SENATE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6665

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2002

Title:  An act relating to state route 167.

Brief Description:  Establishing cost‑benefit criteria for SR 167.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Johnson and Keiser).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/4/02, 2/6/02 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  2/18/02, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6665 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Janice Baumgardt (786‑7319)

Background:  The Department of Transportation is currently in the process of developing environmental impact statements for the SR 167/SR 405 intersection, the Port of Tacoma terminus, and the SR 167 extension to SR 509.  The department has not studied the entire corridor between these points.

Summary of Bill:  The Department of Transportation must plan and design an improved and expanded corridor from its intersection with State Route 405 in the north to a new terminus at the Port of Tacoma via proposed State Route 509 in the south.  At a minimum, the environmental permit processes must be conducted in accordance with RCW 47.06 (SB 6188) and may include watershed based mitigation.  The planning must be undertaken in preparation for the ultimate project to be designed and constructed using the design-build processes established under RCW 47.20.780 and 47.20.785 (HB 1680).  The cost-benefit analysis process developed in HB 2304 may be used.  No work associated with SR 167 which has been completed or is ongoing shall be delayed, restricted, or limited by this bill.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This would be an opportunity to take advantage of and demonstrate efficiencies recently passed by the Legislature.  SR 167 is an important connection to and extension from SR 405.  There are gaps in the construction and design of SR1 67.  It makes sense to study and plan an entire corridor as one integrated project.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Steve Johnson; Mayor Pete Lewis, City of Auburn; Doug Levy, City of Kent; Jim Boldt, Port of Tacoma;  Bill LaBorde, Transportation Choices Coalition (with concerns).