READ FIRST TIME 03/10/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to regional transportation governance; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature intends to study whether the creation of a Puget Sound regional transportation district governed by an elected board would lead to better use of transportation resources and whether this district would improve transportation planning and governance in the Puget Sound region.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   Subject to legislative funding, the legislative transportation committee shall conduct a study to determine whether the creation of a Puget Sound regional transportation district governed by an elected board would lead to better use of transportation resources and whether this district would improve transportation planning and governance in the region. The study shall:
     (1) Review current local and regional transportation planning and governance structures located in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties;
     (2) Review the interaction between state transportation planning and governance and the local and regional structures in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties;
     (3) Examine whether an elected board assuming the functions of the current metropolitan planning organization and the current regional transportation planning organization would improve transportation planning;
     (4) Examine whether the state should consider delegating state transportation planning for the region to an elected board;
     (5) Examine whether an elected board would provide more efficient and accountable governance than the current board of the regional transportation investment district;
     (6) Examine how the size of the board, and whether the board was elected by council districts, would influence transportation governance;
     (7) Examine the elected board assuming the governance of local transit districts in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties would provide more efficient transportation governance; and
     (8) Examine whether lesser steps than transferral of governing authority over local transit districts or the regional transportation investment district, such as coordination of existing transportation planning, operations, and services, might enhance transportation efficiency.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   The legislative transportation committee shall report the results of its study to the transportation committees of the house of representatives and senate by December 10, 2003. The legislative transportation committee may report electronically, and shall post its report on its web site.