Interstate 80 study committee.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF WYOMING
07LSO-0252.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0024

Interstate 80 study committee.

Sponsored by:
Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the department of transportation; creating a joint legislative-executive committee to review issues related to the anticipated traffic increases on Interstate 80; specifying membership and duties of the committee; specifying scope of the review; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

The legislature finds:

(i)

Traffic volume is increasing rapidly along Interstate 80 (I-80) through Wyoming;

(ii)

Truck traffic growth along I-80 is increasing even faster than passenger vehicle traffic growth, with truck volume expected to double by the year 2020;

(iii)

Costs to maintain I-80 will be high, with significant safety, congestion, environmental and social disruption;

(iv)

Limited rail capacity through Wyoming is a national problem that results in more freight traversing I-80;

(v)

Continuation of current amounts of funding will be insufficient to meet construction and maintenance costs for I-80;

(vi)

The current budget review process appears to be inadequate to assess the increasing costs and to determine an accurate forecast for budgetary planning for highway construction;

(vii)

A joint legislative-executive committee will assist the legislative and executive branches in long term construction planning and budgeting for anticipated freight traffic increases across Wyoming.

(b)

There is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), effective immediately, to be used to establish and support through December 31, 2007, a joint legislative-executive committee to review the issues related to the I-80 traffic increases.

(c)

The committee shall consist of nine (9) members, including:

(i)

Three (3) members of the Wyoming house of representatives, with not more than two (2) members from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, who shall also appoint one (1) of the members as cochairman of the committee. One (1) member each shall be from:

(A)

The house transportation, highways and military affairs committee;

(B)

The house appropriations committee.

(ii)

Three (3) members of the Wyoming senate, with not more than two (2) members from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall also appoint one (1) of the members as cochairman of the committee. One (1) member each shall be from:

(A)

The senate transportation, highways and military affairs committee;

(B)

The senate appropriations committee.

(iii)

Three (3) members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A)

One (1) member from the private sector, who is employed as an accountant familiar with state accounting and budgetary practices;

(B)

One (1) member representing the Wyoming department of transportation;

(C)

One (1) member who is employed in the governor's office.

(d)

Members of the task force shall be paid as follows:

(i)

Legislative members of the committee shall be paid salary, per diem and travel expenses as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 for their official duties as members of the committee;

(ii)

State employees serving on the task force shall receive no additional compensation for serving on the task force, but shall be paid as provided in W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
102 and 9
‑
3
‑
103 for travel and per diem expenses incurred for their official duties as members of the task force;

(iii)

All other members of the task force shall be paid as provided in W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
102 and 9
‑
3
‑
103 for travel and per diem expenses incurred for their official duties as members of the task force.

(e)

State agencies shall provide information and other support to the committee as requested. The legislative service office shall staff the committee. The committee shall meet as often as necessary and shall report with recommendations to the joint transportation, highways and military affairs interim committee and the joint appropriations interim committee not later than October 15, 2007.

(f)

The committee shall conduct a comprehensive review of the I-80 traffic issues, including but not limited to a review of:

(i)

Current and projected traffic levels, especially truck traffic, with evidence-based projections through the year 2025;

(ii)

The traffic carrying capacity of I-80 as it currently exists, if selected sections were widened to six (6) lanes and if the entire highway were widened to six (6) lanes;

(iii)

A cost comparison of reconstructing the highway using different methods of highway paving;

(iv)

Currently available and anticipated intelligent traffic control devices to promote the flow of traffic, including a cost benefit analysis of such devices;

(v)

The practicality and projected cost of building additional freight railroad lines along the I-80 corridor that would have the capability of carrying freight tractors and trailers across Wyoming;

(vi)

An analysis of possible funding sources for highway and railroad improvements recommended as a result of the committee's analysis;

(vii)

Any other matters the committee considers relevant.

Section 2.
This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0024