SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6229
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, January 25, 2024
Title: An act relating to modifying match requirements for the green transportation capital grant program.
Brief Description: Modifying match requirements for the green transportation capital grant program.
Sponsors: Senators Shewmake, Cleveland, King, Holy, Liias, Lovick and Nobles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/23/24, 1/25/24 [DP, w/oRec].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Modifies match requirements for the Green Transportation Capital Grant Program at the Department of Transportation. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Liias, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Cleveland, Fortunato, Hansen, Hawkins, Kauffman, Lovelett, Nobles, Valdez, Wilson, C. and Wilson, J..
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators MacEwen and Padden.
Staff: Jenna Forty (786-7755)
Background:

The Green Transportation Capital Grant Program was created by the Legislature in the 2019 legislative session and is administered by the Public Transportation Division at the Washington State Department of Transportation to aid any transit authority in funding cost-effective capital projects to reduce the carbon intensity of the Washington transportation system.  The grant program is open to eligible transit agencies for projects that include: 

  • electrification of vehicle fleets; 
  • facilities that support fleet electrification, construction of charging or fueling stations, and upgrades to electrical transmissions and distribution systems; and
  • staff directly managing construction or procurement projects, acquisition of property rights for capital projects, and planning activities, including zero-emission fleet transition planning. 


To receive Green Transportation Capital Grant Program funding for a project, a transit authority must provide matching funding for that project that is at least equal to 20 percent of the total cost of the project.

 

Appropriation for the 2023-25 biennium is $12 million of mulitmodal transportation account funds and $39.4 million of climate transit programs account funds, for a total appropriation of $51.4 million. 
Summary of Bill:

The 20 percent match requirement is eliminated for the Green Transportation Capital Grant Program and a match is established at a level deemed appropriate by the Washington State Department of Transportation. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: Washington State Transit Association supports changing match requirements to allow smaller agencies to apply for grants without coming up with very large match amounts. This will also align with other grant programs. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Sharon Shewmake, Prime Sponsor; Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.