Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
HB 1921
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. |
Brief Description: Authorizing the addition of new counties to a regional transit authority.
Sponsors: Representatives S. Hunt and Reykdal.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/18/15
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is authorized to use its tax revenues to develop and operate a high-capacity transit system. There is currently one RTA, Sound Transit, which operates light rail, commuter rail service, and express bus service in the central Puget Sound. Sound Transit's boundaries generally follow the urban growth boundaries of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.
Summary of Bill:
An RTA, after consultation and concurrence from the affected local jurisdictions, may call for an election to annex into the RTA all or a portion of counties west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains that are contiguous with the counties that are already within the RTA. Only those areas that would benefit from services provided by an RTA may be annexed and services or projects that are proposed must be consistent with the regional transportation plan.
Elections may include a single ballot proposition proposing annexation and imposition of all current taxes applied to the RTA in the newly annexed area.
Any county or portion of a county added to the RTA would be considered a separate sub-area for purposes of any sub-area equity element used by the RTA.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.