FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1271

                         C 301 L 93

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Prescribing allowed vehicle lengths.

By Representatives R. Fisher, Schmidt, R. Meyers, Brown, Jones, Horn and Wood; by request of Department of Transportation.

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:  The state of Washington is currently in non-compliance with the following federal vehicle length requirements contained in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991:

(1)Federal law allows the operation of a combination consisting of two 28 and one-half foot trailers.  In order to provide an adequate turning radius, the overall length of the combination is 61 feet.  Current state law restricts the legal length of a double trailer combination to 60 feet.

(2)Federal code sets the minimum overall length for a bus at 45 feet.  With the exception of articulated auto stages and municipal transit vehicles, Washington's statutes limit bus lengths to a maximum of 40 feet.

Summary:  Washington's statutes are brought into compliance with ISTEA's vehicle length provisions:

(1)The legal length of a double trailer combination is increased from 60 to 61 feet to accommodate the operation of a combination consisting of two 28 and one-half foot trailers; and

(2)The length of a bus (auto stage, private carrier bus or school bus) is increased from 40 to 46 feet. 

Votes on Final Passage:

House  91 0

Senate 43 1 (Senate amended)

House  95 0 (House concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1993