DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Filed January 28, 2019, 9:59 a.m., effective February 28, 2019]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: At state-owned park and ride lots where utilization is very high, overcrowding can lead to commuters parking in travel or fire lanes, parking on local streets, and circling the lots and local streets looking for parking. In addition, overcrowded lots can lead to crush-loaded buses and trains and exacerbate congestion on adjacent highway corridors.

By managing demand for these lots, municipalities (such as city and county transit agencies) can increase the likelihood that parking will be available for those who need it most, improve the commuter experience, and encourage a more efficient use of highway corridors.

This proposal provides administrative support for municipalities that operate and maintain state-owned park and ride lots by allowing their agreements with the department to include parking demand management strategies that are consistent with state and local laws.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New chapter 468-603 WAC.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.61.577.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 19-01-033 on December 12, 2018.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: January 28, 2019.

Kara Larsen, Director

Legal Services Division

Chapter 468-603 WAC

AGREEMENTS WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITIES—STATE-OWNED PARK AND RIDE LOTS

WAC 468-603-010Agreements with municipalities and regional transit authorities at state-owned park and ride lots.

Washington state department of transportation may enter into agreements with municipalities as defined in RCW 35.95.020 and with regional transit authorities authorized under chapter 81.112 RCW allowing them to operate and maintain park and ride lots under the jurisdiction of the department. Provided, that nothing in this section shall be construed as expanding or limiting the powers or authority of any entity entering into an agreement covered by this section.

These agreements may include those parking management elements which the municipalities and regional transit authorities are authorized by law to implement and manage including, but not limited to:

(1) The issuing of permits such as high occupancy vehicle permits or permits designating a time of arrival. Such permits shall be issued at no cost unless allowed by state and local law;

(2) The reservation of a portion of stalls for the exclusive or time-specific use of permitted vehicles;

(3) The enforcement against unauthorized uses through impoundment, ticketing, or other measures as governed by applicable state and local laws and regulations. Enforcement measures may also include the establishment of parking time limit maximums consistent with RCW 46.55.070; or

(4) The temporary closure of underutilized sections of park and ride facilities to reduce maintenance and operation costs.

For the purposes of this chapter, a "permit" is defined as any document or electronic record approved by and/or issued by a municipality or regional transit authority that when properly displayed or implemented by the permittee authorizes a vehicle to park.