BILL REQ. #:  S-3959.1 

Read first time 01/20/10.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to financial viability and impact review of certain transportation projects; and adding new sections to chapter 47.01 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     The department shall reconvene the expert review panel appointed under RCW 47.01.400, for the purpose of updating the work that was previously completed by the panel on the Alaskan Way viaduct and Seattle Seawall replacement project and the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project. The expert review panel must report updated findings and recommendations as described in RCW 47.01.400 to the joint transportation committee, the office of financial management, and the governor by September 1, 2010. Upon receipt of the expert review panel's updated findings and recommendations, the governor must make a determination of whether the financial plans for the Alaskan Way viaduct and Seattle Seawall replacement project and the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project are feasible and sufficient to complete the projects as described in their supplemental draft environmental impact statements.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The King county executive shall facilitate a resolution to the final project design for the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project by preparing a plan for addressing the impacts of the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project on surrounding cities, neighborhoods, parks, and institutions of higher education. In evaluating the project's impacts, the county executive shall give great weight to the concerns of cities, neighborhoods, and institutions of higher education impacted by design proposals on either side of Lake Washington.
     (2) The legislature intends that the plan will allow a comprehensive approach to mitigating the impacts of the project and that the county executive presents the plan to the department. The plan must be fiscally constrained in its review of mitigation options and recommend only those strategies that can be implemented within the project budget amount as identified in RCW 47.01.418(2)(a).
     (3) The county executive shall convene an advisory committee to help finalize the plan; however, the county executive has final approval of the plan. The county executive must designate representation from the community council or governing body of each neighborhood and city impacted by the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project and representation from the Washington park arboretum to serve on the advisory committee to guide the planning process and for plan preparation. The University of Washington and secretary of transportation shall each designate a representative to serve on the advisory committee. The department shall provide technical assistance for the advisory committee.
     (4) The department shall not commence construction on any part of the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project until agreements have been reached with the county executive that are consistent with the plan.