Leg Track

SSB 6207, Golf cart zones/local govts, [Haugen][H Passed 3rd] -

SB 6209, Park & ride lots/road funds, [Haugen][H Spkr Signed] -

SSB 6213, Railroad grade crossings, [Haugen][Del to Gov] -

ESSB 6241, Community facilities distr's, [Kilmer][Del to Gov] -

ESSB 6286, Flood control zone districts, [Kline][H Spkr Signed] -

SSB 6345, Wireless communications, [Eide][H Passed 3rd] -

SSB 6346, Electric vehicles, [Ranker][H Passed 3rd] -

SSB 6367, Agency web sites/pub records, [Hatfield][H Spkr Signed] -

ESSB 6392, SR 520 tolling revenue use, [Tom][H Passed 3rd] -

SSB 6544, Plat approval time limits, [Berkey][H Spkr Signed] -

SB 6555, State route number 908, [Tom][S Pres Signed] -

SSB 6557, Brake friction material, [Ranker][H Passed 3rd] -

SSB 6577, Transportation policy goals, [Kastama][H Spkr Signed] -

ESSB 6774, Transp benefit districts, [Marr][H Passed 3rd] -

2SHB 1591, Trans benefit district funds, [Upthegrove][S Pres Signed] -

ESHB 2464, Vehicles in emergency zones, [Liias][S Passed 3rd] -

EHB 2805, Public works/off-site prefab, [Ormsby][S Passed 3rd] -

ESHB 2921, Operating supp 2010, [Linville][C 3 L 10] -

SHB 2836, Capital supp budget 2010, [Dunshee][H 2nd Reading] -

SHB 2838, Trans supp budget 2009-11, [Clibborn][H Rules R] -

HB 2918, State route number 908, [Eddy][S Rules 2G] -

SHB 2941, I-405 express toll lanes, [Clibborn][S 2nd Reading] -

2SHB 3181, Clean water act funding, [Ormsby][H 2nd Reading] -

HB 3183, Excise taxes, [Flannigan][H Finance] -

SB 6364, Capital supp budget 2010, [Fraser][S Ways & Means] -

ESSB 6381, Trans supp budget 2009-11, [Haugen][H 2nd Reading] -

ESSB 6426, Boards and commissions, [Prentice][H Ways & Means] -

SSB 6448, Hydraulic project permitting, [Jacobsen][S Rules 2] -

SB 6851, Clean water act funding, [Murray][S Ways & Means] -

>> more Legislative Info...

hot topics

The following was reported by Larry Ehl, WSDOTs federal liaison.  Larry tracks federal issues in his blog at http://wsdotfederalfunding.blogspot.com/.

• Transportation Weekly reports the U.S. Senate just adjourned for the week without taking action on legislation to provide 30-day extensions of programs set to expire at midnight on February 28.  Accordingly, expenditure authority for the Highway Trust Fund will shut down at that time.  There will be no payments to states or transit agencies out of the Trust Fund beginning on Monday morning.  And this interruption could last for a week, due to disagreements on multiple issues (some transportation related, some not) and legislative procedural issues.
• Expenditure authority out of the HTF for administrative expenses expires 24 hours after the rest of the expenditure authority from the Trust Fund, so furloughs at FHWA, FMCSA and NHTSA would not take place until Tuesday morning.   
• Once FHWA employees are furloughed, they will no longer be present at work to approve projects funded from the general fund, either, including new projects under the ARRA stimulus law.  FHWA is required by law to redistribute unobligated ARRA highway formula funding on Tuesday, March 2, but it is unclear if this will take place if all FHWA employees are out on furlough.  
• The Senate will be back in session on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. (though there will be no recorded votes until 12:15 p.m. Tuesday afternoon), but unless Senator Bunning changes his mind, the rules of the Senate will allow him to drag out action on any bill to extend the Trust Fund or other programs until the end of next week (the earliest a cloture petition on H.R. 4961 could be filed is Tuesday, which would mean a cloture vote Thursday and bill passage on Friday).  The only other option would be for the House to pass the Reid "jobs bill" (H.R. 2847) as is, which is unlikely.  Any House amendment to H.R. 2847 would require a new cloture process in the Senate which could take until the end of next week.

>> more hot topics...

events

• September 13-16, 2009: APWA Congress, Columbus, OH.  [more info here]
• September 17-18, 2009: Washington State Good Roads and Transportation Association Annual Conference.  For more information at the WSGRTA website.
• September 30, 2009, 10-11:30 PM: The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse presents: No Cost Webinar: Taking Proper Care of Pedestrians in Work Zones.  [more info here]
• October 6-9, 2009: CRAB Road Design Conference, Grand Mound, WA [more info here]
• October 10, 2009: Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, "Don't be Driven to Distraction -Drive to Arrive" [more info here]
• October 19-21, 2009: 8th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management, Portland, OR.  [more info here]
• October 20-23, 2009: APWA Fall Conference, Kennewick, WA.  [more info here]
• November 3-5, 2009: Engineers' Training - CRAB Offices, Olympia, WA.
• November 9-13, 2009: American Water Resources Annual Conference, Seattle WA [more]
• November 12, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. EST: Stormwater Runoff for Counties webinar [more]
• November 17, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: TRB Webinar: Maintenance Practices for Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity [more]
• November 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: TRB Webinar: Using Pavement Management to Control Costs and Improve Services [more]
• November 17-20, 2009: WSAC Fall Conference, SeaTac, WA.  [more info here]
• January 10-14, 2010: Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.  [more info here]
• January 12, 2010: NHI Real Solutions Webinar “Local Agency Traffic Safety as a Priority: Stop Doing the Talk and Start Doing the Walk.”, from 1:00 -3:00 p.m. (EDT).  [more info here]
• January 27-29, 2010: WSACE Professional Development Conference, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, WA [more info here]
• January 28, 2010: Developing a Road Safety Program - Saving Lives in Your County Now, NACo Webinar.  [more info here]

• March 6-10, 2010: NACo Legislative Conference, Washington, DC.  [more info here]
• April 12-16, 2010: First International Conference on Pavement Preservation, Newport Beach, CA. [more info here]
• June 8-10, 2010: APWA Sustainability in Public Works Conference, Minneapolis, MN. [more info here]
• June 21-24, 2010: North American Travel Monitoring Exposition and Conference (NATMEC); Improving Traffic Data Collection, Analysis, and Use; Seattle, Washington.  [more info here]
• July 12-16, 2010: ESRI International User Conference, San Diego, CA. [more info here]July 24-27, 2011:10th International Conference on Low-Volume Roads, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), FL. [more info here]

>> more events...

• Highway Trust Fund Shuts Down Sunday Night: Transportation Weekly reports the U.S. Senate just adjourned for the week without taking action on legislation to provide 30-day extensions of programs set to expire at midnight on February 28.  Accordingly, expenditure authority for the Highway Trust Fund will shut down at that time.  There will be no payments to states or transit agencies out of the Trust Fund beginning on Monday morning.  And this interruption could last for a week, due to disagreements on multiple issues (some transportation related, some not) and legislative procedural issues. [provided by WSDOT]
• Senate to consider jobs bill and transportation funding:  Senate leaders are considering a finance bill that would extend highway and transit program authorization until Dec. 31 and a job-creation bill that could include transportation infrastructure funds. [more information in the NACE biweekly update]
• $2 billion in federal stimulus money has been spent in Washington state: Stimulus funding has created or retained tens of thousands of jobs in the state, state officials said Monday. State and local government workers submitted an update to the federal government this past weekend to track stimulus spending. The federal government reported Friday that about 600,000 jobs have been saved or created under President Obama's stimulus plan. [Seattle Times]
• Clearer road signs make the driving easier: Many state departments of transportation are now using a new type font as they replace older highway signs. Clearview was created to be 10 to 18 percent more legible than the older type style (Highway Gothic) and was developed by researchers at Penn State University. The type font uses thinner lines and more open space, improving readability and safety for the traveling public. [from AASHTO E-News]
• Jobs, Deficit Reduction to Top Obama's Agenda This Year  (AASHTO Journal):  A ready vehicle for job creation is the $174 billion package (HR 2847) passed by the House in December, which awaits action in the Senate. The bill not only includes $37.3 billion for transportation projects, it also would extend the current authorization for federal highway and transit programs through the end of the fiscal year, funding some $53.3 billion for highways, transit, and traffic safety.  [more information in the 1-22-10 NACE Update]
• Support for Haitian Earthquake Relief: NACE President, Chris Bauserman, has asked state members to participate in pledging support for Haitian Earthquake Relief by providing donations to the American Red Cross.  [Read President Bauserman's request here]
• Federal Highway & Transit Programs Extended Through February: President Barack Obama signed into law in late December a Department of Defense appropriations bill that includes an extension of highway and transit authorization through February -- the fourth short-term extension since the 2005 transportation law known as "SAFETEA-LU" expired Sept. 30. [more information in the 1-13-10 NACE Update]
• Green Roads Coming? - New rating system for green roads being developed at the University of Washington: UW team spells out all of the things that would be needed to certify green roads: everything from using recycled asphalt and more locally produced materials to making sure there's access for alternative modes of transportation or minimizing light pollution from streetlamps. [KPLU], [UW Greenroads Site]
• 28 Percent of Accidents Involve Talking, Texting on Cellphones:  Twenty-eight percent of traffic accidents occur when people talk on cellphones or send text messages while driving, according to a study released Tuesday by the National Safety Council. [Washington Post Article]
• U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approves "Jobs for Main Street" including funds for transportation:  The bill allocates $48.7 billion to DOT, including $27.5 billion for highway infrastructure, $8.4 billion for transit, $800 million for Amtrak, $500 million for airports, and $100 million for the Maritime Administration's Title XI loan guarantee program.  The U.S. Senate will take up the jobs bill in January.
  • A more detailed explanation is available here along with a summary prepared by WSDOT.
  • More information is also available from the Journal of Commerce here.
  • This NACE Email outlines funding as well.
• Final Rule on the new MUTCD published in the Federal Register:  The MUTCD Final Rule was published in the Federal Register today.  FHWA also posted the next edition of the MUTCD on the MUTCD website at http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/.  The effective date for this final rule is January 15, 2010.  FHWA developed a number of documents and tools to help you sort through this large amount of information.  A very detailed PowerPoint presentation which includes discussion on the majority of changes included in the 2009 edition of the MUTCD is also available on the website.  For more information please contact Hari Kalla, P.E., MUTCD Team Leader, Office of Operations (HOTO-1) Federal Highway Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, E84-316 Washington, DC 20590 Tel.:  (202) 366-5915.

• NACE Conference deadline fast approaching: The 2010 annual conference early bird registration deadline in January 29.  [More info here]
• Free Road Safety Webinar: Developing a Road Safety Program - Saving Lives in Your County Now!  The enormous cost - human and financial - of road accidents continues to devastate families and counties.  This free webinar demonstrates how you can develop a road safety program using a systematic process designed to result in savings of both lives and cost. Learn about resources and support services from the Center for Excellence in Road Safety and NACo’s Rural Road Safety Peer Exchange Program. Co-sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the National Association of County Engineers and NACo. To register, click here. For more information, please contact Cindy Wasser at  202.942.4274.
• House Approves Conference Report for FY 2010 Transportation Spending:  After months of delay, the House of Representatives approved last week the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 transportation appropriations bill. The report would greatly increase spending for the U.S. Department of Transportation, kill a proposed national infrastructure bank, provide new funding for high-speed rail, and require Amtrak to allow firearms in checked baggage. [more info in the latest NACE Biweekly Update]
• More Motorists Die on Rural Roads:  In an article reported by USA Today, 56% of the USA's 37,261 traffic deaths occurred on rural roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 23% of the population lives in rural areas.  In Washington State 55% of 2008 traffic fatalities occurred on rural roads.  [Read more at USA Today].
• Governor Releases Proposed 2020 Transportation Supplemental Budget:
  • Governor Gregoire's 2010 supplemental transportation appropriations bill moves the County Road Administration Board (CRAB), Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) and Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) under WSDOT. If approved by the legislature WSDOT would be required to develop a reorganization plan to be approved by the Office of Financial Management by September 30, 2010.
  • Governor Gregoire's budget also includes provisions to transfer $22.5 million in "excess fund balance" from the rural arterial trust account to the motor vehicle fund. 
• FHWA Office of Safety Design announces the availability of new one-page technical summaries of five new intersection safety treatments.  The treatments are ones that have been identified or refined since the publication of NCHRP Report 500, Volumes 5 (A Guide for Addressing Unsignalized Intersection Collisions) and 12 (A Guide for Reducing Collisions at Signalized Intersections) in 2003 and 2004, respectively.  [more information here]
• Transportation Projects Strong Contender for Inclusion in Jobs Package:  House and Senate Democrats have started crafting a package of legislation aimed at creating jobs. Both chambers are strongly considering including investment in transportation infrastructure as part of the package, which congressional leaders said could be enacted by early next year. [more information in the November 30 biweekly NACE Update]
• The Sign Retroreflectivity Toolkit provides information that will assist small and medium sized agencies without traffic engineering staff to meet the new Federal requirements for maintaining traffic sign retroreflectivity. This toolkit contains two documents. One is a stand-alone computer based package on a compact disc (called the "Toolkit") that contains much more information, resources, and automated features. The second document is a hard copy of the computer-based package known as the "Guidebook." These documents are designed to assist small and medium sized agencies in making informed decisions before implementing a retroreflectivity maintenance program while considering resource limitations. [more information at FHWA]
• Better Roads Magazine 2009 Bridge Inventory: Bridge Managers are saying that the stimulus has provided a boost but funding remains insufficient. Despite the high number of sub-standard bridges throughout the nation, bridge engineers remain optimistic they will be able to reduce number of deficient bridges. [more info at Better Bridge Magazine]
• Highway and Transit Programs to Continue for 7 Weeks: Congress acted on October 29, 2009 to send President Barack Obama a second continuing resolution keeping federal highway and transit programs in operation for the next seven weeks. The House of Representatives approved the seven-week extension last week as part of the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior/Environment appropriations bill. The Senate followed with its approval. President Obama signed the measure, highway and transit grants to states will be funded through Dec. 18. [this and more in the latest NACE Update]
• EPA Proposed Rulemaking: Stormwater discharges from developed sites can negatively impact water quality through increases in stormwater volume and increased pollutant loads to the receiving waters.  These impacts, as well as recommendations to mitigate them, were recently documented by the National Research Council in a report titled "Urban Stormwater Management in the United States." Because stormwater discharges from the built environment are a principal contributor to water quality impairments nationwide, EPA signed an FR Notice announcing:
  • Its plans to propose and take final action by November 2012 on a national rulemaking to strengthen stormwater regulations and to establish a comprehensive program to reduce stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites; and
  • A proposed information collection request (ICR) to inform the national rulemaking. [more info here]
• Stormwater Runoff for Counties webinar Nov. 12.  Join NACo for a free webinar "Stormwater Runoff for Counties", Nov. 12, from 2 - 3:15 p.m. EST, for information on counties' responsibilities in protecting vital waterways, lakes, ponds and drinking water from pollutants on streets, driveways and roofs. Learn how counties have developed resources and successfully managed regulations to provide safe, affordable drinking water by working with federal programs. The webinar will discuss the Total Maximum Daily Loads Program and other tools to aid counties in controlling storm water runoff. Click here to register.
• Transportation Research Boards offers webinars.  TRB will conduct a web briefing or "Webinar" on Tuesday, November 17, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST that will explore maintenance practices for traffic sign retroreflectivity to comply with the Federal Highway Administration's revised Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.  TRB will also conduct a web briefing or "Webinar" on Monday, November 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST that will explore the basics of pavement management to manage highway assets, improve services, and make decisions on repairs. An overview of the topic and case studies will be discussed. [TRB Calendar]
• Senate Working to Move Six-Month Extension of Highway and Transit Programs.  With only one week remaining in the short-term continuation of authority for federal highway and transit programs, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders are pushing for enactment of a six-month extension that would not require any additional revenue transfers to the Highway Trust Fund. [more]
• WSACE work group needs your input.  The WSACE/WDFW work group would like your input on WDFW's proposed bridge guidance document.  The bridge design guidance will be used by WDFW engineers and biologists when reviewing and conditioning hydraulic project applications (HPAs).  Jon Brand and Owen Carter are representing WSACE on the Aquatics Habitat Guidelines group that is working on the bridge guidelines.  Your comments on the proposed guidance will help Jon and Owen in representing WSACE. [more information here].
• October 10, 2009 is "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day".  The 2009 theme is "Don't be Driven to Distraction - Drive to Arrive".  Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day was initiated by many partner organizations who are working to lower this statistic. Efforts to reduce fatalities address the need for improvements to our roadways, our vehicles and basic driver behavior. You too can become involved to promote the reduction of fatalities by utilizing information on their web site.
• New Retainage Requirements go into effect October 1, 2009.  HB 1199 - Retainage of Funds on Public Works Projects (2009) requires notification at the completion of contract work to the Department of Revenue, Employment Security Department and the Industrial Insurance Division of the Department  of Labor & Industries. For public improvement contracts over $35,000 and completed after September 30, 2009, public agencies must not pay any retained funds to the contractor until the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has approved the release, or payment.  [more infro from MRSC].
• ARRA reports due on October 10 - Most local agency projects are being reported through WSDOT H&LP but IF you have received funding for transportation projects outside of FHWA ARRA project administration process, you may need to provide your own reports.  Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) requires prime recipients of Recovery Act funds to report detailed information on the projects and activities funded by the Recovery Act.  [more information here]
• House Approves 3-Month Authorization Extension; Does Not Address Rescissions - The House of Representatives voted 335-85 this evening to approve a bill that would extend federal highway and transit programs until the end of this year. Federal law authorizing spending on federal-aid highways, transit projects, and highway safety programs is set to expire Sept. 30. [more] 
• More information on the impact from rescissions on Washington State's Federal Funding.
• SENATE PASSES TRANSPORTATION SPENDING BILL: The Senate passed the FY 10 Appropriations Act for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Thursday afternoon with a vote of 73 - 25. The bill passed by the Senate Appropriations committee includes $75.8 billion for the Department of Transportation with $42.5 billion for highway investment and $11.1 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, including $150 million for Washington's Metrorail system. In addition, the Senate bill includes $1.2 billion for high speed rail, $1.1 billion in grants for large infrastructure projects, and invests $3.5 billion in aviation capital improvements.  The discretionary spending total is a 25% increase from FY 2009.  [this and much more in the biweekly NACE update].
• Two county bridge projects selected by FHWA and WSDOT as "Award of Excellence" winners.  Clark County and King County were selected as the "best of the best" by the Federal Highway Administration and the Washington State Department of Transportation for the Highway 99 bridge over Salmon Creek (Clark Co.) and the Tolt River Bridget (King Co.).  More information can be found at WSDOT News.
• A recent FHWA High Risk Rural Roads Program webinar provided an overview of the new federal program established to address the safety issues on rural roads.  The webinar included a presentation for your review.  FHWA also has safety information on line along with facts and statistics including a rural/urban comparison.  WSDOT has implemented the HRRRP through its strategic highway safety plan - "Target Zero".
• New LEED rating system for sustainable development is being developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.  The "LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System" establishes prerequisites for development to obtain the LEED certification.  The prerequisites include limiting the design speed on residential streets, set back and other design elements that may be in conflict with local design requirements.  [more]
• NACE Alert! Action Needed: Urge Continuation of Off-System Bridge Program Legislation to reauthorize the federal highway and transit programs has been put forward by the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Under this proposed legislation, the Off-System Bridge program would no longer exist due to the elimination of the Federal Bridge program. A substantial portion of the off-system set aside goes to improving and replacing county-owned bridges. We strongly urge you to contact Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and tell them to continue to provide for an Off-System Bridge program.  More information is included in the almost biweekly NACE Update sent out by email.
• The University of Iowa is conducting a study on mileage based road user fees.  The study will include participants from Chicago, IL (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will Counties) Billings, MT (Carbon and Yellowstone Counties) Albuquerque, NM (Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia Counties) Wichita, KS  (Butler, Harvey, Sedgwick, and Sumner Counties) Portland, ME (Cumberland, Sagadohoc, and York Counties) Miami, FL (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties).  More info here.