Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Transportation Committee |
HB 2815
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: Modifying the eligibility requirements for certain counties with ferry terminals to form a regional transportation planning organization.
Sponsors: Representatives Hayes, Smith, Lytton and Morris.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/4/16
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
A regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO) is a voluntary association of local governments within a county, or within geographically contiguous counties, created primarily to prepare regional transportation plans, to ensure local and regional coordination of transportation planning, and to maintain a six-year regional transportation improvement program.
An RTPO can cover both urban and rural areas and receives state funding in support of its planning efforts. Federal legislation has created the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). An MPO covers an urbanized area and receives federal funding in support of its planning efforts. In urbanized areas, the RTPO is the same as the MPO designated for federal transportation planning purposes.
An RTPO must contain at least one county and have a population of at least 100,000 or contain at least three counties, have as members all counties in the region, and contain at least 60 percent of the cities and towns in the region representing at least 75 percent of the cities' and towns' populations.
There are currently 14 RTPOs covering 36 of the 39 counties in Washington. Island, Okanogan, and San Juan counties are not part of any RTPO.
Summary of Bill:
A county or counties with a population of greater than 75,000 that also contains a Washington State Ferries terminal is allowed to form an RTPO.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 30, 2016.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on July 1, 2016.