Local Transportation Planning.

Growth Management Act.  Cities and counties adopting comprehensive plans under the Growth Management Act (GMA) must include a transportation element within the plans.  The transportation element must include various subelements, including intergovernmental coordination efforts.  These efforts must include an assessment of the impacts of the transportation plan and land use assumptions on the transportation systems of adjacent jurisdictions. 

As part of broader planning under the GMA, a federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation or ceded lands lie within a county may voluntarily choose to participate in the county or regional planning process and coordinate with local jurisdictions.  Upon receipt of notice of a tribe's intent, a local government and the tribe must enter into good faith negotiations to develop a mutually agreeable memorandum of agreement for such collaboration and participation. 

Relatedly, the Department of Commerce (Department) must also provide services to facilitate the timely resolution of disputes between a federally recognized Indian tribe and a city or county concerning a proposed comprehensive plan and its development regulations, or any amendment thereto.  Upon receipt of notice from the Department of a tribe's request for facilitation services to resolve concerns, a local jurisdiction must delay final action for at least 60 days.  The Department must provide comments detailing the tribe's concerns, and the local jurisdiction must either agree to amend its plan as requested or enter into a facilitated process with the tribe.   

Comprehensive Transportation Program.  Counties must also periodically adopt, as part of the budget process, a Comprehensive Transportation Program, which covers the following six calendar years and must be consistent with the comprehensive plan.  The program must include proposed road and bridge construction work and other transportation facilities and programs deemed appropriate. 

Traffic Safety Commission and Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council.

In 2020 the Traffic Safety Commission (Commission) was directed by statute to convene the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council (Council).  The Council was established for the purpose of reviewing and analyzing data and programs related to fatalities and serious injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorists.  The work of the Council is intended to identify ways to improve the transportation system and identify patterns in the fatalities and serious injuries. 

The Council is comprised of stakeholders who have a unique interest or expertise in the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorists, which may include:

• a representative from the Commission;
• a coroner from a county where pedestrian, bicyclist, or nonmotorist deaths have occurred; 
• members of law enforcement who have investigated pedestrian, bicyclist, or nonmotorist fatalities; 
• a traffic engineer; and
• representatives from the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington State Association of Counties, a pedestrian advocacy group, and a bicyclist or other nonmotorist advocacy group. 

The Commission may also invite other representatives of stakeholder groups to participate in the Council as it deems appropriate.

Local Transportation Planning.

Intergovernmental coordination efforts required for the transportation element of a comprehensive plan under the GMA must include affected tribal governments and an assessment of the impacts on affected tribal areas.  

Preparation of the Comprehensive Transportation Program by counties must be done in coordination with affected tribal governments to assess the program's impacts on affected tribal areas and to incorporate transportation needs of affected tribal areas.  The consultation must be:

• offered by the respective county in an early, meaningful, and individual manner with any affected federally recognized Indian tribe whose reservation or ceded lands lie within the county;
• independent of, and in addition to, any public participation process required by federal or state law or agency; and
• offered regardless of whether the county receives a request for consultation from a federally recognized Indian tribe.

Traffic Safety Commission and Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council.

Subject to available funding, the Commission must establish a Tribal Traffic Safety Coordinator Program to assist tribes in implementing traffic safety strategies.  Under the program, the Commission must award grant funds to tribes to implement the program, and provide program support for the following activities:

• creating comprehensive traffic safety programs tailored to incorporate indigenous knowledge and address the community's unique needs;
• establishing structured processes for gathering and analyzing traffic safety data;
• leading public outreach efforts, organizing road safety audits, and identifying gaps in data and safety practices;
• developing dual language educational programs, including conducting various surveys;
• overseeing safety performance metrics; and
• presenting project results to the respective tribal council. 

Program funds may also be used to match or supplement federal funds received by the Commission for such purposes.