2101 AMH SIMP LEAT 069

HB 2101 - H AMD 752

By Representative Simpson

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) In 2006, the regional transportation commission was created and tasked with evaluating transportation governance in the central Puget Sound region and directed to develop options for a new regional transportation governance proposal. The commission's 2006 report to the legislature strongly recommended creating a regional governance entity that has authority over the planning, prioritizing, and funding of regional transportation projects in the area.

(2) The existing approach to transportation governance could be strengthened and improved to provide a more coordinated approach to maintaining the state's and region's transportation infrastructure, as well as providing for road and transit capacity in the region. Increased regional coordination also provides benefits for planning and funding the region's transportation system.

(3) While establishing a regional governance authority may help streamline decision making, reduce congestion, and integrate multimodal transportation planning and prioritization in the region, such an undertaking is complex. It is in the state's interest that any legislation that may be necessary to create a regional authority and implement sweeping changes to existing transportation governance structures should be carefully, deliberately, and thoughtfully considered in order to protect existing investments in transportation and to avoid unintended consequences. There is considerable value in preserving that which is working well and in continuing to examine relevant implementation issues related to the establishment of a regional governance authority.

(4) A more unified regional transportation governance structure in the central Puget Sound region may result in improved planning, funding, and prioritization of roads and transit systems, and would better meet the current and future transportation needs of the state.

(5) It is imperative that transportation improvements that are being implemented in the Puget Sound region through the combined efforts of the transportation partnership act, the nickel package, and the Sound Move projects, and the progress being made on the joint roads and transit package required by the legislature in 2006, should be preserved and supported to avoid delays and additional cost, and to maintain public confidence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The joint transportation committee shall convene a regional transportation governance task force. The task force shall submit recommendations to the legislature and the governor regarding the implementation of a phased-in restructuring of transportation governance in the central Puget Sound region, such that a regional authority may be established with authority to plan, prioritize, and fund all modes of regional transportation projects and services. The central mission of the task force is to recommend to the legislature and the governor a process, including legislation, that implements, and is consistent with, recommendation 6 from the blue ribbon commission on transportation, dated December 2000: "Provide regions with the ability to plan, select, fund, and implement (or contract for the implementation of) projects identified to meet the region's transportation and land use goals."

(2) The task force must be composed of the following individuals:

(a) Eight legislative members chosen by the co-chairs of the joint transportation committee, to include two members from each major caucus of the legislature. The co-chairs shall designate the chair of the task force;

(b) The governor, or the governor's designee;

(c) The county executive, or chair of the county legislative authority, as appropriate, of King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties;

(d) The executive director of the puget sound regional council, or his designee; and

(3) The chief executive officer of Sound Transit, or her designee.

(3) In developing its recommendations, the task force shall:

(a) Examine the impacts of a regional authority on the central Puget Sound region and make recommendations to the legislature and governor regarding the appropriate responsibilities for a regional authority. The recommendations must consider opportunities for building on successes achieved prior to making any changes, avoiding project implementation delays, improving transportation governance, and improving the reliable and predictable movement of people and goods throughout the region, including, at a minimum, consideration of the following:

(i) Integrating regional comprehensive economic and other planning with regional transportation planning to ensure that the region's development goals are met;

(ii) The legal, financial, and programmatic impacts of the enabling legislation on existing local authorities, local transit agencies, and regional transit authorities;

(iii) The steps that may be necessary for the orderly transition of existing organizations into a regional authority, including steps necessary for federal approval of changes to the metropolitan planning organization designation;

(iv) Achieving necessary support to governance changes by local and regional governments in the region, including adequate opportunity to participate in regional decision making, incentives for implementing changes, and metropolitan planning organization redesignation;

(v) Adequate regional transportation revenue sources, including influencing priorities for state investments, to implement the region's transportation plan;

(vi) The appropriate responsibility of a regional authority over all modes of transportation, including ferries, highways, streets, roads, transit, rail, marine, and air, as well as the goals, objectives, and standards that the region should use to monitor achievement and performance;

(vii) The opportunities for a regional authority to ensure that an integrated multimodal corridor approach is used for transportation decisions in the region; and

(viii) The necessary performance measures sufficient to ensure public accountability regarding transportation project and service delivery within the region;

(b) Provide direction on reorganizing the department of transportation's existing administrative regions, such that only one administrative region is dedicated solely to supporting the central Puget Sound region and that this administrative region coordinate, plan, and integrate project schedules and design plans with local and regional entities;

(c) As deemed appropriate, develop a statutory framework and draft legislation for implementing the recommendations of the task force.

(4) The joint transportation committee, on behalf of the task force, may contract with appropriate professional consultants as necessary, and the task force may establish legal, technical, and advisory work groups to assist in its work. Additionally, the task force may consult with the Puget Sound regional council, local transit agencies, and regional transit authorities.

(5) By December 15, 2008, the task force shall submit its recommendations, draft legislation, and any supporting materials to the legislative standing committees on transportation and the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act expires January 1, 2009."

Correct the title.

EFFECT: Strikes all material in the underlying bill, which finds that the current system of transportation governance in the central Puget Sound region is inadequate to meet the needs of the region and state, directs the Joint Transportation Committee to convene a task force to consider the impacts of establishing a new regional governance structure, and requires the task force to submit draft legislation to the Legislature by December 15, 2007 that implements the recommendations of the Regional Transportation Commission.

Provides that the existing approach to transportation governance in the central Puget Sound region could be strengthened and improved, and that a regional authority may result in improved planning, funding, and prioritization of roads and transit systems. Further provides that establishing a regional governance authority is a complex undertaking, and that there is considerable value in preserving that which is working well and in continuing to carefully and deliberately examine implementation issues in order to protect existing investments and to avoid unintended consequences.

Directs the Joint Transportation Committee to convene a regional governance task force to examine implementation issues, and to submit recommendations and legislation to implement a phased-in restructuring of transportation governance such that a regional authority may be established. Requires that the task force submit its recommendations and draft legislation to the Legislature and Governor by December 15, 2008.