HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5837
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 expanding high occupancy vehicle lane access to blood-collecting or distributing establishment vehicles.
Brief Description: Addressing high occupancy vehicle lane access for blood-collecting or distributing establishment vehicles.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Saldaña, Hawkins, Hobbs, Hasegawa, Frockt and Kuderer).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 3/15/17, 3/22/17 [DP].
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 24 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Wylie, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chapman, Gregerson, Hayes, Irwin, Kloba, Lovick, McBride, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pellicciotti, Pike, Riccelli, Rodne, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Van Werven.
Staff: Jennifer Harris (786-7143).
Background:
State Law.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local authorities are authorized to designate any portion of a highway under their respective jurisdictions for the exclusive or preferential use of: (1) public transportation vehicles; (2) motorcycles; (3) private motor vehicles carrying a specified minimum number of passengers; and (4) certain categories of private transportation provider vehicles if the vehicles has a carrying capacity of at least eight passengers. The portion of highways with these restricted usage rules are known as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
The WSDOT and local authorities have the ability to specify certain times of days or certain specified days during which the HOV restrictions are in effect. The WSDOT and local authorities are also authorized to prohibit the use of an HOV lane by private transportation provider vehicles when the average transit speed in the HOV lane fails to meet United States Department of Transportation standards (falling below 45 miles per hour at least 90 percent of the time during peak hours).
Under current state administrative rule, the following motor vehicles are authorized to use the HOV lanes on interstate highways, state highways, and ramps: (1) municipal transit vehicles; (2) buses with a carrying capacity of 16 or more people; (3) motorcycles; (4) all vehicles meeting specified HOV-lane occupancy requirements (except for trucks with more than a 10,000 pounds maximum operating weight rating); and (5) officially marked law enforcement and fire department vehicles equipped with emergency lights and sirens that are operated by on-duty state patrol or local law enforcement or local or special district fire department personnel.
Federal Law.
Federal law applies to federal-aid highways and requires that HOV lanes be restricted for the use of vehicles with no fewer than two occupants per vehicles, subject to certain exceptions. A public authority has jurisdiction over the operation of an HOV facility and may establish occupancy requirements of vehicles operating on the facility, so long as it complies with federal occupancy and usage restrictions.
Exceptions are granted to the following vehicles, subject to a public authority authorizing their use on an HOV facility within its jurisdiction: (1) public transportation vehicles; (2) motorcycles and bicycles; (3) over-the-road buses serving the public; (4) high-occupancy toll vehicles; and (5) low emission and energy-efficient vehicles.
A public transportation vehicle is defined as a vehicle that provides designated public transportation or public school transportation and is owned or operated by a public entity, operated under a contract with a public entity, or operated pursuant to a license with a public authority to provide motorbus or school vehicle transportation services to the public. An over-the-road bus is defined as a bus with an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment.
While the state is not mandated to comply with federal HOV-lane requirements, if the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) were to find a state to be out of compliance with its HOV-lane requirements, the FHWA could withhold payment to the state of federal funds.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Summary of Bill:
The WSDOT is encouraged to conduct a public process to reexamine its rules related to HOV lane usage. If the WSDOT conducts this public process, it is required to consider the benefits of allowing vehicles that deliver or collect blood, tissue, or blood components for a blood-collecting or distributing establishment that is registered with the Washington State Department of Health to use HOV lanes.
The WSDOT must report to the transportation committees of the Legislature on the progress of its reexamination process by January 1, 2019, and is required to do so with sufficient time remaining for review before conclusion of the reexamination process. This act expires August 1, 2019.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
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) Blood banks provide a critical service for the region, connecting patients and residents who have ailments and illnesses to reliable blood that needs to be provided in a timely manner. The original bill included a mandate for the WSDOT to allow blood bank vehicles to use HOV lanes, but this was changed to a study on the topic based on input from the WSDOT. It is important that HOV lanes operate as intended and that bus rapid transit can use HOV lanes that are functioning efficiently. It is also important that blood is provided in a timely manner to hospitals and airports across the state.
Traffic can cause delays when life-saving blood is needed. When a patient is waiting with a dire medical condition, minutes count. Many deliveries are made in the greater Puget Sound region, where traffic congestion in the state is concentrated. The ability to use HOV lanes would help move blood faster to reach patients sooner.
The bill should be amended to allow vehicles identified in the bill to be granted access to HOV lanes during the study period. Congestion on roads is increasing. Nine out of 12 HOV corridors are out of compliance with federal laws that govern maximum allowable HOV congestion levels. Delays to the transportation of blood caused by congestion result in serious and life-threatening situations.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Senator Saldaña, prime sponsor; and Nancy Osborne, Bloodworks Northwest.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.