Brief Summary of Bill

• Two and four-tenths miles of State Route 99 in the vicinity of Tukwila is removed from the state highway system.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Rockefeller, Vice Chair; G. Simpson, Vice Chair; Ericksen, Ranking Minority Member; Jarrett, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong, Bailey, Campbell, Clibborn, Cooper, Dickerson, Flannigan, Hankins, Hatfield, Hudgins, Kristiansen, Lovick, Mielke, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Romero, Schindler, Shabro, Wallace, Wood and Woods.

Currently, State Route 99 begins in Fife at a junction with State Route 5, thence northerly by way of Federal Way, Midway, Seattle, and Edmonds to a junction with State Route 5 in Everett. A proviso specifies that the portion of State Route 99 between Fife and Federal Way will be deleted from the state system when a new corridor for State Route 509 is completed from State Route 705 in Tacoma, via the Port of Tacoma, to Federal Way.

The Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) is responsible for annually reviewing requests for transfers of road jurisdiction among the Department of Transportation (DOT), cities, and counties. Criteria for route responsibility is set forth in RCW 47.17.001. Decisions for transfer by the board are then referred to the Legislature in order for the transfer to occur. The City of Tukwila has requested that the portion of State Route 99 between State Route 518 in the vicinity of Tukwila and State Route 599 in the vicinity of Tukwila be transferred to local jurisdiction. In a 2002 review, the TIB recommended against the transfer.

Two and four-tenths miles of State Route 99 between State Route 518 in the vicinity of Tukwila and State Route 599 in the vicinity of Tukwila is removed from the state highway system and is turned back to local authorities.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This section of highway is no longer a connecting arterial and is not used principally for through trips. The City of Tukwila would like to make improvements that establish the road as a main street and make it more community oriented. Assurances are given to the DOT to permit use of the roadway as a main arterial for emergencies, such as I-5 closures. Tukwila commits that safety improvements will be part of future roadway improvements.

Persons Testifying: Jim Morrow, City of Tukwila; Martin J. Durkan Jr., Martin J. Durkan Incorporation; and Charlie Howard, Department of Transportation.