FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 6897

                              C 293 L 90

BYSenators Patterson, Bender and Murray

Funding a headquarters facility for the department of transportation.

Senate Committee on Transportation

House Committe on Rules

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) district one headquarters facility is currently located at the Eastgate complex in Bellevue.  The lease on this facility expires in June 1992.  In order to have adequate lead time to find a replacement, the DOT began investigating a variety of options in the spring of 1989.

Options considered included continuation of the current Eastgate lease, purchase of the Eastgate complex, generic design/build plans at various industrial parks and purchase of one of a number of existing structures.

After analyzing initial and 50-year life cycle costs, the DOT and the Transportation Commission recommended buying the Blue Cross building in North Seattle.  Nonfinancial considerations were also included such as location, parking, access to public transportation, adequate work space, cafeteria amenities, and housing and day care provisions.

SUMMARY:

The DOT has obtained a 90-day option to purchase the Blue Cross building subject to legislative approval.  A general obligation bond bill for $15 million is requested.  Motor vehicle fuel and special fuel excise taxes are pledged to the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds.

A loan of up to $15 million will be made from the motor vehicle fund to the transportation capital facilities account in the 1990 supplemental budget to cover the initial costs of purchasing the facility.  This loan will be repaid to the motor vehicle fund when bonds are actually sold, probably in the winter of 1992.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   47    0

     House 92  5

EFFECTIVE:March 29, 1990