SB 5941-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

Provides that: (1) The Washington commerce corridor will be an alternative route to Interstate 5 that facilitates the movement of freight, goods, people, and utilities.

(2) The Washington commerce corridor will be a north-south corridor starting in the vicinity of Lewis county and extending northerly to the vicinity of the Canadian border. The corridor must be situated east of state route number 405 and west of the Cascades. The corridor must provide to the extent possible the following accommodations: (a) Ability to carry long haul freight; (b) Ability to provide for passenger auto travel; (c) Freight rail; (d) Passenger rail; (e) Public utilities; and (f) Other ancillary facilities as may be desired to maximize use of the corridor.

(3) The Washington commerce corridor must be developed, financed, designed, constructed, and operated by private sector consortiums. The department may solicit proposals from private companies and enter into agreements with selected companies, if authorized by the legislative transportation committee.

(4) The Washington commerce corridor is subject to a joint permitting process involving federal, state, and local agencies with jurisdiction.

Provides that, by December 1, 2004, the department shall submit the study findings on the conceptual corridor proposal to the legislative transportation committee. The legislative transportation committee shall recommend to the legislature whether the department shall seek proposals from private companies to develop the corridor. The recommendation must include proposed legislation that sets forth the framework for the agreements that the department may enter into for the project. If the legislature does not enact legislation authorizing a solicitation of proposals, the department shall not pursue further investigation of the commerce corridor.