional transit authority shall prepare a six-year transit development plan for that calendar year and the ensuing five years. The program shall be consistent with the comprehensive plans adopted by counties, cities, and towns, pursuant to chapter 35.63, 35A.63, or 36.70 RCW, the inherent authority of a first-class city or charter county derived from its charter, or chapter 36.70A RCW. The program shall contain information as to how the municipality intends to meet state and local long-range priorities for public transportation, capital improvements, significant operating changes planned for the system, and how the municipality intends to fund program needs. The six-year plan for each municipality and regional transit authority shall specifically set forth those projects of regional significance for inclusion in the transportation improvement program within that region. Each municipality and regional transit authority shall file the six-year program with the state department of transportation, the transportation improvement board, and cities, counties, and regional planning councils within which the municipality is located.
     In developing its program, the municipality and the regional transit authority shall consider those policy recommendations affecting public transportation contained in the state transportation policy plan approved by the state transportation commission and, where appropriate, adopted by the legislature. The municipality shall conduct one or more public hearings while developing its program and for each annual update.

Sec. 2   RCW 35.58.2796 and 2005 c 319 s 101 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department of transportation shall develop an annual report summarizing the status of public transportation systems in the state for the previous calendar year. By ((September)) December 1st of each year, ((copies of)) the report ((shall be submitted)) must be made available to the transportation committees of the legislature and to each municipality, as defined in RCW 35.58.272, and to individual members of the municipality's legislative authority.
     (2) To assist the department with preparation of the report, each municipality shall file a system report by ((April)) September 1st of each year with the state department of transportation identifying its public transportation services for the previous calendar year and its objectives for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of those services. The system report shall address those items required for each public transportation system in the department's report.
     (3) The department report shall describe individual public transportation systems, including contracted transportation services and dial-a-ride services, and include a statewide summary of public transportation issues and data. The descriptions shall include the following elements and such other elements as the department deems appropriate after consultation with the municipalities and the transportation committees of the legislature:
     (((1))) (a) Equipment and facilities, including vehicle replacement standards;
     (((2))) (b) Services and service standards;
     (((3))) (c) Revenues, expenses, and ending balances, by fund source;
     (((4))) (d) Policy issues and system improvement objectives, including community participation in development of those objectives and how those objectives address statewide transportation priorities;
     (((5))) (e) Operating indicators applied to public transportation services, revenues, and expenses. Operating indicators shall include operating cost per passenger trip, operating cost per revenue vehicle service hour, passenger trips per revenue service hour, passenger trips per vehicle service mile, vehicle service hours per employee, and farebox revenue as a percent of operating costs.
     (4) To the extent that information is available, the department report must include descriptive information on any other modes of public transportation, the impact of public transportation on transportation system performance, and how public transportation helps the state meet the transportation system policy goals described in RCW 47.04.280.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 43.19 RCW to read as follows:
     New state facilities must be sited in areas adequately accessible by transit service.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 47.04 RCW to read as follows:
     The legislature recognizes the benefit that transit facilities provide to motor vehicle traffic by facilitating the efficient utilization in the operation of highways and reducing congestion and hazardous driving conditions. The legislature further recognizes that the Washington supreme court has identified these outcomes as implicitly related to the specific highway purposes delineated in the 18th amendment to the state Constitution. As such, it is the intent of the legislature that the department not charge state agencies airspace leases for the use of highway right-of-way for transit facilities. For purposes of this section, "transit facility" means all benches, kiosks, lighting, waste receptacles, and shelters owned by a public transportation system identified under RCW 82.14.045 and regional transit authorities identified under chapter 81.112 RCW.