Background: Under current law, the Legislature is the only entity with the authority to authorize tolls on an eligible toll facility. An eligible toll facility is defined as portions of the state highway system specifically identified by the Legislature, including transportation corridors, bridges, crossings, interchanges, on-ramps, off-ramps, approaches, bistate facilities, and interconnections between highways. The Legislature has authorized collection of tolls on the following facilities: the Tacoma Narrows Bridge; the SR 520 floating bridge; the SR 167 high-occupancy toll lanes; and the Interstate 405 express toll lanes.

The Legislature has designated the Washington State Transportation Commission (Commission) as the state tolling authority with responsibility for setting toll rates, including variable pricing, and reviewing toll operations. Prior to the convening of each regular session of the Legislature, the Commission must report to the transportation committees of the Legislature on any increase or decrease in toll rates approved by the Commission.

The Interstate 5 Bridge crosses the Columbia River and connects Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon with two identical bridge structures. One bridge structure carries traffic northbound to Vancouver, and the other bridge structure carries traffic southbound to Portland. The northbound bridge was built in 1917, and the southbound bridge was built in 1958. The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) Project will reportedly replace the I-5 bridges, extend light rail to Vancouver, improve closely-spaced interchanges, and enhance the pedestrian and bicycle paths. The estimated project costs range from $3.1 billion to $3.5 billion.

Summary of Bill: The CRC Project is defined as a bistate, multimodal corridor improvement program between the state route number 500 interchange in Vancouver, Washington and the Victory Boulevard interchange in Portland, Oregon.

The CRC Project is designated as an eligible toll facility. Tolls are authorized to be charged for travel on the existing and replacement Interstate 5 Columbia River bridge. The tolling authority is authorized to enter into agreements with the Oregon State Transportation Commission regarding the mutual or joint setting, adjustment, and review of toll rates as the tolling authority may find necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this section.

Toll revenue generated on the CRC Project must only be expended to construct, improve, preserve, maintain, manage, or operate the CRC Project. Expenditures of toll revenues are subject to appropriation and must be made only: (1) to cover the operating costs of the eligible toll facility, including necessary maintenance, preservation, administration, and toll enforcement by public law enforcement within the boundaries of the facility; (2) to meet obligations for the repayment of debt and interest on the eligible toll facility, and any other associated financing costs including, but not limited to, required reserves and insurance;(3) to meet any other obligations to provide funding contributions for any projects or operations on the eligible toll facility; (4) to provide for the operations of conveyances of people or goods; or, (5) for any other improvements to the eligible toll facility.

This act takes effect upon, and tolls may not be collected on the project until, certification of the Secretary of Transportation to the Governor that: (1) the Department of Transportation has received sufficient funding authority to initiate construction of the CRC Project; and, (2) the Commission has executed an agreement with the Oregon Transportation Commission regarding the mutual or joint setting, adjustment, and review of toll rates. If the Secretary of Transportation does not provide such certification to the Governor by December 31, 2015, this act is null and void.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: I have been working on this project for over 17 years. This is the largest capital project in southwest Washington. It is certainly controversial in our region. It is however, the best project that we could put together to meet all the differing interests and needs in play. The bulk of the funding will come from both the Federal and State governments. The challenge our community faces is how we contribute our appropriate share of the project costs. The issue of tolls is one mechanism to provide local contribution. There are other alternatives such as a property tax or sales tax increase, but those alternatives don't reach the people who do not live in our area but will use the facility. If you go through all the local options, tolls are the best solution. The time has come–let's get this bridge built.

This bill is a necessary next step for the state to move forward on this project. We, the Commission, have finally started to communicate with our counterparts in Oregon. There are a lot of things that have to happen before we ever set a toll rate for the CRC. We do think we should move forward with this bill, since we have to take the first step. There are a lot of protections built into this bill, and everyone has to understand that there is yet a lot of work to be done before any tolls will be collected. This is the legal framework for the beginning of the process. Over two dozen organizations in Clark county care about this bill, and we ask that you take whatever action is necessary to advance the CRC project. We understand that tolling is a part of paying for the project, and we support that. From a safety perspective, the age of these facilities lead us to ask for the next critical step to move forward on the project. This project has a record of decision, and there is an expectation at the federal level that there will be tools on this facility. This project cannot be completed without the funds that tolls will bring. The Legislature passing this bill gives the Federal government an indication that we are serious, and it will keep us competitive in all of the federal funding pools. This is critical.

There are a lot of jobs created by a project of this size and we ask that you move this forward to help put Washington back to work.