H-948                _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1928

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Walk, R. Fisher, Nelson, Patrick, Todd, Miller, Valle, Heavey, P. King and D. Sommers

Read first time 2/10/89 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to local transportation funding; and adding a new chapter to Title 82 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     As used in this chapter, "transit operating agency" means the legislative body of any of the following entities operating a public transportation system:  A city pursuant to RCW 35.92.060, a county that has created an unincorporated transportation benefit area pursuant to RCW 36.57.100 and 36.57.110, a public transportation benefit area pursuant to RCW 36.57A.080 and 36.57A.090, a county transportation authority established pursuant to chapter 36.57 RCW, or a  metropolitan municipal corporation pursuant to chapter 35.58 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     A transit operating agency may, by resolution or ordinance for the sole purpose of providing funds for high capacity transit improvements and programs, impose a surcharge of not more than fifteen percent on the motor vehicle excise tax paid under RCW 82.44.020 (1) and (2) by vehicles registered within the service boundary.  No surcharge may be imposed on vehicles licensed under RCW 46.16.079, 46.16.080, or 46.16.070 except for pickup trucks.

          For the purposes of this chapter, a high capacity transit improvement includes, but is not limited to, transit and carpool lanes, park and ride lots, transit and carpool ramps, meter-bypass ramps, transit freeway stations, transit centers, priority loading lanes for ferries, signal preemption systems, and intersection bypass structures.

          A high capacity transit program includes, but it is not limited to, ridematch and vanpool programs, developer ride-sharing programs, city and county ordinances that control parking provisions, and marketing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     Adjoining transit operating agencies imposing surcharges under section 2 of this act shall establish a high capacity transit implementation policy through interlocal agreement.  The interlocal agreement for high capacity transit improvements shall stipulate the planning, coordination, construction, and reimbursement procedures among the participating jurisdictions, including the state department of transportation where interstate or state highways are affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The transit operating agencies shall contract, before the effective date of a resolution or ordinance imposing a surcharge, the administration and collection to the state department of licensing, which shall deduct a percentage amount, as provided by contract, not to exceed two percent of the surcharge collected for administration and collection expenses incurred by the department.   The remainder of the surcharge authorized by this chapter that is collected by the department of licensing shall be deposited by the department in the high capacity transit tax account, hereby created in the state treasury.  Moneys in the high capacity transit tax account may be spent only for distribution to transit operating agencies imposing a surcharge on motor vehicle excise tax under section 2 of this act.  All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.32, and 82.44 RCW shall, insofar as they are applicable to state motor vehicle excise taxes, be applicable to surcharges imposed pursuant to this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Every three months the state treasurer shall distribute from the high capacity transit tax account to the transit operating agencies the amount of tax collected on behalf of each such transit operating agency, less the deduction provided for in section 3 of this act.  The state treasurer shall make the distribution under this section without appropriation.

          Funds distributed under this section shall be used in the following priorities, subject to an affirmative vote of the governing body of the transit operating agency:

          (1) To accelerate high capacity transit improvements on the interstate highway system;

          (2) To finance high capacity transit improvements on the state highway system and on local arterials;

          (3) For commuter rail transportation.

          The transit operating agency imposing the surcharge may use such funds to construct such projects or may contract with cities, counties, or the state department of transportation to construct the project.

          The transit operating agency imposing the surcharge may issue general obligation bonds to fund such projects and use the funds received under this section to pay the principal and interest on such bonds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 82 RCW.