The department shall define the corridors within which bidders may propose to install electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Priority corridors for electric vehicle charging infrastructure include Interstate 5, Interstate 82, Interstate 90, Interstate 405, U.S. Route 2, U.S. Route 12, U.S. Route 101, U.S. Route 395, and roadways connecting midsize communities and major tourist destinations. Priority corridors for hydrogen refueling stations include, but are not limited to, Interstate 5, Interstate 82, Interstate 90, U.S. Route 2, U.S. Route 97, State Route 7, and State Route 167. These priority corridors may be updated over time and bidders may propose other corridors for consideration.

The department believes having publicly accessible electric vehicle fast chargers and hydrogen refueling stations in regular intervals along corridors will provide the basic network necessary to enable alternative fuel vehicle travel between communities. The department further recognizes that an effective corridor requires redundancy and fault tolerance, especially in high-use areas. Bidders are encouraged to submit proposals that clearly meet nationally recognized interval targets by fuel type. The department supports upgrades and improvements that expand driver access to existing charging and refueling sites and/or that add capacity/redundancy in congested, high-volume areas for a more robust, dependable charging network. Bidders must explain how their project will lead to the eventual build out of the corridor, and/or planned infrastructure along the corridor.

A bidder may submit a proposal for a project in a corridor that is not listed above as a priority corridor. The department will consider such proposals under the following guidelines:

• Must meet the requirements listed in WAC 468-602-040.

• Must provide supporting evidence that stations will be located where the charging or hydrogen refueling services are currently in demand and are expected to continue to be in demand in the future by alternative fuel vehicle drivers.