HOUSE BILL REPORT

REHB 1724

As Amended by the Senate

BYRepresentatives Prentice, Patrick, S. Wilson, Baugher, Walk, Betrozoff, Zellinsky, Wood, Todd, R. Fisher, Nelson, Cooper, Holland, Sayan, D. Sommers, Gallagher, Anderson, Cantwell, Leonard, Haugen and Winsley; by request of Legislative Transportation Committee

Establishing criteria for state highway designation.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (21)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, Nelson, Prentice, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray Sandison (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

In 1983, the Washington State Legislature authorized a complete study of the state roadway system by the Road Jurisdiction Committee (RJC).  Committee membership included county, city and state transportation officials.

The study was divided into two phases of work.  Phase I examined the issue of jurisdiction of roadways and related facilities and developed criteria for determining which roads should be part of the state highway system and which should be local roads.

Phase II analyzed roadway-related needs on the state, county and city roadway systems and projected the revenues available to meet those needs. It also analyzed the distribution of motor fuel tax and other revenue sources to the state, counties and cities.

The RJC recommended that the criteria developed in Phase I of the study be enacted as guidelines for the Legislature in making its determinations of what roads should, or should not, be state highways.

SUMMARY:

Criteria are enacted to assist the Legislature in determining which roads should be state highways and which should be county or city roads.

The Road Jurisdiction Committee is to study and make recommendations to the Legislative Transportation Committee regarding funding financial hardships caused by changes to the state highway system.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  This is a technical change to correct a drafting error.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Ernie Geissler, County Road Administration Board; Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities; Ed Ferguson, Department of Transportation; and Jim Ajax, City of Pasco.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The criteria as developed by the Road Jurisdiction Committee will be useful in assisting rational legislative decisions.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 92; Excused 6

Excused:    Representatives Ballard, Basich, Baugher, Chandler, Gallagher, Sommers D