H-299                _______________________________________________

                                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 17

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives O'Brien, Wineberry, Locke, Baugher, P. King and Lux

Read first time 1/13/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to Interstate 90; adding new sections to chapter 47.20 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the interstate 90 project as planned will create a major traffic corridor through various central Seattle neighborhoods while reducing freeway access to the residents of these areas.

          The legislature recognizes that during the two decades since the interstate 90 project was first proposed, significant efforts and substantial resources have been invested in the economic revitalization of these neighborhoods.  However, the current interstate 90 design threatens to disrupt this economic rebirth by removing the freeway access ramps at 35th avenue south and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.  The loss of freeway access will repress economic revitalization in an area that has been officially recognized by the state as economically distressed.

          The legislature finds that, unlike residents on the east side of the interstate 90 project, the approximately forty thousand residents of the communities of Mt. Baker, Leschi, Madrona, Judkins, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, and the central district of Seattle will not have adequate entrance and exit ramps to use this major transportation corridor.

          The legislature therefore concludes that the retention of the existing ramp at 35th avenue south, Seattle, and the construction of new ramps at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, are in the best interests of the community, the region, and the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The department of transportation shall modify existing design plans for interstate highway improvements to complete state route 90 that (1) retain the existing access ramp configuration at 35th avenue south in Seattle, with traffic signal modification, if necessary, that addresses traffic safety hazards, and (2) add additional entrance and exit ramps at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.  The modification shall meet the design criteria of the federal highway administration.

          The transportation commission under RCW 47.05.040 and 47.05.051 shall revise its six-year program and financial plan for highway improvements, and depart from the priority of projects so established, to reflect the modifications required by this section, and shall reallocate funds to pay for the modifications.

          The modifications required by this section shall be deemed independent retrofit projects funded under state category B funds and, if available, state category C funds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 47.20 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.