WSR 14-01-099

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed December 18, 2013, 7:56 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll rate, fee, discount and policy setting.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 47.46.100, 47.56.030, and 47.56.165.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: State statute requires rates must be sufficient to meet maintenance and operational costs, insurance costs, and make principal and interest payments on the debt. In order to meet the requirements in state law, Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll rates and policies will need to be reviewed and possibly adjusted.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Washington state department of transportation will review and coordinate with the transportation commission on this rule-making process.

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. The transportation commission will hold public input meetings in the regional area surrounding the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in the spring of 2014. More details will be issued in coming months. Public comment will be taken at the public input meetings as well as at the final hearing. Comments may also be submitted in writing to the Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47308, Olympia, WA 98504-7308, phone (360) 705-7070, fax (360) 705-6802, or e-mail transc@wsdot.wa.gov.

December 18, 2013

Reema Griffith

Executive Director