Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

(1) The transportation management firm hired under RCW 47.76.420(3) shall manage the day-to-day operations of the railcars, such as monitoring the location of the cars, returning them to this state, distributing them, arranging for pretrips and repairs, and arranging for per diem…

(1) The department shall establish a freight rail investment bank program for the purpose of supporting freight rail capital needs by providing low-interest loans to entities based on the state's interests as outlined in RCW 47.76.240.(2) The department shall issue freight rail i…

(1) The department shall establish the statewide emergent freight rail assistance program for the purpose of supporting freight rail capital needs by awarding grants based on the state's interests as outlined in RCW 47.76.240.(2) Grants shall be selected using the cost-benefit me…

The legislature recognizes that major intercity transportation corridors in this state are becoming increasingly congested. In these corridors, population is expected to grow by nearly forty percent over the next twenty years, while employment will grow by nearly fifty percent. T…

The legislature finds that there is substantial public benefit to establishing a high-speed ground transportation program in this state. The program shall implement the recommendations of the high-speed ground transportation steering committee report dated October 15, 1992. The p…

The legislature finds it important to develop public support and awareness of the benefits of high-speed ground transportation by developing high quality intercity passenger rail service as a first step. This high quality intercity passenger rail service shall be developed throug…

The legislature recognizes the need to plan for the high-speed ground transportation service and the high quality intercity rail passenger service set forth in RCW 47.79.020 and 47.79.030. The department of transportation shall, subject to legislative appropriation, develop a rai…

Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to acquire by purchase, lease, condemnation, gift, devise, bequest, grant, or exchange, title to or any interests or rights in real property adjacent to or used in association with state intercity passenger rail service which…

Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to accept and expend or use gifts, grants, and donations for the benefit of any depot, platform, parking area, maintenance facility, or other associated rail facility. However, such an expenditure shall be for the public bene…

Subject to appropriation, the department is authorized to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties necessary, convenient, or incidental to the planning, designing, constructing, improving, repairing, operating, and maintaining real property adjacent to or used in associ…

The legislature finds that a balanced, multimodal transportation system is an essential element of the state's infrastructure, and that effective rail passenger service is an integral part of a balanced, multimodal transportation system. The legislature further finds that the Kin…

The department may acquire, or contract to acquire, by purchase, lease, option to lease or purchase, condemnation, gift, devise, bequest, grant, or exchange of title, the King Street railroad station depot located in Seattle, or any interests or rights in it, and other real prope…

During all periods that the department contracts to own or lease some, or all, of the King Street railroad station properties, the department may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties necessary, convenient, or incidental for planning, designing, constructing, improvi…

To facilitate tax exempt financing for the acquisition and improvement of the King Street railroad station, the department may lease from or contract with public or private entities for the acquisition, lease, operation, maintenance, financing, renovation, restoration, or managem…

(1) The department may establish the King Street railroad station facility account as an interest-bearing local account. Receipts from the sources listed in subsection (2) of this section must be deposited into the account. Nothing in this section is a pledge of funds deposited t…

(1) The legislature recognizes that intercity passenger rail is an integral part of the state's transportation system and is critical to the state's ability to meet the climate, public health, equity, and mobility goals of the state as it continues to experience growth. The legis…

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.[ 1993 c 381 s 5.]

The legislature finds that while the transportation system in Washington is owned and operated by numerous public jurisdictions, it should function as one interconnected and coordinated system. Transportation planning, at all jurisdictional levels, should be coordinated with loca…

The legislature recognizes that recent legislative enactments have significantly added to the complexity of and to the potential for benefits from integrated transportation and comprehensive planning and that there is currently a unique opportunity for integration of local compre…

The legislature hereby authorizes creation of regional transportation planning organizations within the state. Each regional transportation planning organization shall be formed through the voluntary association of local governments within a county, or within geographically conti…

Each regional transportation planning organization shall have the following duties:(1) Prepare and periodically update a transportation strategy for the region. The strategy shall address alternative transportation modes and transportation demand management measures in regional c…

Each regional transportation planning organization, with cooperation from component cities, towns, and counties, shall establish guidelines and principles by July 1, 1995, that provide specific direction for the development and evaluation of the transportation elements of compreh…

(1) Each regional transportation planning organization shall develop in cooperation with the department of transportation, providers of public transportation and high capacity transportation, ports, and local governments within the region, adopt, and periodically update a regiona…

Each regional transportation planning organization shall create a transportation policy board. Transportation policy boards shall provide policy advice to the regional transportation planning organization and shall allow representatives of major employers within the region, the d…

(1) Biennial appropriations to the department of transportation to carry out the regional transportation planning program shall set forth the amounts to be allocated as follows:(a) A base amount per county for each county within each regional transportation planning organization,…

In order to qualify for state planning funds available to regional transportation planning organizations, the regional transportation planning organizations containing any county with a population in excess of one million shall provide voting membership on its executive board to …

In order to ensure statewide consistency in the regional transportation planning process, the state department of transportation, in conformance with chapter 34.05 RCW, shall:(1) In cooperation with regional transportation planning organizations, establish minimum standards for d…

When voting on matters solely affecting Washington state, a regional transportation planning organization must obtain a majority vote of the Washington residents serving as members of the regional transportation planning organization before a matter may be adopted.[ 2003 c 351 s …

(1) A regional transportation planning organization containing any county with a population in excess of one million in collaboration with representatives from the department of ecology, the department of commerce, local governments, and the office of regulatory assistance must s…

The department shall compile, maintain, and publish a summary of the per capita vehicle miles traveled annually in each city in the state, and in the unincorporated portions of each county in the state.[ 2023 c 228 s 10.]

Captions used in this act do not constitute any part of the law.[ 1994 c 158 s 11.]

This act shall take effect July 1, 1994.[ 1994 c 158 s 13.]

The department, in conjunction with local jurisdictions, shall coordinate as appropriate with the designated metropolitan planning organizations to develop a program for improving Amtrak passenger rail service. The program may include:(1) Determination of the appropriate level of…

The department shall, when feasible, assist local jurisdictions in upgrading Amtrak depots. Multimodal use of these facilities shall be encouraged.[ 1990 c 43 s 37.]

(1) The department, in conjunction with local jurisdictions, shall coordinate as appropriate with designated metropolitan and provincial transportation organizations to pursue resumption of Amtrak service from Seattle to Vancouver, British Columbia, via Everett, Mount Vernon, and…

The department, with other state and local agencies shall coordinate as appropriate with designated metropolitan planning organizations to provide public information with respect to common carrier passenger transportation. This information may include maps, routes, and schedules …

See notes following RCW 81.100.010.

It is the intent of the legislature to achieve transportation regulatory reform that expedites the delivery of transportation projects through a streamlined approach to environmental decision making. The department of transportation should work cooperatively and proactively with …

The legislature recognizes the value that tribal governments provide in the review of transportation projects. The legislature expects the department to continue its efforts to provide consistent consultation and communication during the environmental review of proposed transport…

The department must streamline the permitting process by developing and maintaining positive relationships with the regulatory agencies and the Indian tribes. The department can reduce the time it takes to obtain permits by incorporating impact avoidance and minimization measures…

The legislature finds that an essential component of streamlined permit decision making is the ability of the department to demonstrate the capacity to meet environmental responsibilities. Therefore, the legislature directs that:(1) Qualified environmental staff within the depart…

The legislature expects the department to continue its efforts to improve training and compliance. The department must:(1) Provide training in environmental procedures and permit requirements for those responsible for project delivery activities;(2) Require wetland mitigation sit…

The legislature finds that local land use reviews under chapter 90.58 RCW need to be harmonized with the efficient accomplishment of necessary maintenance and improvement to state transportation facilities. Local land use review procedures are highly variable and pose distinct ch…

Nothing in this chapter may be interpreted to create a private right of action or right of review. Judicial review of the department's environmental review is limited to that available under chapter 43.21C RCW or applicable federal law.[ 2015 3rd sp.s. c 17 s 7.]Notes:Effective d…

The legislature finds and declares that:(1) Interstate toll bridges owned by local governments provide critical links for the transport of workers, services, tourism, and emergency response between Washington and Oregon, and for Washington and Oregon businesses to transport local…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Applicable laws" means the laws applicable to the commission pursuant to RCW 47.87.130.(2) "Board" means the board of directors of a commission formed under this chapt…

(1) Upon enactment of an act by a bordering state having the same material effect as chapter 89, Laws of 2022, as determined by the office of the attorney general, local governments may enter into a commission formation agreement to form and charter a commission under this chapte…

(1) The commission shall be governed by a board. The commission formation agreement shall establish the number of voting and, if any, nonvoting or ex officio directors appointed by local governments of each state and, if any, appointed by governmental entities that are not local …

(1) In addition to any other powers granted under this chapter, the commission shall have the power to:(a) Construct, purchase, lease, acquire, own, operate, maintain, control, hold, sell, convey, dispose of, and finance and refinance real and personal property, facilities, mater…

(1) Before the start of bridge construction, the board shall appoint or retain:(a) An executive director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board, and be in administrative charge of the activities of the commission, and perform such additional duties as directed by the board…