Transportation commission

AN ACT Relating to revising the responsibilities of the state 1
transportation commission; amending RCW 47.01.071, 47.04.280, 2
47.06.020, 47.80.060, 47.26.170, 47.01.250, 47.12.330, and 47.06.040; 3
and repealing RCW 47.01.075 and 47.26.440. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 47.01.071 and 2022 c 186 s 702 are each amended to 6
read as follows: 7
The transportation commission shall have the following functions, 8
powers, and duties: 9
(1) ((To propose policies to be adopted by the governor and the 10
legislature designed to assure the development and maintenance of a 11
comprehensive and balanced statewide transportation system which will 12
meet the needs of the people of this state for safe and efficient 13
transportation services. Wherever appropriate, the policies shall 14
provide for the use of integrated, intermodal transportation systems. 15
The policies must be aligned with the goals established in RCW 16
47.04.280. To this end the commission shall:17
(a) Develop transportation policies which are based on the 18
policies, goals, and objectives expressed and inherent in existing 19
state laws;20
S-3765.4
SENATE BILL 6335
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators King and Liias
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(b) Inventory the adopted policies, goals, and objectives of the 1
local and area-wide governmental bodies of the state and define the 2
role of the state, regional, and local governments in determining 3
transportation policies, in transportation planning, and in 4
implementing the state transportation plan;5
(c) Establish a procedure for review and revision of the state 6
transportation policy and for submission of proposed changes to the 7
governor and the legislature; and8
(d) Integrate the statewide transportation plan with the needs of 9
the elderly and persons with disabilities, and coordinate federal and 10
state programs directed at assisting local governments to answer such 11
needs;12
(2) To provide for the effective coordination of state 13
transportation planning with national transportation policy, state 14
and local land use policies, and local and regional transportation 15
plans and programs;16
(3) In conjunction with the provisions under RCW 47.01.075, to)) 17
To provide for public involvement ((in transportation )) designed to 18
elicit the public's views both with respect to ((adequate 19
transportation services and appropriate means of minimizing adverse 20
social, economic, environmental, and energy impact of transportation 21
programs)) transportation topics that fall within the commission's 22
responsibilities as well as any additional topics directed by the 23
legislature, and to provide a summary report of the public's views to 24
the transportation committees of the legislature by December 1st of 25
each year; 26
(((4) By December 2010, to prepare a comprehensive and balanced 27
statewide transportation plan consistent with the state's growth 28
management goals and based on the transportation policy goals 29
provided under RCW 47.04.280 and applicable state and federal laws. 30
The plan must reflect the priorities of government developed by the 31
office of financial management and address regional needs, including 32
multimodal transportation planning. The plan must, at a minimum: (a) 33
Establish a vision for the development of the statewide 34
transportation system; (b) identify significant statewide 35
transportation policy issues; and (c) recommend statewide 36
transportation policies and strategies to the legislature to fulfill 37
the requirements of subsection (1) of this section. The plan must be 38
the product of an ongoing process that involves representatives of 39
significant transportation interests and the general public from 40
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across the state. Every four years, except during the 2021-2023 1
fiscal biennium, the plan shall be reviewed and revised, and 2
submitted to the governor and the house of representatives and senate 3
standing committees on transportation. 4
The plan shall take into account federal law and regulations 5
relating to the planning, construction, and operation of 6
transportation facilities;7
(5))) (2) To propose to the governor and the legislature prior to 8
the convening of each regular session held in an odd-numbered year a 9
recommended budget for the operations of the commission as required 10
by RCW 47.01.061; 11
(((6))) (3) To adopt such rules as may be necessary to carry out 12
reasonably and properly those functions expressly vested in the 13
commission by statute; 14
(((7))) (4) To contract with the office of financial management 15
or other appropriate state agencies for administrative support, 16
accounting services, computer services, and other support services 17
necessary to carry out its other statutory duties;18
(((8))) (5) To conduct transportation-related studies and policy 19
analysis to the extent directed by the legislature or governor in the 20
biennial transportation budget act, or as otherwise provided in law, 21
and subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 22
specific purpose; and 23
(((9))) (6) To exercise such other specific powers and duties as 24
may be vested in the transportation commission by this or any other 25
provision of law. 26
Sec. 2. RCW 47.04.280 and 2021 c 153 s 1 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1) It is the intent of the legislature to establish policy goals 29
for the planning, operation, performance of, and investment in, the 30
state's transportation system. Public investments in transportation 31
should support achievement of these policy goals: 32
(a) Preservation: To maintain, preserve, and extend the life and 33
utility of prior investments in transportation systems and services, 34
including the state ferry system; 35
(b) Safety: To provide for and improve the safety and security of 36
transportation customers and the transportation system;37
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(c) Stewardship: To continuously improve the quality, 1
effectiveness, resilience, and efficiency of the transportation 2
system; 3
(d) Mobility: To improve the predictable movement of goods and 4
people throughout Washington state, including congestion relief and 5
improved freight mobility; 6
(e) Economic vitality: To promote and develop transportation 7
systems that stimulate, support, and enhance the movement of people 8
and goods to ensure a prosperous economy; and 9
(f) Environment: To enhance Washington's quality of life through 10
transportation investments that promote energy conservation, enhance 11
healthy communities, and protect the environment. 12
(2) The powers, duties, and functions of state transportation 13
agencies must be performed in a manner consistent with the policy 14
goals set forth in subsection (1) of this section with preservation 15
and safety being priorities. 16
(3) These policy goals are intended to be the basis for 17
establishing detailed and measurable objectives and related 18
performance measures. 19
(4) It is the intent of the legislature that the office of 20
financial management ((, in consultation with the transportation 21
commission,)) establish objectives and performance measures for the 22
department and other state agencies with transportation-related 23
responsibilities to ensure transportation system performance at 24
local, regional, and state government levels progresses toward the 25
attainment of the policy goals set forth in subsection (1) of this 26
section. The office of financial management shall submit objectives 27
and performance measures to the legislature for its review and shall 28
provide copies of the same to the commission during each regular 29
session of the legislature during an even-numbered year thereafter.30
(5) A local or regional agency engaging in transportation 31
planning may voluntarily establish objectives and performance 32
measures to demonstrate progress toward the attainment of the policy 33
goals set forth in subsection (1) of this section or any other 34
transportation policy goals established by the local or regional 35
agency. A local or regional agency engaging in transportation 36
planning is encouraged to provide local and regional objectives and 37
performance measures to be included with the objectives and 38
performance measures submitted to the legislature pursuant to 39
subsection (4) of this section. 40
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(6) This section does not create a private right of action.1
Sec. 3. RCW 47.06.020 and 2007 c 516 s 9 are each amended to 2
read as follows: 3
The specific role of the department in transportation planning 4
must be, consistent with the policy goals described under RCW 5
47.04.280: (1) Ongoing coordination and development of statewide 6
transportation policies that guide all Washington transportation 7
providers; (2) ongoing development of a statewide multimodal 8
transportation plan that includes both state-owned and state-interest 9
facilities and services; (3) coordinating the state high capacity 10
transportation planning and regional transportation planning 11
programs; and (4) conducting special transportation planning studies 12
that impact state transportation facilities or relate to 13
transportation facilities and services of statewide significance ((; 14
and (5) assisting the transportation commission in the development of 15
the statewide transportation plan required under RCW 47.01.071(4))). 16
Specific requirements for each of these state transportation planning 17
components are described in this chapter. 18
Sec. 4. RCW 47.80.060 and 2007 c 511 s 1 are each amended to 19
read as follows: 20
In order to qualify for state planning funds available to 21
regional transportation planning organizations, the regional 22
transportation planning organizations containing any county with a 23
population in excess of ((one million )) 1,000,000 shall provide 24
voting membership on its executive board to the state 25
((transportation commission, the state )) department of 26
transportation, the four largest public port districts within the 27
region as determined by gross operating revenues, any incorporated 28
principal city of a metropolitan statistical area within the region, 29
as designated by the United States census bureau, and any 30
incorporated city within the region with a population in excess of 31
((eighty thousand )) 80,000. It shall further assure that at least 32
((fifty)) 50 percent of the county and city local elected officials 33
who serve on the executive board also serve on transit agency boards 34
or on a regional transit authority. 35
Sec. 5. RCW 47.26.170 and 2005 c 319 s 131 are each amended to 36
read as follows: 37
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Each county having within its boundaries an urban area and cities 1
and towns shall prepare and submit to the transportation improvement 2
board arterial inventory data required to determine the long-range 3
arterial construction needs. The counties, cities, and towns shall 4
revise the arterial inventory data every four years to show the 5
current arterial construction needs through the advanced planning 6
period, and as revised shall submit them to the transportation 7
improvement board during the first week of January every four years 8
beginning in 1996. The inventory data shall be prepared pursuant to 9
guidelines established by the transportation improvement board. ((As 10
information is updated, it shall be made available to the 11
commission.))12
Sec. 6. RCW 47.01.250 and 1998 c 245 s 92 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
((The chief of the Washington state patrol, the director of the 15
traffic safety commission, the executive director of the county road 16
administration board, and the director of licensing are designated as 17
official consultants to the transportation commission so that the 18
goals and activities of their respective agencies which relate to 19
transportation are fully coordinated with other related 20
responsibilities of the department of transportation. In this 21
capacity, the chief of the Washington state patrol, the director of 22
the traffic safety commission, the executive director of the county 23
road administration board, and the director of licensing shall 24
consult with the transportation commission and the secretary of 25
transportation on the implications and impacts on the transportation 26
related functions and duties of their respective agencies of any 27
proposed comprehensive transportation plan, program, or policy.))28
In order to develop fully integrated, balanced, and coordinated 29
transportation plans, programs, and budgets the chief of the 30
Washington state patrol, the director of the traffic safety 31
commission, the executive director of the county road administration 32
board, and the director of licensing shall consult with the secretary 33
of transportation on the matter of relative priorities during the 34
development of their respective agencies' plans, programs, and 35
budgets as they pertain to transportation activities.36
Sec. 7. RCW 47.12.330 and 1998 c 181 s 2 are each amended to 37
read as follows: 38
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For the purpose of environmental mitigation of transportation 1
projects, the department may acquire or develop, or both acquire and 2
develop, environmental mitigation sites in advance of the 3
construction of programmed projects. The term "advanced environmental 4
mitigation" means mitigation of adverse impacts upon the environment 5
from transportation projects before their design and construction. 6
Advanced environmental mitigation consists of the acquisition of 7
property; the acquisition of property, water, or air rights; the 8
development of property for the purposes of improved environmental 9
management; engineering costs necessary for such purchase and 10
development; and the use of advanced environmental mitigation sites 11
to fulfill project environmental permit requirements. Advanced 12
environmental mitigation must be conducted in a manner that is 13
consistent with the definition of mitigation found in the council of 14
environmental quality regulations (40 C.F.R. Sec. 1508.20) and the 15
governor's executive order on wetlands (EO 90-04). Advanced 16
environmental mitigation is for projects ((approved by the 17
transportation commission as part of the state's six-year plan or )) 18
included in the state highway system plan. Advanced environmental 19
mitigation must give consideration to activities related to fish 20
passage, fish habitat, wetlands, and flood management. Advanced 21
environmental mitigation may also be conducted in partnership with 22
federal, state, or local government agencies, tribal governments, 23
interest groups, or private parties. Partnership arrangements may 24
include joint acquisition and development of mitigation sites, 25
purchasing and selling mitigation bank credits among participants, 26
and transfer of mitigation site title from one party to another. 27
Specific conditions of partnership arrangements will be developed in 28
written agreements for each applicable environmental mitigation site.29
Sec. 8. RCW 47.06.040 and 2002 c 189 s 4 are each amended to 30
read as follows: 31
The department shall develop a statewide multimodal 32
transportation plan ((under RCW 47.01.071(3) and)) in conformance 33
with federal requirements, to ensure the continued mobility of people 34
and goods within regions and across the state in a safe, cost-35
effective manner. The statewide multimodal transportation plan shall 36
consist of: 37
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(1) A state-owned facilities component, which shall guide state 1
investment for state highways including bicycle and pedestrian 2
facilities, and state ferries; and 3
(2) A state-interest component, which shall define the state 4
interest in aviation, marine ports and navigation, freight rail, 5
intercity passenger rail, bicycle transportation and pedestrian 6
walkways, and public transportation, and recommend actions in 7
coordination with appropriate public and private transportation 8
providers to ensure that the state interest in these transportation 9
modes is met. 10
The plans developed under each component must be consistent 11
((with the state transportation policy plan and )) with each other, 12
reflect public involvement, be consistent with regional 13
transportation planning, high capacity transportation planning, and 14
local comprehensive plans prepared under chapter 36.70A RCW, and 15
include analysis of intermodal connections and choices. A primary 16
emphasis for these plans shall be the relief of congestion, the 17
preservation of existing investments and downtowns, ability to 18
attract or accommodate planned population, and employment growth, the 19
improvement of traveler safety, the efficient movement of freight and 20
goods, and the improvement and integration of all transportation 21
modes to create a seamless intermodal transportation system for 22
people and goods. 23
In the development of the statewide multimodal transportation 24
plan, the department shall identify and document potential affected 25
environmental resources, including, but not limited to, wetlands, 26
stormwater runoff, flooding, air quality, fish passage, and wildlife 27
habitat. The department shall conduct its environmental 28
identification and documentation in coordination with all relevant 29
environmental regulatory authorities, including, but not limited to, 30
local governments. The department shall give the relevant 31
environmental regulatory authorities an opportunity to review the 32
department's environmental plans. The relevant environmental 33
regulatory authorities shall provide comments on the department's 34
environmental plans in a timely manner. Environmental identification 35
and documentation as provided for in RCW 47.01.300 and this section 36
is not intended to create a private right of action or require an 37
environmental impact statement as provided in chapter 43.21C RCW.38
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The following acts or parts of acts are 1
each repealed:2
(1) RCW 47.01.075 (Transportation policy development) and 2007 c 3
516 s 5, 2006 c 334 s 4, & 2005 c 319 s 6; and 4
(2) RCW 47.26.440 (Budget for expenditures from funds 5
administered by board— Estimate of revenues) and 1994 c 179 s 25, 1988 6
c 167 s 32, 1984 c 7 s 163, & 1967 ex.s. c 83 s 54.7
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