SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6531

BYSenator Patterson

Authorizing port districts to spend money on road improvements.

Senate Committee on Transportation

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 30, 1990

Majority Report:     That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6531 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

     Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Thorsness, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bender, Benitz, Conner, DeJarnatt, Hansen, McMullen, Madsen, Murray, Nelson, Patrick, Sellar.

Senate Staff:Gene Baxstrom (786-7303)

                January 31, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 30, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Port districts are currently authorized to make road improvements within the port properties.  It is unclear whether a port district may expend funds beyond its port properties to maintain local or state roadways.

In many instances, significant amounts of traffic on local or state roads may involve commerce going to or from a port facility.  Currently, the Port of Whitman County is party to an agreement, along with other entities, to improve access roads including a portion of Idaho State highway, which serve the port facility at Wilma.

SUMMARY:

A port district is authorized to expend up to $50,000 in port funds towards upgrading, improving or repairing any primary service road accessing the port over which 90 percent or more of the freight destined for the port was hauled during the preceding year.

The funds authorized for expenditure are to be expended by the port commission in conjunction with any plan of improvements of the state of Washington and adjoining state or county or municipal government.  This expenditure is to be without regard to whether expenditures are made for a road located within the state of Washington or an adjoining state.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The limit of $50,000 in expenditures and the requirement that 90 percent of freight must have been hauled over that road are deleted from the authorization for ports to expend funds for roads which serve the port facility.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    none requested

Senate Committee - Testified:   Don White, Washington Public Ports Association (pro); Jack Thompson, Port of Whitman County (for); Jerry Lenzi, Department of Transportation (pro)