FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5129

                                  C 510 L 87

BYSenators Talmadge, Garrett, Lee and Stratton

Authorizing revenue bonds for a toll bridge on First Avenue South in Seattle.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The First Avenue South bridge is located on the Duwamish waterway in south Seattle.  The bridge, designed in the 1950s to connect Seattle with SR 99, currently links SR 99 on the north with SR 509 and SR 518 to the south.

The existing bridge consists of five ten-foot wide lanes and the center lane is operated as a reversible lane during peak hours.  Traffic volumes across the bridge have increased by 40 percent since 1972 according to an independent study prepared for the Washington State Department of Transportation by Parsons Brinckerhoff in 1985.  The study concluded that traffic congestion, high accident rates, and hazardous conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians make the bridge unsafe.

The bridge is estimated to cost approximately $100 million, based upon costs for 1992.  A 52 cent toll would be required to pay back a toll bond.  With this pricing it is estimated that a 23 percent diversion of traffic would occur resulting in an average daily traffic load of about 65,000.

The 1985 study recommended a tri-partisan approach for payment of the bridge.  The state would pay part from category C funds since the bridge is part of a state route; the Port of Seattle would pay part since it is a large landowner within the area and pays no taxes; and locals would pay the remainder through tolls since they are the beneficiaries of the bridge.

SUMMARY:

The Transportation Commission is granted permission to construct a new First Avenue South bridge entirely or in part with toll-financed revenue bonds.  The Commission must first conduct a study, paid for from category "C" funds, to determine the economic and operational feasibility of a toll-financed bridge, as well as whether it would be allowable under federal law.  If the Commission concludes that construction is viable, the Commission may then issue revenue bonds and impose and collect tolls for the purpose of funding the revenue bonds.  The Commission must seek additional funding for the bridge from local sources.  Any funding obtained from local sources will be matched by an equal amount of category C state funds.

The city of Seattle, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, is authorized to conduct a study to determine whether it is operationally feasible and consistent with federal law for the city to collect tolls on the existing bridge to "prefund" the construction of a new bridge.  The study is to be paid for wholly from city funds.  If it is determined that charging tolls is feasible and consistent with federal law, then the city is authorized to construct, operate and maintain toll facilities and to set the toll rates.  The toll collections, less the cost of administration, will be used solely for construction of the new bridge.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    47     0

      House 97   0 (House amended)

      Senate    49     0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 26, 1987