The Transportation Commission receives and reviews petitions from cities, counties, or the Department of Transportation requesting any addition or deletion from the state highway system. The Transportation Commission manages the request and provides a complete evaluation and assessment of the request. Once a thorough evaluation is completed, the Transportation Commission provides its final findings of recommendation to the Senate and House Transportation Committees prior to a legislative session. The Legislature will codify jurisdictional transfers if it accepts the Transportation Commission’s recommendation. Jurisdictional Transfers RCW 47.01.425
NOTE: The Commission adopted Resolution No. 751 placing a moratorium on the consideration of any route jurisdiction transfer requests until January 2027 to allow for the completion of the current Route Jurisdiction Study and Legislative deliberation on its findings and recommendations.
Route Jurisdiction Transfer Process Overview
The process for considering route jurisdiction transfer requests take approximately 12 months to complete. The key steps in the process are:
- February – April: A technical assessment and analysis of the transfer request is conducted and preliminary findings determined.
- May – July: Public input on preliminary findings is gathered from interested parties.
- August – September: Possible public hearing held.
- September – December: Transportation Commission issues final determination and recommendation, and drafts a bill for the upcoming legislative session.
A detailed overview of the route jurisdiction transfer process & timeline can be found here (pdf 94kb)
Chapter 468-710 WAC – Route Jurisdiction transfer rules, regulations and requirements
468-710-010 Purpose and authority
468-710-020 Definitions
468-710-030 Criteria for rural and urban highway routes
468-710-040 Requesting a route jurisdiction transfer
468-710-050 Annual cutoff date for jurisdiction transfer requests
468-710-060 Additional public testimony for consideration of jurisdiction transfer requests
68-710-070 Review and comment period
68-710-080 Notice and report of final finding
Approved Route Jurisdiction Transfers
2009: State Route 908
- City of Redmond Request (pdf 998 kb)
- City of Kirkland Request (pdf 626 kb)
- SR 908 Final Finding (pdf 3.2 mb) – Approved by Commission October 21, 2009
- Senate Bill 6555 placing the SR 908 transfer into law (pdf 6 kb)
2010: State Route 527
- City of Bothell Request (pdf 2.7 mb)
- SR 527 Final Finding (pdf 91 kb) – Approved by Commission October 20, 2010
- House Bill 1520 placing the SR 527 transfer into law (pdf 7 kb)
2023: State Route 501
- City of Ridgefield Request (pdf 261)
- SR 501 Final Findings (pdf 586kb)
Deferred Route Jurisdiction Transfers
2023: Snoqualmie Parkway
- City of Snoqualmie Request (pdf 385)
- Snoqualmie Parkway Final Findings (pdf 2mb)