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The
state legislation (ESSB
6140) that permits the formation of the
RTID directs what type of project are eligible for funding the
the RTID. Section
102(8) project type limitations proposed projects to:
1.
Projects
that improve a Highway of Statewide Significance
(HSS)
-
Adding
lane(s) to an existing HSS highway.
-
Repairs
or replaces an HSS highway that was damaged by a declared emergency
before January 1, 2002.
2.
Projects
that improve a HSS highway, new extension, including associated
multi-modal improvements such as:
-
Highway
or roadway approaches to an HSS highway,
-
High-occupancy
vehicle (HOV) lanes,
-
Flyover
ramps,
-
Park
& Ride lots,
-
Bus
pullouts,
-
Vans
for vanpools,
-
Busses;
and
-
Signalization,
ramp metering, and other transportation system management
improvements.
3.
Projects
on city streets, county roads, and Non-HSS highways.
Improvements to all or portions of the existing roadway or creation of
a new highway the intersections with an HSS highway provided:
-
The
project is part of a plan add capacity to highway;
-
The
Secretary of Transportation determines that the project would better
relieve traffic congestion than investing the same money to
adding capacity to a HSS highway. Analysis
process for Secretary's determination on Non-HSS projects.
-
1/3
of the project cost is provided by a local entity; and
-
The
type of project can be no more than 10% or up a maximum of $1 billion
of the RTID Plan expenditures.
What
is a Highway of Statewide Significance?
The
Revised Code of Washington (RCW) sets minimal criteria for HSS
designation:
“This statewide system shall include at a minimum
interstate highways and other statewide principal arterials that are
needed to connect major communities across the state and support the
state’s economy.”
The
Washington State Transportation Commission expanded the criteria, an HSS roadway must also be:
-
A State Highway;
-
A Principal Arterial that is part of the National Highway System
(NHS);
-
Rural routes serving statewide travel; and/or
-
Urban routes that are:
-
Statewide travel links to Rural HSS,
-
Connections to Principal Arterial Ferry Routes,
-
Long haul freight links - FGTS Class T1 and T2, and
-
Connections to ports - FGTS Class T1 and T2.
Designation
of a route as HSS means:
-
Higher
priority for improvement funding;
-
State
has authority for setting level-of-service (LOS);
-
Highway
segment is exempt from local transportation concurrency requirements;
-
Identified
as an essential public facility;
-
Consideration
for primary funding by a the RTID.
The Washington State Legislature adopted the Commission proposed list of
Highways of Statewide Significance (HSS) on April 14, 1999.
The list was amended by the Legislature’s “Regionalism
Bill” in 2002 to include the portion of SR 509 to be constructed
between SR 518 and Interstate 5. Of
the 7,063 miles of state highway, 3,532 miles (50%) are designated HSS.
The
State Legislature adopted the Commission's proposed list of HSS on April 14, 1999.
The list was amended by the Legislature’s “Regionalism
Bill” in 2002 to include the portion of SR 509 to be constructed
between SR 518 and Interstate 5. Of
the 7,063 miles of state highway, 3,532 miles (50%) are designated HSS. The bill also reinforces the delineation of HSS and Non-HSS
routes by specifically identified three Non-HSS highways as “Highways
of Regional Significance”.
-
SR
9 (between SR 522 and SR 531),
-
SR
524 (between I-5 and SR 522), and
-
SR
704 (Cross-Base Highway, between I-5 and SR 7).
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