HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 352

BYRepresentatives Cantwell, D. Sommers, Walk, Schmidt, Betrozoff and Meyers; by request of Department of Transportation

Modifying provisions relating to priority programming for highways.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (16)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Brough, Cantwell, Cooper, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Meyers, C. Smith, Spanel, K. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Gene Schlatter (786-7316)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 18, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Under current law (RCW 47.05) there are three categories of highway construction within the Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT).  They are:

Category A:  Those improvements necessary to sustain the structural safety and operational integrity of the existing highway system (other than interstate).  This category contains most of the state bridge program and includes those projects which are 100 percent reimbursable from federal or other agency funds.

Category B:  Improvements for the continued development and maintenance of the interstate system.  This program is funded with 90 percent federal dollars.

Category C:  Major transportation improvements (other than interstate) including designated but unconstructed highways, congestion improvements and some major bridge improvements.

In recent years there has been increased emphasis at the federal and state level on the bridge program.  The appropriation authority for the bridge program is contained in several different budget items within the DOT budget.  This makes it difficult to manage and provide legislative oversight.

Reimbursable projects such as the Mount St. Helens highway being rebuilt with 100 percent federal funds are currently appropriated in the Category A program.  These 100 percent reimbursable projects tend to fluctuate dramatically and therefore distort an otherwise stable program.

SUMMARY:

A new noninterstate bridge program, Category H, is created for the purpose of improved budgeting, management and reporting.  Category H will include:

Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation and Restoration:  Removes all bridge activities previously funded in the Category A program and some major narrow bridges from Category C.

Bridge Painting:  Transfers required painting of steel bridges from the maintenance budget (Program M).

The 100 percent reimbursable projects will no longer be funded in Category A and are transferred to Program R.

Fiscal Note:    Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Jim Clemen, Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This change provides visibility and accountability for the Washington state bridge program.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.