SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6031

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                 Transportation, March 3, 1999

Title:  An act relating to regional transportation corridors.

Brief Description:  Facilitating regional transportation corridors.

Sponsors:  Senators Haugen, Horn, Gardner, Patterson and Goings.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/2/99, 3/3/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6031 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Ashley Probart (786-7319)

Background:  Population and traffic growth in the state's largest urban counties have continued to place significant strain on the transportation system.  As a consequence, there are continued increases in commuting travel time, diminished reliable transit service, and delays in freight shipments.

Traffic congestion in urban areas does not recognize community boundaries.  In addition, there has been an increasing interest on behalf of the state and local jurisdictions to examine transportation investment strategies that result in a coordinated, regional transportation system approach that will ensure reliable travel across jurisdictions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  A multi‑agency corridor committee is established to develop strategies to identify and achieve regional transportation corridor networks.  The committee must develop regional corridor network criteria and make recommendations to the Legislature on how to achieve:  (a) consistent corridor planning approaches that can be implemented across jurisdictions; (b) corridor investment strategies that address the rehabilitation of existing corridors and provide for congestion relief; and (c) state transportation policy and funding programs that can implement the corridor planning, investment, and operations approach.

In developing regional corridor network criteria, the committee is required to consider benefits and costs of a regional network, implementation of land use patterns that are consistent with the Growth Management Act, and legislative and local government actions that can achieve consistent investments in regional transportation corridors.

The Transportation Commission, in consultation with the House and Senate Transportation committees will appoint 15 committee members.  The committee is to include state legislators,  a member from the Governor=s Office, and representatives from cities, urban counties, metropolitan transportation planning organizations, transit systems, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development, the Transportation Improvement Board, and the Department of Transportation.  The Secretary of Transportation is to serve as the nonvoting chair of the committee.  The Department of Transportation is to staff the committee.

The Transportation Commission is required to report its findings to the Legislature by December 1, 1999.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The committee membership is clarified to provide more definition on who appoints the multi-agency corridor committee, the size of the committee, and committee staffing.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  This bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  This bill further defines the corridor investment approach that is occurring at the state highway level and recognizes the need to coordinate regional transportation networks.  It will assist counties and cities in pursing a regional corridor investment approach.  This bill should be additive to the Governor=s priority of providing congestion relief in identified corridors.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Charlie Howard, Department of Transportation; Jennifer Joly, Governor=s Office (w/concerns); Harold Taniguchi, King County DOT; Gary Molyneaux, King County DOT.