HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6516

BYSenators Patterson, Kreidler, Zimmerman, Benitz and Conner

Funding bridge replacement on rural arterials.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (22)

      Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Doty, Fisher, Fox, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jacobsen, Jones, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, D. Sommers, Todd, K. Wilson, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 26, 1988

BACKGROUND:

There are three classes of roads in rural areas:  (1) Major collectors which are eligible for both federal aid secondary and Rural Arterial Program (RAP) monies; (2) minor collectors which are only eligible for RAP; and (3) access roads which are not eligible for either RAP or federal aid.

However, federal aid for bridge replacements is permitted for any of the three road classes.  To receive federal aid for bridge replacements, the county must put up about a 20 percent match.

RAP monies are restricted by statute to use for construction and improvement projects on major and minor collectors in rural areas (and for administrative expenses of the County Road Administration Board).  Administrative rules have permitted RAP distributions to be for bridge replacement projects on both major and minor collectors, but not on access roads.

Some counties are not able to match available federal bridge replacement funds for bridges on access roads.

SUMMARY:

The County Road Administration Board (CRAB) is authorized to allow RAP distributions to be used for the construction of replacement bridges funded by the federal bridge replacement program on all county roads in rural areas, including access roads.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ernie Geissler, County Road Administration Board.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill will allow rural arterial funds to be used as a match for federal bridge replacement funds for bridges on county access roads.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.