S-3958.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6581

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen, Gardner, Prentice and Spanel

Read first time 01/19/2000.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Funding improvements to regional transportation systems and facilities.

    AN ACT Relating to payment for improvements to regional transportation systems and facilities; and adding a new chapter to Title 47 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature recognizes that significant new developments will increase burdens on state transportation systems and facilities.  In order to improve the operating efficiency of state transportation systems and facilities, RCW 36.70A.070 requires that concurrent transportation improvements or strategies be made to accommodate the impacts of new development.  The financial burdens of maintaining existing regional transportation facilities and creating capital improvements necessitated by new development must be borne equitably, in a proportional manner by developers, local governments, and the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Local governments that are currently responsible for ensuring that development proposals are consistent with local comprehensive plans and regional transportation plans, shall notify the department of transportation regarding any substantial development proposal that, if approved, would impact state-owned and operated transportation facilities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  As used in this chapter, "substantial development proposals" include, but are not limited to, the siting of industrial parks, shopping malls and other retail centers, large residential complexes, sports arenas, entertainment facilities, and convention centers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The department shall make an assessment of substantial development proposals for regional impacts they may have on state-owned and operated transportation facilities.  If the department determines that the substantial development proposal will impact state-owned and operated transportation facilities, the department shall recommend to the appropriate local governments, in consultation with the relevant regional transportation planning organizations, a fee that must be assessed by the local government upon the developer to defray the cost of mitigating regional impacts to state-owned and operated transportation facilities.  The amount of this suggested fee must not exceed the amount that the department can demonstrate is reasonably necessary as a direct result of the proposed development.  The amount of this suggested fee must reflect a proportional share of the costs of system improvements that are reasonably related to the new development, and will reasonably benefit, the new development.  When assessing mitigation fees, local governments shall also impose the department's suggested fee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  Sections 1 through 4 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW.

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