HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1163

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.

Brief Description: Making 2003-05 transportation appropriations.

Sponsors: Representative Murray; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/17/03, 3/28/03 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 19 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; Simpson, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Lovick, Morris, Romero, Sullivan, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Armstrong, Bailey, Kristiansen, Nixon and Shabro.

Staff: Gary Lebow (786-7304).

Background:

The transportation budget provides appropriations to the major transportation agencies including: the Department of Transportation (DOT); the Washington State Patrol (WSP); the Department of Licensing (DOL); the Traffic Safety Commission; and the Local Transportation Grant Board. The budget also provides appropriations out of transportation funds to many smaller agencies with transportation functions.

Summary of Substitute Bill:

The substitute bill provides the following biennial appropriations for the 2003-05 biennium transportation budget.

Department of Transportation                                    $2.213 Billion

Local Transportation Grant Board                             $ 281 Million

Washington State Patrol                                             $ 264 Million

Department of Licensing                                            $ 183 Million

Traffic Safety Commission                                        $ 20 Million

Small agencies with transportation functions             $ 7 Million

                  Total Appropriations                                $2.968 Billion

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The proposed substitute bill contains the 2003 transportation supplemental budget and the

2003-05 biennial transportation budget.

2003 Supplemental Transportation Budget.

Department of Transportation                                    $     5.869 Million

Washington State Patrol                                             $ (734 Thousand)

Department of Licensing                                            $   801 Thousand

Bond Retirement and Interest Reduction                   $ (18.628 Million)

                  Total Appropriations                                $    (12.692 Million)

2003-05 Biennial Transportation Budget.                  Original Bill         Substitute Bill

Department of Transportation                                    $2.213 Billion       $3.495 Billion

Local Transportation Grant Board                             $ 281 Million      $ 

Transportation Improvement Board                           $                            $ 201 Million

County Road Administration Board                           $                            $     79 Million

Washington State Patrol                                             $ 264 Million      $ 253 Million

Department of Licensing                                            $ 183 Million      $ 181 Million

Traffic Safety Commission                                        $ 20 Million      $ 21 Million

Small agencies with transportation functions             $ 7 Million      $ 15 Million

                  Total Agency Appropriations                   $2.968 Billion       $4.245 Billion

Bond Retirement and Interest                                     $ 331 Million      $ 341 Million

           Total Appropriations                      $3.299 Billion $4.586 Billion

The substitute bill includes re-appropriations of $742 million of which $613 million is for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There are new transportation investments that are associated with new revenue proposals which includes a 3 cent a gallon gas tax increase, a 15 percent gross weight fee increase for trucks over 10,000 pounds, .6 percent vehicle transfer tax and additional bond authorization. The majority of the new revenue is invested in the areas of highway improvements, highway preservation, public transportation, ferries capital, rail and local programs capital.

The Transportation Improvement Board, the County Road Administration Board and the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board remain as separate agencies as does the Marine Employees Commission.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not Requested.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: The package is very well balanced but a 3 cent gas tax is not enough, a higher gas tax is needed. Keep the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board as a separate agency.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: (In support) Representative Murray, prime sponsor; Scott Merriman, Association of Counties; Randy Ray, Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association; Jim Shipman, Washington Transit Association; Gordon Baxter, Masters, Mates and Pilots, Marine Engineers, and Inland Boatmens Union; Lloyd Flenn, Washington Association of Rail Passengers; Paula Hammond, Department of Transportation; Jackie White, Association of Cities; Doug Levy, Cities of Everett and Kent; Stephanie Bowman, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce; Cherie Tessier, Arc of Washington; Johnathan Platt, Martinac Shipbuilding; Genesee Adkins, 1000 Friends of Washington; Bill Stauffacher, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad; and Kevin Shively, Transportation Choices Coalition.

(With concerns) Pat Jones, Washington Public Ports Association; and Mary Jo Cady, Community Transportation Association of the Northwest.