SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5223

As Passed Senate, March 10, 2001

Title:  An act relating to transportation safety and planning.

Brief Description:  Funding safety audits of rail fixed guideway systems.

Sponsors:  Senators Gardner, Oke, Haugen and Horn; by request of Department of Transportation.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/6/01, 2/7/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/10/01, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Eide, Horn, Jacobsen, Kastama, McAuliffe, Oke, Patterson, Prentice, Shin and Swecker.

Staff:  Jennifer Ziegler (786-7316)

Background:  A rail fixed guideway system (RFGS) is a light, heavy or rapid rail system such as San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit System, a monorail, trolley, or other high capacity transit system.  The federal government requires the state of Washington to conduct triennial safety reviews of rail fixed guideway systems that are not regulated by the federal Railroad Administration.  State law requires the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to conduct on-site visits at each RFGS at a minimum of every three years to perform a formal safety and security review.  The first WSDOT program audit is due in 2002.

Summary of Bill:  The owner or operator of each RFGS must reimburse the reasonable expenses of WSDOT in conducting system audits.  WSDOT must notify the owner or operator of the estimated expenses at least six months in advance of the system audit.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The department will work with the owner/operator of the RFGS to conduct the audits.  The estimated cost of the audits will probably range from $30,000 to $50,000.  The department will cover the administrative costs of the program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Cathy Silins, Department of Transportation.