Transportation & Infrastructure

Initiative 917

Signature validation for Initiative 917 failed the random sample process authorized by state law. I-917 needed to have an invalidation rate of 15.5% or less to qualify; the random sample process projected a 17.96% invalidation rate. Consequently, the Secretary of State will now conduct a full signature check. This will take several weeks and we will probably not know the outcome until mid–September.

If Initiative 917 does qualify, it would repeal or change several fees and taxes that are dedicated to transportation, as well as reduce other local revenues and funding options. Current estimates are a $2.7 billion reduction in transportation funding. Please see our I-917 Fact Sheet at www.awcnet.org/initiatives for more comprehensive information on Initiative 917 and other initiatives that will be on the ballot this November.

As of this week, fifteen business, labor, and environmental organizations have filed a complaint in Thurston County Superior Court challenging the validity of 3,000 of the 17,000 submitted I-917 petitions. Current law requires signature gatherers to personally sign a declaration stating the information on the petition is correct. However, the state attorney general’s office issued an opinion that the signature was not absolutely required. The objective of the lawsuit is to clarify the status of signatures on I-917 and clarify the process for future initiatives.

Washington’s Transportation Plan: Comments Requested

As noted in last month’s Bulletin, the Washington State Transportation Commission’s draft Washington Transportation Plan (WTP) is now available for review and comment. The Commission is also conducting several open houses around the state.

The WTP provides a blueprint and strategies to guide decisions and investments needed to develop Washington’s transportation system to serve the future needs of its citizens, communities, and economy, while safeguarding our environment. This is directed at both state and local governments.

The WTP is framed around the strategic issues of:

• Preservation – take care of past investments
• Safety – reduce the societal costs due to collisions
• Economic vitality – support our state’s growing economy
• Mobility – improve travel time reliability and improve the movement of people and goods
• Environmental quality – support investments that lead to healthier communities

To review and comment on the plan as well as mark your calendar to attend an open house in your area, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/planning/wtp.

Alternative Public Works Legislation

The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board is continuing its effort to revise and update alternative public works legislation. This includes General Contractor-Construction Manager (GC-CM), Design-Build, and Job Order Contracting legislation. The current authority expires in June, 2007. To date, there has been a great deal of fine-tuning on technical aspects of this authority.

The more difficult policy debate on expansion for cities, as well as the changing of the current $10 million threshold, remains unresolved. Cities, counties, ports, and higher education continue to propose the following for GC-CM and Design-Build:

There is a strong push by the construction industry to require all but a few of the experienced owners to go before a Project Review Committee for approval. In addition, the construction industry has raised concerns about the need or validity to use GC-CM or Design Build for projects under $10 million. We have continued to state that currently authorized public owners are considered experienced and should maintain their authority. In addition, if a Project Review Committee is created, we have stated that the Committee should determine the validity of a project based on its complexity, management team, etc. and not be held to an arbitrary dollar threshold.

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