Title 47 — Title 47 PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION

(1) A toll collection system may include, but is not limited to, electronic toll collection and photo tolling.(2)(a) A photo toll system may take photographs, digital photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of the vehicle and vehicle license plate only…

(1) The commission shall retain toll charges on any existing and future facilities constructed under this chapter and financed primarily by bonds issued by the state until:(a) All costs of investigation, financing, acquisition of property, and construction advanced from the motor…

Pursuant to RCW 43.135.055, the legislature authorizes the transportation commission to increase bridge tolls in excess of the fiscal growth factor.[ 2002 c 114 s 9.]Notes:Finding—Intent—2002 c 114: See RCW 47.46.011.Captions not law—2002 c 114: See note following RCW 47.46.011.

Proceeds of the sale of bonds issued by the state for projects constructed under this chapter must be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of a special account designated for those purposes. Those proceeds must be expended only for the purposes enumerated in this chapter…

Toll charges must be used to repay the motor vehicle fund consistent with RCW 47.56.165 for any amounts transferred from the motor vehicle fund to the highway bond retirement fund under RCW 47.10.847 to provide for bond retirement and interest on bonds issued for the Tacoma Narro…

If a proposal is or has been selected for the design, development, construction, maintenance, or operation of transportation systems or facilities under this chapter, subsequent agreements may be made to implement portions of the proposal that modify the proposal or that do not i…

All projects designed, constructed, and operated under this chapter must comply with all applicable rules and statutes in existence at the time the agreement is executed, including but not limited to the following provisions: Chapter 39.12 RCW, this title, *RCW 41.06.380, chapter…

RCW 47.46.040 and 47.46.050 apply only to those agreements that include private sources of financing in whole or in part.[ 2002 c 114 s 15.]Notes:Finding—Intent—2002 c 114: See RCW 47.46.011.Captions not law—2002 c 114: See note following RCW 47.46.011.

A legislative oversight committee is established to monitor and report on the progress, execution, and efficiency of design-build contracts issued under this chapter. The legislative oversight committee will be comprised of one legislator from each caucus of each chamber of the l…

(1) The legislature finds funding of the Tacoma Narrows bridge facility to be distinct from other Washington state tolling facilities due to its increasing debt service costs, which is the primary driver of the facility's escalating costs. Washington state has since recommended a…

(1) Through 2031, the commission shall submit to the transportation committees of the legislature on an annual basis a report that includes sufficient information to enable the legislature to determine an adequate amount of contribution from nontoll sources required for each fisc…

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 370 s 7.]

(1) The legislature finds that a full set of project procurement, contracting, financing, and funding tools are needed to enable the delivery of transportation projects in a manner most advantageous to the public. Current public-private partnership laws have failed to spur innova…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Commission" means the transportation commission.(2) "Department" means the department of transportation.(3) "Eligible transportation project" means any project that is…

(1) The department shall develop policies and, where appropriate, adopt rules to carry out this chapter and govern the use of public-private partnerships for transportation projects. At a minimum, the department's policies and rules must address the following issues:(a) The types…

(1) For any eligible transportation project that requires the imposition of tolls on a state facility, the legislature must approve the imposition of such tolls consistent with RCW 47.56.820.(2) For any eligible transportation project that requires setting or adjusting toll rates…

All other transportation and public works project procurement and contracting governing provisions and procedures that do not conflict with this chapter, including responsible bidder and apprenticeship requirements under chapter 39.04 RCW and prevailing wage requirements under ch…

Any eligible transportation project with an estimated cost to the state of less than $500,000,000, or any project on a United States route that is not an interstate route and includes replacement of a seismically vulnerable elevated structure at least one and one-half miles long …

(1) Subject to the limitations in this section, the department may, in connection with the evaluation of eligible transportation projects, consider any financing mechanisms from any lawful source, either integrated as part of a project proposal or as a separate, stand-alone propo…

(1) The department may accept from the United States or any of its agencies such funds as are available to this state or to any other unit of government for carrying out the purposes of this chapter, whether the funds are made available by grant, loan, or other financing arrangem…

(1) The department may evaluate eligible transportation projects that are already programmed for other delivery methods to determine their appropriateness for delivery under a public-private partnership model.(2) Before entering into a formal solicitation or procurement to develo…

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department may spend such moneys as may be necessary for stipends for respondents to a solicitation, the evaluation of concepts or proposals for eligible transportation projects, and for negoti…

The department may consult with legal, financial, technical, and other experts in the public and private sector in the evaluation, negotiation, and development of projects under this chapter.[ 2025 c 417 s 1211.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 417 ss 304 and 1201-1224: See note follo…

In the absence of any direct federal funding or direction, the department may contract with a private developer of a selected project proposal to conduct environmental impact studies and engineering and technical studies.[ 2025 c 417 s 1212.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 417 ss 304…

(1) The following provisions must be included in any transportation project agreement entered into under the authority of this chapter and to which the state is a party:(a) For any project that proposes terms for stand-alone maintenance or asset management services for a public f…

Before executing an agreement under RCW 47.47.130, the department must make a formal finding that the negotiated partnership agreement is expected to result in best value for the public, and the agreement must be approved through duly enacted legislation. The department must deve…

A proposer must identify those portions of a proposal that the proposer considers to be confidential, proprietary information, or trade secrets and provide any justification as to why these materials, upon request, should not be disclosed by the department. Patent information wil…

The state may, either separately or in combination with any other public sector partner, enter into working agreements, coordination agreements, or similar implementation agreements, including the formation of bistate transportation organizations, to carry out the joint implement…

The state may exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property, easements, or other rights or interests in property for projects that are necessary to implement an eligible transportation project developed under this chapter. Any property acquired pursuant to this section…

Applicable federal laws, rules, and regulations govern in any situation that involves federal funds if the federal laws, rules, or regulations:(1) Conflict with any provision of this chapter;(2) Require procedures that are additional to or inconsistent with those provided in this…

(1) The public-private partnerships account is created in the custody of the state treasurer.(2) The following moneys must be deposited into the account:(a) Proceeds from bonds or other financing instruments;(b) Revenues received from any transportation project developed under th…

Whenever the condition of any state highway, county road, or city street, either newly or previously constructed, altered, repaired, or improved, or any part thereof is such that for any reason its unrestricted use or continued use by vehicles or by any class of vehicles will gre…

Before any state highway, county road, or city street is closed to, or the maximum speed limit thereon reduced for, all vehicles or any class of vehicles, a notice thereof including the effective date shall be published in one issue of a newspaper of general circulation in the co…

(1) Whenever the chief or another officer of the state patrol determines on the basis of a traffic investigation that an emergency exists or less than safe road conditions exist due to human-caused or natural disasters or extreme weather conditions upon any state highway, or any …

Except as provided under RCW 47.48.060, when any state highway, county road, or city street or portion thereof shall have been closed, or when the maximum speed limit thereon shall have been reduced, for all vehicles or any class of vehicles, as by law provided, any person, firm,…

The chief or other officer of the Washington state patrol may prohibit the transportation of placarded radioactive or hazardous cargo over the highways of the state, or a portion thereof, if weather or other conditions create a substantial risk to public safety. For the purposes …

(1) Each county sheriff may, until a model policy pursuant to RCW 36.28A.140 is developed and implemented in the sheriff's county, establish and maintain a registry of persons authorized to access their land during a forest [fire] or wildfire. Upon request, the sheriff must inclu…

(1) The legislature finds that:(a) Regulation of access to the state highway system is necessary in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, to preserve the functional integrity of the state highway system, and to promote the safe and efficient movement of people …

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Controlled access facility" means a transportation facility to which access is regulated by the governmental entity having jurisdiction over the facility. Owners or o…

(1) Vehicular access and connections to or from the state highway system shall be regulated by the permitting authority in accordance with the provisions of this chapter in order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.(2) The department shall by July 1, 1992, adopt adm…

(1) No connection to a state highway shall be constructed or altered without obtaining an access permit in accordance with this chapter in advance of such action. A permitting authority has the authority to deny access to the state highway system at the location specified in the …

The department shall establish by rule a schedule of fees for permit applications made to the department. The fee shall be nonrefundable and shall be used only to offset the costs of administering the access permit review process and the costs associated with administering the pr…

The review process for access permit applications made by the department shall be as follows: Any person seeking an access permit shall file an application with the department. The department by rule shall establish application form and content requirements. The fee required by R…

The permitting authority may issue a permit subject to any conditions necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to, requiring the use of a joint-use connection. The permitting authority may revoke a permit if the applicant fails to comply w…

(1) Unpermitted connections to the state highway system in existence on July 1, 1990, shall not require the issuance of a permit and may continue to provide access to the state highway system, unless the permitting authority determines that such a connection does not meet minimum…

(1) The department shall develop, adopt, and maintain an access control classification system for all routes on the state highway system, the purpose of which shall be to provide for the implementation and continuing applications of the provision of this chapter.(2) The principal…

(1) Unrestricted access to and from public highways has resulted in congestion and peril for the traveler. It has caused undue slowing of all traffic in many areas. The investment of the public in highway facilities has been impaired and highway facilities costing vast sums of mo…

For the purposes of this chapter, a "limited access facility" is defined as a highway or street especially designed or designated for through traffic, and over, from, or to which owners or occupants of abutting land, or other persons, have no right or easement, or only a limited …

For the purposes of this chapter, the term "existing highway" shall include all highways, roads and streets duly established, constructed, and in use. It shall not include new highways, roads or streets, or relocated highways, roads or streets, or portions of existing highways, r…

The highway authorities of the state, counties, and incorporated cities and towns, acting alone or in cooperation with each other, or with any federal, state, or local agency, or any other state having authority to participate in the construction and maintenance of highways, may …