AN
ACT Relating to integration of transportation and land use planning; amending
RCW 35.63.060, 35A.63.060, 47.05.051, and 47.06.040; and adding a new section
to chapter 47.26 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
35.63.060 and 1988 c 127 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The
commission may act as the research and fact finding agency of the
municipality. To that end it may make such surveys, analyses, researches and
reports as are generally authorized or requested by its council or board, or by
the state with the approval of its council or board. The commission, upon such
request or authority may also:
(1)
Make inquiries, investigations, and surveys concerning the resources of the
county, including but not limited to the potential for solar energy development
and alternative means to encourage and protect access to direct sunlight for
solar energy systems;
(2)
Assemble and analyze the data thus obtained and formulate plans for the
conservation of such resources and the systematic utilization and development
thereof;
(3)
Make recommendations from time to time as to the best methods of such
conservation, utilization, and development;
(4)
Cooperate with other commissions and with other public agencies of the
municipality, state and United States in such planning, conservation, and
development; and
(5)
In particular cooperate with and aid the state within its territorial limits in
the preparation of the state master plan provided for in RCW 43.21A.350 and in
advance planning of public works programs.
In carrying out its powers and duties, the commission should
demonstrate how land use planning is integrated with transportation planning.
Sec.
2. RCW
35A.63.060 and 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.63.060 are each amended to read as
follows:
Every
code city, by ordinance, shall direct the planning agency to prepare a
comprehensive plan for anticipating and influencing the orderly and coordinated
development of land and building uses of the code city and its environs. The
comprehensive plan may be prepared as a whole or in successive parts. The
plan should integrate transportation and land use planning.
Sec.
3. RCW
47.05.051 and 2002 c 5 s 406 (ESB 2304) are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The comprehensive six-year investment program shall be based upon the needs
identified in the state-owned highway component of the statewide multimodal
transportation plan as defined in RCW 47.01.071(3) and priority selection
systems that incorporate the following criteria:
(a)
Priority programming for the preservation program shall take into account the
following, not necessarily in order of importance:
(i)
Extending the service life of the existing highway system, including using the
most cost-effective pavement surfaces, considering:
(A)
Life-cycle cost analysis;
(B)
Traffic volume;
(C)
Subgrade soil conditions;
(D)
Environmental and weather conditions;
(E)
Materials available; and
(F)
Construction factors;
(ii)
Ensuring the structural ability to carry loads imposed upon highways and
bridges; and
(iii)
Minimizing life cycle costs. The transportation commission in carrying out the
provisions of this section may delegate to the department of transportation the
authority to select preservation projects to be included in the six-year
program.
(b)
Priority programming for the improvement program must be based primarily upon
the following, not necessarily in order of importance:
(i)
Traffic congestion, delay, and accidents;
(ii)
Location within a heavily traveled transportation corridor;
(iii)
Except for projects in cities having a population of less than five thousand
persons, synchronization with other potential transportation projects,
including transit and multimodal projects, within the heavily traveled
corridor; and
(iv)
Use of benefit/cost analysis wherever feasible to determine the value of the
proposed project.
(c)
Priority programming for the improvement program may also take into account:
(i)
Support for the state's economy, including job creation and job preservation;
(ii)
The cost-effective movement of people and goods;
(iii)
Accident and accident risk reduction;
(iv)
Protection of the state's natural environment;
(v)
Continuity and systematic development of the highway transportation network;
(vi)
Consistency with local comprehensive plans developed under chapter 36.70A RCW including
the following if they have been included in the comprehensive plan:
(A)
Support for development in and revitalization of existing downtowns;
(B)
Extent that development implements local comprehensive plans for rural and
urban residential and nonresidential densities;
(C)
Extent of compact, transit-oriented development for rural and urban residential
and nonresidential densities;
(D)
Opportunities for multimodal transportation; and
(E)
Extent to which the project accommodates planned growth and economic
development;
(vii)
Consistency with regional transportation plans developed under chapter 47.80
RCW;
(viii)
Public views concerning proposed improvements;
(ix)
The conservation of energy resources;
(x)
Feasibility of financing the full proposed improvement;
(xi)
Commitments established in previous legislative sessions;
(xii)
Relative costs and benefits of candidate programs.
(d)
Major projects addressing capacity deficiencies which prioritize allowing for
preliminary engineering shall be reprioritized during the succeeding biennium,
based upon updated project data. Reprioritized projects may be delayed or
canceled by the transportation commission if higher priority projects are
awaiting funding.
(e)
Major project approvals which significantly increase a project's scope or cost
from original prioritization estimates shall include a review of the project's
estimated revised priority rank and the level of funding provided. Projects
may be delayed or canceled by the transportation commission if higher priority
projects are awaiting funding.
(2)
The commission may depart from the priority programming established under
subsection (1) of this section: (a) To the extent that otherwise funds cannot
be utilized feasibly within the program; (b) as may be required by a court
judgment, legally binding agreement, or state and federal laws and regulations;
(c) as may be required to coordinate with federal, local, or other state agency
construction projects; (d) to take advantage of some substantial financial
benefit that may be available; (e) for continuity of route development; or (f) because
of changed financial or physical conditions of an unforeseen or emergent
nature. The commission or secretary of transportation shall maintain in its
files information sufficient to show the extent to which the commission has
departed from the established priority.
(3) The commission shall identify those projects that yield freight
mobility benefits or that alleviate the impacts of freight mobility upon
affected communities.
Sec.
4. RCW
47.06.040 and 1998 c 199 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
The
department shall develop a statewide multimodal transportation plan under RCW
47.01.071(3) and in conformance with federal requirements, to ensure the
continued mobility of people and goods within regions and across the state in a
safe, cost-effective manner. The statewide multimodal transportation plan
shall consist of:
(1)
A state-owned facilities component, which shall guide state investment for
state highways including bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and state ferries;
and
(2)
A state-interest component, which shall define the state interest in aviation,
marine ports and navigation, freight rail, intercity passenger rail, bicycle
transportation and pedestrian walkways, and public transportation, and
recommend actions in coordination with appropriate public and private
transportation providers to ensure that the state interest in these
transportation modes is met.
The
plans developed under each component must be consistent with the state
transportation policy plan and with each other, reflect public involvement, be
consistent with regional transportation planning, high-capacity transportation
planning, and local comprehensive plans prepared under chapter 36.70A RCW, and
include analysis of intermodal connections and choices. A primary emphasis for
these plans shall be the relief of congestion, the preservation of existing
investments and downtowns, ability to attract or accommodate planned
population, and employment growth, the improvement of traveler safety, the
efficient movement of freight and goods, and the improvement and integration of
all transportation modes to create a seamless intermodal transportation system
for people and goods.
In
the development of the statewide multimodal transportation plan, the department
shall identify and document potential affected environmental resources,
including, but not limited to, wetlands, storm water runoff, flooding, air
quality, fish passage, and wildlife habitat. The department shall conduct its
environmental identification and documentation in coordination with all
relevant environmental regulatory authorities, including, but not limited to,
local governments. The department shall give the relevant environmental
regulatory authorities an opportunity to review the department's environmental
plans. The relevant environmental regulatory authorities shall provide
comments on the department's environmental plans in a timely manner.
Environmental identification and documentation as provided for in RCW 47.01.300
and this section is not intended to create a private right of action or require
an environmental impact statement as provided in chapter 43.21C RCW.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. A
new section is added to chapter 47.26 RCW to read as follows:
In
any project funded by the transportation improvement board, except for projects
in cities having a population of less than five thousand persons, and in
addition to any other items required to be considered by statute, the board
also shall consider the land use implications of the project, such as whether
the programs and projects:
(1)
Support development in and revitalization of existing downtowns;
(2)
Implement local comprehensive plans for rural and urban residential and
nonresidential densities;
(3)
Have land use planning and regulations encouraging compact development for
rural and urban residential and nonresidential densities; and
(4) Promote the use of multimodal transportation.
