Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

The department is authorized to erect and maintain motorist information sign panels within the right-of-way of noninterstate highways to give the traveling public specific information as to gas, food, lodging, recreation, or tourist-oriented businesses accessible by way of highwa…

(1) Not more than six business signs may be permitted on motorist information sign panels authorized by RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320.(2) The maximum distance that eligible service facilities may be located on either side of an interchange or intersection to qualify for a business …

To be eligible for placement of a business sign on a motorist information sign panel a lodging activity shall:(1) Be licensed or approved by the department of social and health services or county health authority;(2) Provide adequate sleeping and bathroom accommodations available…

The department shall ensure that motorist information sign panels are installed within nine months of receiving the request for installation.[ 1999 c 201 s 7; 1991 c 94 s 5.]

(1) The department of transportation shall not include the logo "RV" under RCW 47.36.310 and 47.36.320 unless a business or destination requests an "RV" logo and the department determines that the gas, food, or lodging business or the camping or tourist activity destination provi…

The department may install adopt-a-highway signs, with the following restrictions:(1) Signs shall be designed by the department and may only include the words "adopt-a-highway litter control facility" or "adopt-a-highway litter control next XX miles" and the name of the litter co…

(1)(a) The executive officer, or a designated employee, with control of operations and maintenance of a bridge of any county, city, town, or state agency, subject to approval by the department pursuant to (d) of this subsection, may erect informational signs near or attached to b…

(1) Pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW, the department and the Washington state patrol shall jointly adopt rules governing the conduct and the safety of the traveling public relating to the use and control of rest areas and other areas as designated in RCW 47.12.250. Nothing herein ma…

(1) Except where specifically authorized by the department, it is unlawful for any person or persons to stop, stand, or park any vehicle, including but not limited to trailers, campers, and motorcycles, for more than eight hours within a twenty-four hour period, or for any person…

In order to provide information in the specific interest of the traveling public, the department may establish information centers at safety rest areas and permit maps, informational directories, and advertising pamphlets to be made available there for the purpose of informing th…

The department of transportation shall construct and maintain recreational vehicle sanitary disposal systems in the following safety rest areas lying along highways which are a part of the interstate highway system:(1) Gee Creek safety rest area, northbound and southbound on Inte…

The department may designate interstate safety rest areas, as appropriate, as locations for memorial signs to prisoners of war and those missing in action. The department shall adopt policies for the placement of memorial signs on interstate safety rest areas and may disapprove a…

(1) As a necessary and desirable step to spur public and private investment in electric vehicle infrastructure in accordance with section 1, chapter 459, Laws of 2009, and to begin implementing the provisions of RCW 43.19.648, the legislature authorizes an alternative fuels corri…

(1) By December 31, 2015, the state must, to the extent practicable, install electrical outlets capable of charging electric vehicles in each state-operated highway rest stop.(2) By December 31, 2015, the state must provide the opportunity to lease space for the limited purpose o…

The department may work with human trafficking victim advocates in developing informational posters for placement in rest areas. The department may adopt policies for the placement of these posters in rest areas and these policies must address, at a minimum, placement of the post…

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department is directed to reconfigure its maintenance operations to assure that its owned and operated safety rest areas are open for use except for seasonal closures or cleaning, maintenance, …

There is hereby created a scenic and recreational highway system. Highways in this system shall be developed and maintained in accordance with general standards for state highways of comparable classification and usage.Recognizing that the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st C…

The following portions of highways are designated as part of the scenic and recreational highway system:(1) State route number 2, beginning at the crossing of Woods creek at the east city limits of Monroe, thence in an easterly direction by way of Stevens pass to a junction with …

(1) The department shall pay from motor vehicle funds appropriated for construction of state highways, the following costs of developing and constructing scenic and recreational highways: (a) Acquisition of the right-of-way necessary for state highway purposes; (b) construction o…

The establishment of planning and design standards for items provided for in RCW 47.39.050 shall be coordinated by the department of commerce. The department of transportation, parks and recreation commission, and any other departments or commissions whose interests are affected …

Planning and design standards established for highways falling within the scenic and recreational highways system may include, but shall not be limited to, provision for the following:(1) Hiking, bicycle, and bridle trails, including regulations for their use;(2) Campsites and sh…

The department and the parks and recreation commission may include, where appropriate, on any maps, or in any relevant descriptive material they may prepare at state expense, references to those portions of highways designated in RCW 47.39.020, and may include those designated by…

(1) The department, in consultation with the department of commerce, the department of natural resources, the parks and recreation commission, affected cities, towns, and counties, federally recognized tribes, regional transportation planning organizations, Washington-based autom…

The department shall participate with local communities to develop a corridor management plan for a state highway nominated to be part of the scenic byway program. Local, regional, or other governmental bodies shall develop a corridor management plan for nominated routes that are…

Recognizing that the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century establishes a national "Scenic Byways" grant program and a new apportionment program called "Transportation Enhancement Activities," the department of transportation shall place high priority on obtaining funds f…

In developing the scenic and recreational highways program, the department shall consult with the department of commerce, the department of natural resources, the parks and recreation commission, affected cities, towns, and counties, regional transportation planning organizations…

(1) The commission may remove the designation of a route if it no longer possesses the intrinsic qualities or fails to meet the criteria that supported its designation.(2) The department shall determine whether a roadway designated as a national scenic byway or an All-American Ro…

RCW 47.39.010 through 47.39.910 shall constitute a new chapter in Title 47 RCW and shall be known and may be cited as the "Scenic and Recreational Highway Act of 1967."[ 1967 ex.s. c 85 s 7.]

If any provision of this act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[ 1967 ex.s. c 85 s 8.]

The planting and cultivating of any shrubs, trees, hedges or other domestic or native ornamental growth, the improvement of roadside facilities and view points, and the correction of unsightly conditions, upon the right-of-way of any state highway is hereby declared to be a prope…

Whenever funds are available for the planting or cultivation of any shrubs, trees, hedges, or other domestic or native ornamental growth, the improvement of roadside facilities and view points, the correction of unsightly conditions upon the right-of-way of any state highway, and…

Any person, firm, corporation, association, or organization owning lands abutting upon any state highway and desiring to plant, cultivate, and grow any hedge, shade trees, or ornamental trees or shrubs along the right-of-way thereof, or to clear and cultivate a portion of the sta…

Each application for a permit to plant, cultivate and grow any hedge, shade or ornamental trees or shrubbery along or upon the right-of-way of any state highway or improve such right-of-way shall be in writing, signed by the applicant, and shall describe the state highway or port…

Upon the filing of such application, the department shall cause a survey of the state highway to be made with reference to the application and a report of the findings and recommendations as to the granting of the permit, and if it appears to the satisfaction of the department th…

If any such permit is granted, the department shall enter into an agreement with the person, firm, corporation, association, or organization agreeing that such roadside development or beautification shall be maintained and kept up by the state through the department or by the per…

It is unlawful for any person to injure, destroy, or remove any hedge, shade or ornamental trees, shrubbery, or crops, planted, cultivated, and grown or improvement made upon or along any portion of any state highway under permit from the department or otherwise, or to injure, de…

Any person who shall break or cut from any lands owned by the state of Washington or shall cut down, remove, destroy or uproot any rhododendron, evergreen, huckleberry, native dogwood or any other native tree, shrub, fern, herb, bulb or wild plants, or any part thereof, within th…

The department and any other governmental subdivision shall, with the staff, equipment, and material under their control, or by contract with others, take all necessary actions to collect and remove any or all glass bottles or glass containers along the right-of-way of any public…

(1)(a) The department of transportation shall establish a statewide adopt-a-highway program. The purpose of the program is to provide volunteers and businesses an opportunity to contribute to a cleaner environment, enhanced roadsides, and protection of wildlife habitats. Particip…

Local government legislative authorities may enact local "adopt-a-highway sign" and "adopt-a-fish passage" programs which are not inconsistent with state or federal law.[ 2024 c 227 s 3; 1990 c 258 s 3.]Notes:Findings—Intent—2024 c 227: See note following RCW 77.95.350.Legislativ…

The department may participate in an "adopt-a-fish passage" program under RCW 77.95.350.[ 2024 c 227 s 4.]Notes:Findings—Intent—2024 c 227: See note following RCW 77.95.350.

By December 1, 2025, the department shall report to the transportation committees of the legislature and the office of financial management with a list in excel or similar electronic format that includes the following information for each current participant in the adopt-a-highwa…

For the purpose of promoting the public safety, health, welfare, convenience, and enjoyment of public travel, to protect the public investment in public highways, and to preserve and enhance the scenic beauty of lands bordering public highways, it is hereby declared to be in the …

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Junk" means old or scrap copper, brass, rope, rags, batteries, paper, trash, rubber debris, waste, or junked, dismantled, or wrecked automobiles, or parts thereof, iron, steel, and other old or scrap fer…

No person may establish, operate, or maintain a junkyard any portion of which is within one thousand feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way of any interstate or federal-aid primary highway, except the following:(1) Those which are screened by natural objects, plantings, fen…

Before July 1, 1971, the department shall determine whether or not the topography of the land adjoining the highway will permit adequate screening of any junkyard lawfully in existence located outside of a zoned industrial area or an unzoned industrial area as defined under RCW 4…

The department shall adopt rules for the administration of this chapter consistent with the policy of this chapter and the national policy set forth in 23 U.S.C. Sec. 136, and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the United States secretary of transportation. Proceedings for…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit a person to maintain any junkyard that is otherwise prohibited by statute or by the resolution or ordinance of any county, city, or town, nor to abrogate or affect the lawful provisions of any statute, ordinance, regulation, or…

(1) If the owner of the land upon which any such junkyard is located, or the operator thereof, as the case may be, fails to comply with the notice or remove any such junk within the time provided in this chapter after being so notified, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor. In ad…

The department is authorized to enter into agreements with the United States secretary of transportation as provided in Title 23 United States Code, relating to the control of junkyards in areas adjacent to the interstate and primary systems, and to take action in the name of the…