HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5796

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to modifying provisions related to public transportation system planning.

Brief Description: Modifying provisions related to public transportation system planning.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, King and Shin).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 3/14/11, 3/24/11 [DP].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Modifies the due dates, and in some cases the subject matter, for various reports regarding public transportation systems.
Requires consultation with the appropriate public transportation systems to ensure new state facilities are sited in areas adequately accessible by transit service.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 21 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Billig, Vice Chair; Liias, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Asay, Eddy, Finn, Jinkins, Johnson, Klippert, Ladenburg, Morris, Moscoso, Reykdal, Rivers, Rolfes, Ryu, Takko, Upthegrove and Zeiger.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 2 members: Representatives McCune and Shea.

Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).

Background:

Each April, transit agencies in Washington are required to submit six-year transit development plans for that year and the ensuing five years, as well as system reports identifying public transportation services provided in the previous year and objectives for improvements. Similar reports are due to the Federal Transit Administration in September of each year.

Based on information that is submitted in the system reports, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) must prepare an annual report that summarizes individual public transportation systems. This report is due September 1 of each year to the Transportation committees of the Legislature and each state municipality.

During 2010 the Joint Transportation Committee was directed to conduct a study to identify the state role in public transportation and to develop a statewide blueprint to guide public transportation investments. The ensuing report, entitled Identifying the State Role in Public Transportation, made a number of recommendations relating to the state's role, that include:

integrating public transportation into regional and statewide planning;
developing and promoting policies to encourage the use of all public transportation modes;
assessing the adequacy of funding sources and developing new funding strategies to address statewide concerns;
aligning report and data collection to provide a comprehensive and useful picture of transit; and
establishing a consistent set of measures to assess public transportation systems.

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Summary of Bill:

The due date for both the six-year transit development plans and the system reports is changed from April 1 to September 1.

The due date for the annual summary report on the status of public transportation systems prepared by the WSDOT is changed from September 1 to December 1. The WSDOT is also required, if such information is available, to include information about other modes of public transportation, how those modes impact the transportation system, and how public transportation helps the state meet the transportation system policy goals.

New state facilities that are to be located in areas served by public transportation systems may only be sited after the Department of General Administration consults with the respective public transportation system to ensure that the facilities will adequately accessible by transit service.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill is the result of a Joint Transportation Committee study, and it contains some of the recommendations of that study. This bill would synchronize, simplify, and provide better data in the reporting process for transit agencies. This bill would also ensure that state facilities are sited where they can be served by transit providers.

The issue of airspace leases has been focused on the operational benefits of transit service in rural areas, and is intended to determine if the benefits offset the costs.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Michael Shaw, Washington State Transit Association; and Brian Lagerberg, Washington State Department of Transportation.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.