HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 859

BYRepresentatives Day, Dellwo, D. Sommers, Patrick, Fisher, Fisch, Vekich, Schmidt, Gallagher, Baugher, Walk, Doty, Bumgarner, Moyer, Silver, Taylor and Padden

Transferring ownership and operation of the Spokane river toll bridge to the city of Spokane.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (19)

     Signed by Representatives Walk, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair; Cantwell, Cooper, Day, Dellwo, Doty, Fisch, Fisher, Gallagher, Heavey, Kremen, C. Smith, D. Sommers, Spanel, Sutherland, Todd, Vekich and K. Wilson.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (10)

     Signed by Representatives Betrozoff, Brough, Hankins, Haugen, Meyers, Patrick, Prince, Schmidt, J. Williams and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Larry Plummer (786-7321)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION MARCH 5, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Department of Transportation is required by statute to fix and maintain tolls on the Maple Street Bridge in Spokane, to produce revenues sufficient to pay all expenses of operating and maintaining the bridge, and to pay the principal and interest on bonds remaining from construction financing.  State motor vehicle funds are also pledged for any amounts for which the toll revenues are insufficient to pay.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Removal of tolls from the Maple Street Bridge in Spokane is required.  This is accomplished in the following manner.

The bridge is placed under the sole ownership of the state, along with responsibility to pay all expenses of operating, maintaining, managing, and repairing the bridge, including all insurance costs.

Bonds remaining from bridge construction financing continue to have state motor vehicle funds pledged for payment of principal and interest when due.  This allows flexibility for continuing scheduled debt service payments or for appropriation of sufficient motor vehicle funds to retire the bonds sooner.

Moneys remaining in the Spokane River Toll Bridge Account are retained by the state for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on remaining bonds.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The Maple Street Bridge is placed under sole ownership of the state, rather than the city of Spokane.

Responsibility to pay all expenses of operating, maintaining, managing, and repairing the bridge, including insurance costs, is given to the state, rather than the city of Spokane.

Moneys remaining in the Spokane River Toll Bridge Account are designated for retention by the state for the purpose of paying the principal and interest on remaining bonds.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Dave Robinson, Spokane City Council.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Removal of the toll from the Maple Street Bridge is an important element in the solution to the north/south corridor traffic congestion problem in the city of Spokane.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.