PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Proposed changes to local match requirements for transportation projects funded by the transportation partnership program and the arterial improvement program. Potentially impacted: WAC 479-12-150 Matching ratios for arterial improvement program projects and 479-14-180 Local/private matching funds on transportation partnership program projects.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 47.26 RCW, Development in urban areas -- Urban arterials.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 47.26.260 requires the board to consider the financial resources available to counties and cities when determining matching fund requirements. Currently, two different approaches are used to determine match requirements for the Transportation Improvement Board's (TIB's) two urban programs. The transportation partnership program requires a minimum local match of 20% of the total project cost. The minimum match for the AIP is determined by population and ranges between 10 and 20%. These requirements extend to all incorporated cities with a population of 5,000 or greater and all counties that contain a federal urban area.
Historically, the TIB has used population to determine an agency's required match. After reviewing existing match requirements, staff believes population may not be the most precise indicator of how much local match should be required. Instead of using population to determine match requirements, the TIB is recommending an approach that uses city valuation or county road levy valuation.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: This proposal does not impact state or federal agencies.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by submitting written comments to Stevan Gorcester, Executive Director, Washington State Transportation Improvement Board, P.O. Box 40901, Olympia, WA 98504-0901, fax (360) 586-1165, e-mail SteveG@tib.wa.gov.
October 1, 2004
Richard F. Struna
Chief Financial Officer