S-1805

AN ACT Relating to investing in human resources for transportation; amending RCW 47.80.030; adding a new section to chapter 49.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 47.01 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 47.06 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that a skilled technical work force is necessary for maintaining, preserving, and improving Washington's transportation system. The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation found that state and local transportation agencies are showing signs of a work force that is insufficiently skilled to operate the transportation system at its highest level. This act is intended to explore methods for fostering a stronger industry in transportation planning and engineering.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 49.04 RCW to read as follows:

The apprenticeship council shall work with the department of transportation, local transportation jurisdictions, local and state joint apprenticeships, representatives of transportation labor groups, and representatives of the state's universities and community and vocational colleges to establish technical apprenticeship opportunities specific to the needs of transportation. The council shall issue a report of findings and recommendations to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 1, 2001. The report must include, but not be limited to, findings and recommendations regarding the establishment of transportation technical training programs within the community and vocational college system and in the state universities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:

The department of transportation shall work with local transportation jurisdictions and representatives of transportation labor groups to establish a human resources skills bank of transportation professionals. The skills bank must be designed to allow all transportation authorities to draw from it when needed. The department shall issue a report of findings and recommendations to the transportation committees of the legislature by December 1, 2001. The report must include, but not be limited to, identification of any statutory or administrative rule changes necessary to create the skills bank and allow it to function in the manner described.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 47.06 RCW to read as follows:

The state-interest component of the statewide multimodal transportation plan must include a plan for enhancing the skills of the existing technical transportation work force.

Sec. 5. RCW 47.80.030 and 1998 c 171 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each regional transportation planning organization shall develop in cooperation with the department of transportation, providers of public transportation and high capacity transportation, ports, and local governments within the region, adopt, and periodically update a regional transportation plan that:

(a) Is based on a least cost planning methodology that identifies the most cost-effective facilities, services, and programs;

(b) Identifies existing or planned transportation facilities, services, and programs, including but not limited to major roadways including state highways and regional arterials, transit and nonmotorized services and facilities, multimodal and intermodal facilities, marine ports and airports, railroads, and noncapital programs including transportation demand management that should function as an integrated regional transportation system, giving emphasis to those facilities, services, and programs that exhibit one or more of the following characteristics:

(i) Crosses member county lines;

(ii) Is or will be used by a significant number of people who live or work outside the county in which the facility, service, or project is located;

(iii) Significant impacts are expected to be felt in more than one county;

(iv) Potentially adverse impacts of the facility, service, program, or project can be better avoided or mitigated through adherence to regional policies;

(v) Transportation needs addressed by a project have been identified by the regional transportation planning process and the remedy is deemed to have regional significance; and

(vi) Provides for system continuity;

(c) Establishes level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes, with the exception of transportation facilities of statewide significance as defined in RCW 47.06.140. These regionally established level of service standards for state highways and state ferries shall be developed jointly with the department of transportation, to encourage consistency across jurisdictions. In establishing level of service standards for state highways and state ferries, consideration shall be given for the necessary balance between providing for the free interjurisdictional movement of people and goods and the needs of local commuters using state facilities;

(d) Includes a financial plan demonstrating how the regional transportation plan can be implemented, indicating resources from public and private sources that are reasonably expected to be made available to carry out the plan, and recommending any innovative financing techniques to finance needed facilities, services, and programs;

(e) Assesses regional development patterns, capital investment and other measures necessary to:

(i) Ensure the preservation of the existing regional transportation system, including requirements for operational improvements, resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of existing and future major roadways, as well as operations, maintenance, modernization, and rehabilitation of existing and future transit, railroad systems and corridors, and nonmotorized facilities; and

(ii) Make the most efficient use of existing transportation facilities to relieve vehicular congestion and maximize the mobility of people and goods;

(f) Sets forth a proposed regional transportation approach, including capital investments, service improvements, programs, and transportation demand management measures to guide the development of the integrated, multimodal regional transportation system; ((~~and~~))

(g) Where appropriate, sets forth the relationship of high capacity transportation providers and other public transit providers with regard to responsibility for, and the coordination between, services and facilities; and

(h) Provides for training that enhances the skills of the existing technical transportation work force.

(2) The organization shall review the regional transportation plan biennially for currency and forward the adopted plan along with documentation of the biennial review to the state department of transportation.

(3) All transportation projects, programs, and transportation demand management measures within the region that have an impact upon regional facilities or services must be consistent with the plan and with the adopted regional growth and transportation strategies.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The department of labor and industries, in cooperation with the department of transportation, shall conduct an assessment of the current practices, including survey techniques, used in setting prevailing wages for those trades related to transportation facilities and transportation project delivery. At a minimum, the assessment must examine the possibility of cost savings through reduced labor costs in some areas of the state, particularly nonmetropolitan areas. A final report must be submitted to the governor and the transportation committees of the senate and house of representatives by December 1, 2001.