We expected a relatively quiet year on the transportation front as we headed into the 2017 legislative session. The heavy lifting required to pass the Connecting Washington transportation package in 2015 left a feeling that this biennia’s transportation focus would be light. The 2017-2019 transportation budget was just that. It had few surprises, and made good progress on issues important to cities. For details on this budget see our past Legislative Bulletin article here. A short synopsis can be found below.
- $250,000 of city fuel taxes for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify city-owned fish passage barriers that share the same stream systems as state-owned fish passage barriers to identify, map and provide a preliminary assessment of city-owned barriers that need correction.
- $60,000 of city fuel taxes for the Freight Mobility Investment Board (FMSIB) to manage and update the road-rail conflicts database produced based on the Joint Transportation Committee's "Study of Road-rail Conflicts in Cities,” in 2016.
- $43,800,000 of federal appropriations to National Highway Freight Network projects.
- $300,000 to the Transportation Commission to continue to evaluate a road usage charge (RUC) as an alternative to the motor vehicle fuel tax.
While the transportation budget held few surprises, there was much greater activity on the policy front. Major issues dominated the 2017 legislative session. These included:
- Significant debate, but no compromise, around Sound Transit’s recent transportation initiative (Sound Transit 3);
- The regulation of transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, but again, no compromise;
- Progress on ensuring Washington State is in line with federal Real ID requirements (SB 5008); and
- A new law governing distracted driving in the form of the prohibition of using hand held devices behind the wheel (SB 5289).
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Bill #
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Descriptive title
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Final status
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HB 1018
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Modifying the maximum amount for grants provided to airports and air navigation facilities
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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HB 1149
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Exempting public transit vehicles equipped with a bike rack from the 3-foot limit for front vehicle protrusions
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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HB 1490
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Eliminating the requirement that a city or town report preservation rating information
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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SB 5008
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Facilitating compliance with the federal REAL ID act by modifying driver's license and identicard design and fees
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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SB 5049
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Requiring relocation assistance following real property acquisition
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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SB 5289
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Modifying the infraction of and penalties for distracted driving
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Law; Effective 7/23/2017
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HB 1498
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Concerning high hazard flammable train speed limits in certain urban areas
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Did not pass
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HB 1656
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Establishing a community aviation revitalization loan program
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Did not pass
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HB 2147
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Concerning taxpayer relief for persons subject to a motor vehicle excise tax imposed by a regional transit authority
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Did not pass
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HB 2148
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Establishing a regional transit authority rebate program for low-income individuals
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Did not pass
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HB 2149
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Requiring a taxpayer accountability statement to be included with regional transit authority motor vehicle excise taxes
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Did not pass
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HB 2150
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Requiring a taxpayer accountability statement to be included with regional transit authority property taxes
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Did not pass
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HB 2166
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Nullifying the imposition of certain taxes within regional transit authority boundaries
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Did not pass
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HB 2168
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Concerning the administration of motor vehicle excise taxes by regional transit authorities
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Did not pass
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SB 5098
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Concerning high hazard flammable train speed limits in certain urban areas
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Did not pass
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SB 5817
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Nullifying the imposition of certain taxes within regional transit authority boundaries
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Did not pass
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SB 5893
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Concerning the administration of motor vehicle excise taxes by regional transit authorities
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Did not pass
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SB 5905
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Concerning taxpayer relief for persons subject to a motor vehicle excise tax imposed by a regional transit authority
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Did not pass
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SB 5906
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Establishing a regional transit authority rebate program for low-income individuals
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Did not pass
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SB 5908
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Requiring a taxpayer accountability statement to be included with regional transit authority motor vehicle excise taxes
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Did not pass
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SB 5909
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Requiring a taxpayer accountability statement to be included with regional transit authority property taxes
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Did not pass
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