Route Jurisdiction Transfer Program

The Transportation Commission is directed in state law (RCW 47.01.425) to receive petitions from cities, counties, or the state requesting any addition or deletion from the state highway system.  The Commission must utilize criteria established in RCW 47.17.001 to evaluate petitions and to adopt rules for implementation of the process. An outline of the process and the program rules are as listed below. Once a petition has completed review under the Commission’s RJT process, a final report of findings and recommendations is submitted to the Senate and House Transportation Committees for consideration and codification of the changes in law.

Final Route Jurisdiction Study Report

In 2023, the Legislature directed the Commission to conduct a Route Jurisdiction Study (RJS) to assess the current state highway inventory and local roadway designations to determine if changes are needed in jurisdictional assignment between the state, county, and city road systems. The assessment was to also review current criteria used to define the state highway system to determine if this criterion continues to be applicable. 

Report of findings and recommendations: Route Jurisdiction Study Final Report (pdf 2mb)

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

2010: State Route 527

2023: State Route 501

Deferred Route Jurisdiction Transfers

2023: Snoqualmie Parkway