Multimodal transp. plan

AN ACT Relating to the statewide multimodal transportation plan; 1
and amending RCW 47.06.040 and 47.06.050. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 47.06.040 and 2002 c 189 s 4 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) The department shall develop a statewide multimodal 6
transportation plan under RCW 47.01.071(((3))) (4) and in conformance 7
with federal requirements every three years , to ensure the continued 8
mobility of people and goods within regions and across the state in a 9
safe, cost-effective manner. The statewide multimodal transportation 10
plan shall consist of: 11
(((1))) (a) A state-owned facilities component, which shall guide 12
state investment for state highways including bicycle and pedestrian 13
facilities, and state ferries; and 14
(((2))) (b) A state-interest component, which shall define the 15
state interest in aviation, marine ports and navigation, freight 16
rail, intercity passenger rail, bicycle transportation and pedestrian 17
walkways, and public transportation, and recommend actions in 18
coordination with appropriate public and private transportation 19
providers to ensure that the state interest in these transportation 20
modes is met. 21
S-4372.1
SENATE BILL 6333
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senator Fortunato
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(2) The plans developed under each component must be consistent 1
with the state transportation policy plan and with each other, 2
reflect public involvement, be consistent with regional 3
transportation planning, high capacity transportation planning, and 4
local comprehensive plans prepared under chapter 36.70A RCW, and 5
include analysis of intermodal connections and choices. A primary 6
emphasis for these plans shall be the relief of congestion, the 7
preservation of existing investments and downtowns, ability to 8
attract or accommodate planned population, and employment growth, the 9
improvement of traveler safety, the efficient movement of freight and 10
goods, and the improvement and integration of all transportation 11
modes to create a seamless intermodal transportation system for 12
people and goods. 13
(3) In the development of the statewide multimodal transportation 14
plan, the department shall identify and document potential affected 15
environmental resources((,)) including, but not limited to, wetlands, 16
stormwater runoff, flooding, air quality, fish passage, and wildlife 17
habitat. The department shall conduct its environmental 18
identification and documentation in coordination with all relevant 19
environmental regulatory authorities ((,)) including, but not limited 20
to, local governments. The department shall give the relevant 21
environmental regulatory authorities an opportunity to review the 22
department's environmental plans. The relevant environmental 23
regulatory authorities shall provide comments on the department's 24
environmental plans in a timely manner. Environmental identification 25
and documentation as provided for in RCW 47.01.300 and this section 26
is not intended to create a private right of action or require an 27
environmental impact statement as provided in chapter 43.21C RCW.28
(4) Beginning January 1, 2027, as part of each statewide 29
multimodal transportation plan, the department must report to the 30
transportation committees of the legislature and the office of 31
financial management with the following information:32
(a) Notification of completion of the plan and the date of 33
publication of the previous statewide multimodal transportation plan;34
(b) Identification of the part or parts of the report that 35
fulfill each requirement in this chapter;36
(c) If a requirement in this chapter is not met by the plan, 37
identification of the requirement with an explanation of why it could 38
not be met; and39
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(d) An update on progress toward achieving the objectives 1
identified in the state bridge preservation plan in RCW 47.06.050(3).2
Sec. 2. RCW 47.06.050 and 2007 c 516 s 10 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
The state-owned facilities component of the statewide multimodal 5
transportation plan shall consist of: 6
(1) The state highway system plan, which identifies program and 7
financing needs and recommends specific and financially realistic 8
improvements to preserve the structural integrity of the state 9
highway system, ensure acceptable operating conditions, and provide 10
for enhanced access to scenic, recreational, and cultural resources. 11
The state highway system plan shall contain the following elements:12
(a) A system preservation element, which shall establish 13
structural preservation objectives for the state highway system 14
including bridges, identify current and future structural 15
deficiencies based upon analysis of current conditions and projected 16
future deterioration, and recommend program funding levels and 17
specific actions necessary to preserve the structural integrity of 18
the state highway system consistent with adopted objectives. Lowest 19
life-cycle cost methodologies must be used in developing a pavement 20
management system. This element shall serve as the basis for the 21
preservation component of the six-year highway program and the two-22
year biennial budget request to the legislature; 23
(b) A highway maintenance element, establishing service levels 24
for highway maintenance on state-owned highways. The highway 25
maintenance element must include an estimate of costs for achieving 26
those service levels over ((twenty)) 20 years. This element will 27
serve as the basis for the maintenance component of the six-year 28
highway program and the two-year biennial budget request to the 29
legislature; 30
(c) A capacity and operational improvement element, which shall 31
establish operational objectives, including safety considerations, 32
for moving people and goods on the state highway system, identify 33
current and future capacity, operational, and safety deficiencies, 34
and recommend program funding levels and specific improvements and 35
strategies necessary to achieve the operational objectives. In 36
developing capacity and operational improvement plans the department 37
shall first assess strategies to enhance the operational efficiency 38
of the existing system before recommending system expansion. 39
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Strategies to enhance the operational efficiencies include but are 1
not limited to access management, transportation system management, 2
demand management, and high occupancy vehicle facilities. The 3
capacity and operational improvement element must conform to the 4
state implementation plan for air quality and be consistent with 5
regional transportation plans adopted under chapter 47.80 RCW, and 6
shall serve as the basis for the capacity and operational improvement 7
portions of the six-year highway program and the two-year biennial 8
budget request to the legislature; 9
(d) A scenic and recreational highways element, which shall 10
identify and recommend designation of scenic and recreational 11
highways, provide for enhanced access to scenic, recreational, and 12
cultural resources associated with designated routes, and recommend a 13
variety of management strategies to protect, preserve, and enhance 14
these resources. The department, affected counties, cities, and 15
towns, regional transportation planning organizations, and other 16
state or federal agencies shall jointly develop this element;17
(e) A paths and trails element, which shall identify the needs of 18
nonmotorized transportation modes on the state transportation systems 19
and provide the basis for the investment of state transportation 20
funds in paths and trails, including funding provided under chapter 21
47.30 RCW. 22
(2) The state ferry system plan, which shall guide capital and 23
operating investments in the state ferry system. The plan shall 24
establish service objectives for state ferry routes, forecast travel 25
demand for the various markets served in the system, develop 26
strategies for ferry system investment that consider regional and 27
statewide vehicle and passenger needs, support local land use plans, 28
and assure that ferry services are fully integrated with other 29
transportation services. The plan must provide for maintenance of 30
capital assets. The plan must also provide for preservation of 31
capital assets based on lowest life-cycle cost methodologies. The 32
plan shall assess the role of private ferries operating under the 33
authority of the utilities and transportation commission and shall 34
coordinate ferry system capital and operational plans with these 35
private operations. The ferry system plan must be consistent with the 36
regional transportation plans for areas served by the state ferry 37
system, and shall be developed in conjunction with the ferry advisory 38
committees. 39
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(3) The state bridge preservation plan, which shall establish a 1
long-term plan to bring all state-owned bridges to a state of good 2
repair.3
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