On Fridays throughout session, we will be providing weekly updates about the happenings in Olympia. We will provide updates on TCC’s legislative agenda items and other relevant transportation items. We will also include information about action that is scheduled for the next week. Here is your first installment.
The 2012 session starts on Monday. Lawmakers, lobbyists, advocates and citizens are planning for a very tough session. A huge budget shortfall still needs to be addressed, while lawmakers look for ways to stimulate our economy for a turn around. The big issues of the session will include a fix for the operating budget, job creation, and transportation revenue.
The Governor has plans to announce a transportation revenue proposal as early as Monday. It may include revenue and policies that can be done with a majority of legislators in the session, paired with revenue and policies that will go to the voters for approval in November. Transportation Choices Coalition and our partners in Transportation for Washington are working to influence the proposal that is put forth for legislators and the voters. We are advocating for proposals that ensure we have enough money to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the critical parts of our existing infrastructure (fix it first!), for meaningful direct investment in transit, more revenue tools for transit, and for investments in sustainable communities (stormwater retrofits, complete streets, safe routes to schools, ect).
Don’t forget to sign up for Transportation Advocacy Day on January 31st!
Next week, the House and Senate Transportation committees kick session off with a full docket of work session and a few hearings. The schedule is below.
Monday, 1/9/12 3:30 pm
House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Work Session: Department of Transportation Secretary’s Report – The State of Transportation.
Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:
- Overview of Governor’s proposed 2012 supplemental transportation budget: Office of Financial Management.
- Statewide transportation agency updates:
- Washington State Department of Transportation.
- Department of Licensing.
- Washington State Patrol.
Public Hearing: SGA 9199 – Alan Haight, Director, Department of Licensing.
Tuesday, 1/10/12 3:30 pm
House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Work Session:
- Governor’s Supplemental 2012 Transportation Budget.
- Department of Transportation 2011-13 budget update.
- Department of Licensing 2011-13 budget update.
- Washington State Patrol 2011-13 budget update.
Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:
- Federal transportation update: Washington State Department of Transportation.
- Joint Transportation Committee: Summaries of 2011 interim studies.
Public Hearing: SB 5188 – Harmonizing certain traffic control signal provisions relative to yellow change intervals and certain fine amount limitations.
Wednesday, 1/11/12 3:30 pm
House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Work Session: Commute Trip Reduction Program briefing.
Public Hearing: HB 2206 – Concerning the issuance of drivers’ licenses and identicards. (If measure is referred to committee.)
Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:
- Report from the Governor’s Connecting Washington Task Force.
- Transportation Commission’s Statewide Transportation Survey: Andrew Thibault, Principal, EMC Research.
Public Hearing: SSB 5250 – Concerning the design-build procedure for certain projects.
Thursday, 1/12/12 3:30 pm
House Transportation
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Work Session: Governor’s Connecting Washington Task Force.
Senate Transportation
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Work Session:
- Washington Traffic Safety Commission updates:
- Electronic Traffic Information Processing (eTRIP) Initiative.
- Target Zero Trooper pilot program.
- Freight database pilot project: Washington State Department of Transportation.
Public Hearing: SSB 5128 – Concerning statewide transportation planning.
