FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1035

                                  C 429 L 87

BYHouse Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fisher, Walk, Vekich, Madsen, Walker, Fisch, Spanel, Hine, H. Sommers, Jacobsen, Todd, Bristow, Cantwell, K. Wilson, Leonard,  Lux, Unsoeld, Allen, Grimm, Winsley, Nelson, Cole, Scott, Baugher, Ebersole, Niemi, Sutherland, Brekke, Wang, Basich, Wineberry and P. King) 

Creating the rail development commission.

House Committe on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Since 1970, the total miles of rail line in this state have declined from 5,200 to 3,600 miles.  More than 1,000 miles of track have been abandoned since 1980, when federal law eased railroad abandonment procedures.  Many of these abandoned rail lines served rural areas and carried primarily agricultural commodities.  The abandonment of rail service has resulted in increased use of motor freight carriage on both rural county roads and on state highways.

The legislature has, since 1980, enacted several laws to address the rail freight abandonment issue.  These have included authorizing the creation of county rail districts to enable local areas to support rail freight services, authorizing port districts to operate rail services, creating a state rail assistance account to provide financial aid to local rail efforts and authorizing the Department of Transportation to acquire abandoned rail rights of way in order to enhance the likelihood of the reestablishment of rail services.  These programs, together with federal rail assistance, have provided limited support for retaining rail services.

State involvement with rail passenger service has largely been in planning and study efforts.  The state has participated in federal studies for improved rail passenger service in the West Coast corridor with a major study being completed in 1978.  Evaluations of high-speed systems in Western Washington were done by the Legislative Transportation Committee both in the early 1970s and in 1984.  The most recent study recommended increased efforts to preserve rail rights of way for future rail needs, either for high-speed or light rail services.

The Puget Sound Council of Governments and METRO recently completed a Multi-Corridor Study to assess future needs for improved transportation in the Puget Sound region.  That study recommended that a light rail system be implemented by the year 2020 to serve the region's transportation needs.

There have been numerous studies of specific rail freight and rail passenger needs in Washington state, and such studies have found that many efforts to enhance and/or preserve elements of rail service are worthwhile. There has not been, however, a legislatively-sponsored study to evaluate all of these elements in a comprehensive manner and to make specific recommendations as to institutional arrangements, funding programs and right-of-way preservation policies necessary to address the situation.

SUMMARY:

A 19-member rail development commission is created to examine rail freight and rail passenger issues.  Rail freight issues include identification of funding levels necessary to assist local efforts and preserve essential rail corridors, and institutional changes necessary to enhance the effectiveness of state and local rail freight efforts.  Rail passenger issues include light rail system development involving institutional alternatives for constructing and operating a system, interim steps for such systems, rights-of-way preservation, funding and the future role of intercity systems, both conventional and high- speed.

Sixteen members of the commission are appointed by the governor and consist of four county- and four city-elected officials, two private sector citizens from both Western and Eastern Washington and representatives of a railroad, railroad labor, the public ports association and the state transit association.  Two of the appointees must be from each of the state's congressional districts.  Other members include the secretary of Transportation and another departmental staff person, and the director of the Washington State Transportation Center. Four nonvoting legislative members are appointed by the chairman of the Legislative Transportation Committee.

The commission is to elect its chair and is granted powers necessary to carry out its prescribed duties.  The commission may employ staff and in addition, the Legislative Transportation Committee, Washington State Transportation Center and the Department of Transportation may provide staff support.

The commission is to report its findings related to rail freight to the legislature by December 1, 1987.  Passenger rail findings are to be reported by December 1, 1988, with an interim report in December 1987.  The commission is dissolved on June 30, 1989.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 73  23

      Senate    45     3(Senate amended)

      House       (House refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

      Senate    41     6

      House 87  10

EFFECTIVE:June 25, 1987