H-1359              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1852

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Prince, May and Nelson

Read first time 2/8/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to high-capacity transit systems; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     In order to meet growing traffic demands in the central Puget Sound area, the legislature recognizes that a new and aggressive approach toward the identification, design, and construction of high-capacity transit systems must be taken.  This new approach must be cost effective to make the best use of limited transportation resources.

          Substantial public investment has been made to road and highway development, and a new system should insure optimal use of this investment.  It is imperative that any new high-capacity transit system be compatible with existing road facilities and existing high-capacity vehicles for several reasons.  The development of a new system compatible with existing transportation facilities will provide for more rapid system implementation, a less costly system, and more flexibility to serve changing travel demands.  Such a new system will also be able to use developing technologies for high-capacity roadways and vehicles.

          To insure use of these high-capacity systems, the design of transportation systems must insure certain operational advantages over other modes, principally the single-occupant vehicle.  Reduced travel time, more reliable service, and reduced travel cost are principal advantages that these systems could offer.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The legislative transportation committee shall undertake a study of the feasibility of developing a high-capacity bus system as a means of addressing existing and future travel demands in the central Puget Sound region.  Principal elements of the study shall include:

          (1) Identification of principal corridors for high-capacity transit, and analysis of these corridors for existing and projected travel demand;

          (2) An analysis of different levels of preferential treatment to be provided high-capacity vehicles, including:

          (a)  High-volume corridors using dedicated lanes or exclusive rights of way, or both;

          (b) Mid-volume corridors, where service can be integrated with other types of vehicles, such as high-occupancy vehicle lanes;

          (c) Low-volume corridors where high-capacity vehicles share facilities with general-purpose vehicles; and

          (d)  Identification of other preferential treatments for high-capacity vehicles including pull-out lanes, preemptive signalization, and improved vehicle control systems;

          (3)  Jurisdictional responsibilities in developing such a system including the role of the department of transportation, cities, counties, and local public transportation agencies;

          (4)  An implementation schedule for such a system necessary to meet current and projected travel demand and to maintain mobility within the region; and

          (5) How best to make this system compatible with existing systems and providing for optimum use for the technologies of those systems.

          The study shall evaluate the cost of developing and operating such a system.  The study shall compare the costs of this system  with the costs of alternative systems, including current strategies and the development of a rail transit system to serve the region.  The study shall also compare the ability of each system to meet projected corridor travel demand, respond to changing travel patterns, and provide viable alternative transportation to the private automobile.

          The study shall use, to the extent possible, existing high-capacity studies for the region and system comparisons in other metropolitan areas.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The legislative transportation committee shall employ consultants and use the resources of existing state and local agencies as necessary to conduct the study.  The committee shall report it findings to the legislature before the 1991 session.