SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2216
BYRepresentatives Day, D. Sommers, Walk, Moyer, Schmidt, Rector, Wolfe, R. Fisher, Silver, Cooper, Prince, Dellwo and Fuhrman.
Revising provisions for the Spokane river toll bridge.
House Committe on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation
Senate Hearing Date(s):February 14, 1990
Senate Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)
AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 1990
BACKGROUND:
In 1956 the Washington Toll Bridge Authority sold bonds to build the Spokane River Toll Bridge (Maple Street Bridge) in the city of Spokane, and the bridge became the responsibility of the Department of Transportation until the bonds are retired.
Currently there remains outstanding on the bridge $2.0 million in bond debt service plus $600,000 in motor vehicle fund loans.
The bridge deck and approaches have seriously deteriorated and must be replaced. Also, the toll plaza is in need of major repair. The total cost estimate is $3.8 million but the toll bridge fund contains only $1.7 million.
SUMMARY:
The total projected costs for removing the tolls on the Spokane River Toll Bridge (Maple Street Bridge) is $6.4 million. The components are: a) $3.8 million for approaches and repairs; b) $1.99 million for bond debt; and c) $600,000 in loans from the motor vehicle fund.
The outstanding bond debt will be paid from the motor vehicle fund and ownership of the bridge returns to the city of Spokane.
The Department of Transportation will replace the bridge deck using federal bridge replacement funds and upgrade the approaches during the 1991-93 biennium.
The city of Spokane is required to provide $300,000 as partial match for the deck replacement.
The funds remaining in the toll bridge fund ($1.7 million) will be used to repay the motor vehicle fund ($.6 million), remove toll booths, fund preliminary engineering and provide for partial matching fund for bridge deck replacement.
The tolls will be removed when the bonds are retired.
Appropriation: $2.2 million from motor vehicle fund
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: available