AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 31, No. 3
January 25, 2008  (Plain Text Version)

Return to Graphical Version | Search back issues

In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
From the Direcotor – Legislature Focuses on Major Issues: Climate Change and Transportation
Hearings of Interest During CLAC
Energy & Telecommunications
Environment & Water
General Local Government
Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance
Personnel & Labor Relations
Online Legislative Advocacy Tools
AWC Legislative Contacts & Officers

Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development

This Week in Transportation

The second week of session continued its review of agency budgets. Notable presentations included the plight of the ferry system vessels and the stress of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT’s) maintenance and preservation budgets. They are unlikely to be remedied in the supplemental budgets. However, this will set the 2009 funding stage of trade-offs between maintenance and preservation, ferries, and highway projects that are in process or are about to begin.

As the phoenix burns itself and rises from the ashes, so to has the discussion of Regional Transportation governance. After the defeat of the roads and transit ballot measure in Puget Sound last November, the Senate has introduced SB 6772. In addition the Regional Transportation Improvement District is proposed to be repealed (SB 6771). Both are scheduled in the first week of February. SB 6772 will do the following:

  • Expand existing Regional Transit Authority ("Sound Transit") and rename as Regional Transportation Authority
    • Expand project eligibility: both roads & transit
    • New governance board (12 members): 6 elected within King, Pierce, Snohomish; 1 elected at-large within 3-county boundary; 3 appointed by county executives; WSDOT Secretary (non-voting); Puget Sound Regional Coucil Executive Director (non-voting)
    • Majority elected board: 7 elected & 5 appointed/designated
    • Broad revenue options: combined roads & transit revenue, not limited by modal or subarea equity
    • No MPO/RTPO function (Puget Sound Regional Council retains existing charter, but Executive Director sits on new entity
    • Boundaries: Existing ST boundaries
  • Counties outside of Central Puget Sound may create an RTA.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety (HB 2732)

This will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Monday, January 28 at 3:30 p.m. The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian or bicycle that is on the roadway or on the right-hand shoulder or bicycle lane of the roadway will be required to pass to the left at a safe distance, of no less than three feet, to clearly avoid coming into contact with the pedestrian or bicyclist, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken pedestrian or bicyclist.

Financing the State Route 520 Bridge Replacement Project (HB 3096)

This bill allows the department of transportation to collect tolls on the existing SR 520 bridge or on a replacement 520 bridge. It also requires the executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Secretary of WSDOT (or designee), and a state transportation commission member from King County to form a State Route 520 tolling Implementation Committee.

Requiring Local Bridge Owners to Maintain, Replace, or Appropriate Funds for Bridges Deemed to be Especially Deficient. (HB 2969)

As the bill title indicates, if a city has a bridge rating of 9 or less (out of 100), the state treasurer would be required to withhold twenty-five percent of their state gas tax revenues until enough revenue is accrued to fund 50% of the estimated cost to replace the bridge or rehabilitated at a rating of 80 or better. AWC staff will testify in opposition to this bill.

Creating a Telework Enhancement Funding Board (SB 5162)

This bill would create a telework enhancement funding account. The Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Board is renamed the Commute Trip Reduction and Telework Enhancement (CTRTE) Board. The CTRTE Board assumes responsibility for developing procedures and criteria for allocating and distributing funds. The CTRTE Board gives preference for telework funding to projects that encourages employers to provide telework opportunities; locate jobs outside the congested Puget Sound urban areas; and develop telecommunications infrastructure in rural and underserved communities.

Addressing Concurrency and Impact Fees for Transportation Purposes (HB 2950)

This bill essentially states that the payment of impact fees would constitute an acceptable strategy for meeting the established transportation standards – if a developer pays impact fees, it would be considered concurrent. AWC will work with Rep. Deborah Eddy (D-Kirkland), the prime sponsor, outlining our concerns of the proposed bill.

This Week in Infrastructure

Regarding alternative public works contracting procedures (HB 2780)

This is a continuation of last year’s alternative public works legislation. Most notably, it will allow up to ten pilot design build projects between $2M and $10M.

Authorizing Public Works Board Projects (HB 2437)

The House passed the Public Work Board Project List 97-0 and has now been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. As recommended by the Board, 52 project loans totaling $278 million are authorized for the 2008 loan cycle. All of the appropriation available for construction loans in the 2007-09 biennium is being used for the 2008 loan list. Cities represent 32 projects totaling $182 million. Please see www.pwb.wa.gov for more detailed project information.

Creating the Building Communities Fund Program (HB 3125)

This bill is a reflection of the Community Development recommendations from the Infrastructure Task Force. It authorizes capital and technical assistance grants to nonprofit organizations, local governments, or federally recognized Indian tribes in distressed communities for acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for the delivery of nonresidential community services, including social service centers, multipurpose community centers, and cultural centers.

Underground Economy in the Construction Industry (HB 3121)

This bill would implement the recommendations of the joint legislative task force on the underground economy in the construction industry. Of interest to cities is the establishment of a pilot project to be established between the department of labor and industries and certain local jurisdictions to explore ways to improve the collection and sharing of building permit information. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Commerce & Labor on Tuesday, January 29 at 1:30 pm.