SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5453

              As Passed Senate, February 9, 2000

Title:  An act relating to transportation planning.

Brief Description:  Enhancing regional transportation planning.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Horn, Benton, Haugen, Goings and Eide).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/2/99, 2/9/99 [DPS]; 1/26/00 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/4/99, 46-2; 2/9/00, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Goings, Vice Chair; Benton, Costa, Eide, Heavey, Horn, Jacobsen, Johnson, Morton, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Sheahan, T. Sheldon, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Ashley Probart (786-7319)

Background:  There are 14 regional transportation planning organizations (RTPOs) in Washington State.  Each RTPO has a policy board that provides direction on the implementation of their six-year transportation improvement program (TIP) and their regional transportation plan.

An RTPO policy board is required to include cities, counties, port districts, transit districts, major employers and the Department of Transportation.  Several RTPOs provide information to their state legislators on RTPO functions, but it is not a state requirement.

The six-year TIP proposes regionally significant transportation projects and a financial plan that demonstrates how the program is to be funded.  The six-year TIP is updated at least every two years, but can be amended during the interim.

The regional transportation planning process establishes standards for a regional transportation plan, coordination between RTPOs, and, in conjunction with state planning efforts, identifies and plans improvements that are important to moving people and goods on a regional and statewide basis.

Summary of Bill:  RTPO board membership is modified.  Any member of the House of Representatives or the state Senate whose districts are within the boundaries of the regional transportation planning organization are considered ex-officio, nonvoting board members of the regional transportation planning organization. This does not preclude legislators from becoming full-time, voting board members.

RTPOs are required to provide notification of available publications to state legislators within their boundaries.  Upon request by legislators, RTPO's are required to provide a schedule of their six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  The schedule is to include decision process points, updates and amendments to the six-year TIP.

Through the regional transportation planning process, and through state planning efforts, RTPOs are required to identify and jointly plan the most efficient strategy to address identified deficiencies, including investments in modal integration, in corridors that are important to moving people and goods on a regional and statewide basis.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill further strengthens communications between state legislators and regional transportation planning organizations.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Charlie Howard, Dept. of Transportation (pro).