SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1035

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Walk, Vekich, Madsen, Walker, Fisch, Spanel, Hine, H. Sommers, Jacobsen, Todd, Bristow, Cantwell, K. Wilson, Leonard,  Lux, Unsoeld, Allen, Grimm, Winsley, Nelson, Cole, Scott, Baugher, Ebersole, Niemi, Sutherland, Brekke, Wang, Basich, Wineberry and P. King) 

Creating the rail development commission.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 31, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Peterson, Chairman; Hansen, Vice Chairman; Tanner, Vice Chairman; Bailey, Barr, Bender, Conner, DeJarnatt, Garrett, Halsan, Nelson, Patterson, Smitherman, West.

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

                  April 3, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 31, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Since 1970 the total miles of rail line in this state have declined from 5,200 to 3,600 miles.  More than 1,000 miles of track have been abandoned in the 1980s when federal law eased railroad abandonment procedures.  Many of these abandoned rail lines served rural areas and carried primarily agricultural commodities.  The abandonment of rail service has resulted in increased use of motor freight carriage on both rural county roads and on state highways.

The Legislature has, since 1983, enacted numerous provisions in state law to address the rail freight abandonment issue.  These have included legislation authorizing the creation of county rail districts to enable local areas to support rail freight services, authorizing port districts to operate rail services, creating a state rail assistance account to provide financial aid to local rail efforts, and authorizing the Department of Transportation to acquire abandoned rail rights of way in order to enhance the likelihood of the reestablishment of rail services.  These programs, together with federal rail assistance have provided limited support for retaining rail services.

State involvement with rail passenger service has largely been in planning and study efforts.  The state has participated in federal studies for improved rail passenger service in the West Coast corridor, with a major study being completed in 1978.  Evaluations of high-speed type systems in Western Washington have been done by the Legislative Transportation Committee both in the early 1970s and in 1984.  The most recent study recommended increased efforts to preserve rail rights of way for future rail needs, either for high-speed or light rail services.

The Puget Sound Council of Governments and METRO (King County) recently completed a Multi-Corridor Study to assess future needs for improved transportation in the Puget Sound region.  That study recommended that a light rail system be implemented by the year 2020 to serve the region's transportation needs.

There have been numerous studies of specific rail freight and rail passenger needs in Washington state, and such studies have found that many efforts to enhance and/or preserve elements of rail service are worthwhile. There has not been, however, a legislatively-sponsored study to evaluate all of these elements in a comprehensive manner and to make specific recommendations to the Legislature as to institutional arrangements, funding programs and right-of-way preservation policies necessary to implement such systems.

SUMMARY:

A nineteen-member rail development commission is created to examine rail freight and rail passenger issues.  The issues related to rail freight include identification of funding levels necessary to assist local efforts and preserve essential rail corridors, and institutional changes necessary to enhance state and local rail freight efforts.  Rail passenger issues to be studied include light rail system development including institutional alternatives for constructing and operating a system, interim steps for such systems including rights-of-way preservation, funding for such systems, and the future role of intercity systems, both conventional and high- speed.

Fourteen members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor and consist of four county- and four city-elected officials, as well two citizens from both Western and Eastern Washington, a railroad representative, and a labor representative.  Other members include the secretary of Transportation and another departmental staff person, the director of the Washington State Transportation Center, the director of the Public Ports Association, and the president of the Washington State Transit Association or a designee. Four nonvoting legislative members are appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Transportation Committee.

The Commission is to elect its chair and is granted powers necessary to carry out its prescribed duties.  The Commission may employ staff and in addition, the Legislative Transportation Committee, Washington State Transportation Center, and the Department of Transportation may provide staff support.

The Commission is to report its findings related to rail freight to the Legislature by December 1, 1987.  Other findings are to be reported by December 1, 1988, with an interim report in December, 1987.  The Commission is dissolved on June 30, 1989.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The Governor is to appoint 16 members of the Commission, the same 14 as originally provided plus a member to represent the Washington State Transit Association and one to represent the Washington Public Ports Association.  The president of the Transit Association and the director of the Ports Association were previously designated to be ex officio members of the Commission.  The Governor's appointments are to be two from each congressional district.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect June 25, 1987.

Senate Committee - Testified: Councilman George Benson, City of Seattle; Jim Tooley, Department of Transportation; Karl Kottman, Washington State Council of Farm Cooperatives