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Washington State Transportation Commission
Roles and Responsibilities as of July 1, 2005
(Modified on November 14, 2005)
Posted 9.23.05
The Washington State Transportation Commission’s roles and responsibilities have changed as a result of legislative action taken during the 2005 Legislative Session. Below is a summary outlining the primary responsibilities of the Commission as of July 1, 2005. This summary is based upon continuing statutory authority, new responsibilities outlined in ESB 5513, and tasks assigned to the Commission in other legislation. Contact: Reema Griffith, Commission Administrator
360-705-7070 Key Facts:
- The Commission’s role in setting transportation policy was modified in a way that largely increased its role as a policy setting and advisory body to the Governor and the Legislature, noting four significant policy mandates:
- Conduct a comprehensive tolling study
- Conduct a rail capacity and needs study
- Provide oversight and make key decisions related to the implementation of the newly created Transportation Innovative Partnerships (TIP) program within the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
- Prepare a biennial statewide multimodal transportation progress report to be submitted to the Governor.
- Offer ongoing policy guidance and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature in key issue areas such as transportation finance, infrastructure needs, improving planning and coordination among transportation agencies and providers, etc.
- The WSDOT and the Transportation Commission will retain a strong working relationship.
- WSDOT staff support for the Commission will continue.
- The Secretary continues to serve as an ex officio member of the Commission.
- The Commission’s role in providing citizen oversight of WSDOT to ensure accountability continues and is effectively enhanced via the addition of the Transportation Performance Audit Board (TPAB) to the Commission’s agency family and with the appointment of a Commissioner to the TPAB.
Responsibilities Removed
- The Commission will no longer be responsible for the hiring and firing of the Secretary of Transportation. The Secretary now serves at the pleasure of the Governor, and the department is now a cabinet agency.
- The Commission will no longer approve the WSDOT biennial budget and legislative policy packages.
- The Commission is no longer responsible for providing detailed administrative oversight of WSDOT and it’s program delivery.
Current/ Existing Responsibilities Washington Transportation Plan
The Commission is responsible for preparing a comprehensive and balanced statewide transportation plan. The plan must be based on the transportation policy adopted by the Governor and the Legislature, and the applicable state and federal law. Bond Sales
The Commission is responsible for the issuance and sale of all bonds authorized by the Legislature for capital construction of state highways, toll facilities, urban arterial projects, and aviation facilities. Budget Oversight
The Commission has the authority to approve limited transfers of funds for Nickel projects based on specific criteria. The Commission is also authorized to approve transfers for Transportation Partnership projects. Highway Classification
The Commission is responsible for adopting a functional classification of state highways. This responsibility includes the authority to designate highways of statewide significance and the responsibility to designate a freight and goods transportation system, both of which carry state and federal funding eligibility implications.
Freight and Goods Transportation System
The Commission is responsible for designating the state’s Freight
and Goods Transportation System. This system identifies highways and
roadways most heavily used by trucks and provides factual data to support
funding for projects that improve conditions for freight transportation.
This information also supports planning for pavement upgrades, traffic
congestion management and other investment decisions.
Ten-Year Investment Program
The Commission must adopt a comprehensive ten-year investment program specifying program objectives and performance measures for the preservation and improvement programs at the Washington State Department of Transportation. The investment program must be forwarded as a recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature. Accountability
- The Commission must establish performance measures to ensure transportation system performance at local, regional, and state government levels.
- Public transportation agencies must submit maintenance and preservation management plans for the Commission’s certification.
- The County Road Administration Board (CRAB) must establish a standard for the maintenance of transportation assets, compile the data annually and report the findings to the Commission.
- Each biennia, cities and towns must provide the Commission preservation rating information on their arterial network.
Allowing for Public Involvement
The Commission is required to hold monthly public meetings. Tolling/ Fare Setting Responsibilities
- The Commission serves as the tolling authority for any toll facility created by a Transportation Benefit District or a Regional Transportation Investment District.
- The Commission must establish tolls for the SR 167 HOT Lanes pilot project.
- The Commission serves as the tolling authority for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Additionally, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project will have a citizen committee to advise the Commission on issues related to tolls. The committee must examine the feasibility of providing discounts to frequent users, senior citizens, and students.
- The Commission convenes and oversees the Ferry Tariff Review Committee.
Newly Added Responsibilities
2005-07 Studies
Tolling Study
$1.5 million is provided to the Commission for a comprehensive tolling study to determine the feasibility of administering tolls on a specific facility or a network of facilities. The Commission must conduct the study with the technical assistance of the Department. A preliminary report is due to the Legislature in January 2006 and the final report is due in June 2006.
Rail Study
$1.15 million is provided to the Commission for a statewide rail capacity and needs analysis. The analysis is due December 1, 2006.
Policy Guidance
The Commission must offer policy guidance and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature in key issue areas including but not limited to:
- Transportation finance
- Preserving, maintaining, and operating the statewide transportation system.
- Transportation infrastructure needs.
- Promoting best practices for adoption and use by transportation-related agencies and programs.
- Transportation efficiencies that will improve service delivery and/or coordination.
- Improved planning and coordination among transportation agencies and providers.
- Use of intelligent transportation systems and other technology based solutions.
Public Involvement in Transportation
Public Policy Forum
The Commission must provide a forum for the development of transportation policy in the state.
- The Commission may recommend to the Secretary of Transportation, the Governor, and the Legislature means for obtaining appropriate citizen and professional involvement in transportation policy formulation and matters related to the powers and duties of the WSDOT.
- The Commission may hold hearings and explore ways to improve the mobility of the citizens of the state.
- In addition to the statutorily required monthly meeting, the Commission must convene regional forums on transportation at a minimum of every five years. The purpose of the forums is to gather citizen input on transportation.
Statewide Multimodal Transportation Progress Report:
- Every two years, the Commission must prepare the statewide multimodal transportation progress report.
- The report must consider the citizen input gathered at the regional forums, as well as input from state, local, and regional jurisdictions.
- The report is due by October 1st of every even-numbered year, with the first report due to the Governor in October 2006.
- The report must:
- Consider the citizen input gathered at the regional forums.
- Be developed with the assistance of state transportation-related agencies
- Be developed with the input from state, local and regional jurisdictions, transportation service providers, and key transportation stakeholders.
- Be considered by the Secretary of Transportation and other state transportation–related agencies in preparing proposed agency budgets and request legislation.
Transportation Innovative Partnerships (TIP) Program
The Commission has the following responsibilities related to the new WSDOT TIP program:
- Approve and review contracts or agreements authorized under the public private partnerships act.
- Adopt rules to implement and govern the TIP program.
- Solicit concepts or proposals for eligible public private partnership projects and select potential projects based on the concepts or proposals.
TPAB Addition
All employees of the LTC (3.5 FTE’s) were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Transportation Commission for support of TPAB.
- If staffing needs warrant, the Commission may assign those employees to other functions.
- The Commission must designate a staff person to serve as the TPAB administrator.
- The TPAB must approve the selected Administrator and that individual serves as an exempt employee at the pleasure of TPAB.
Board/Task Force Memberships
- A member of the Commission must serve on TPAB.
- The interim task force on passenger only ferry service must include a member of the Commission.
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