Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5595: Establishing shared streets.

Senate Bill 5595 allows local authorities to designate certain nonarterial highways as "shared streets," which are areas where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles share the roadway. On these designated streets, vehicular traffic must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility devices, and bicyclists/micromobility users must yield to pedestrians. The bill also permits local authorities to establish a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour on shared streets without requiring an engineering study. Additionally, local authorities must publish annual reports on traffic accidents, speeding, and DUI violations occurring on these shared streets.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationPromotes pedestrian/bike safety via yield rules and 10mph limits, aligning with sustainable transportation goals and road safety improvements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 5702: Streamlining the toll rate setting process at the transportation commission.

Senate Bill 5702 streamlines the process for setting and adjusting toll rates in Washington state. It exempts the Transportation Commission, when acting as the state's tolling authority, from the standard administrative procedure act for these decisions. This change is intended to allow for quicker adjustments to tolls, enabling the commission to meet financial obligations and performance requirements for tolled facilities more efficiently. The bill aims to establish a faster, more flexible toll setting process while still maintaining public transparency.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationStreamlines toll rate adjustments to improve financial management of transportation infrastructure, enabling efficient meeting of obligations for tolled facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1491: Promoting transit-oriented housing development.

HB 1491, "Promoting transit-oriented housing development," aims to increase housing options and density near public transportation throughout Washington state. The bill directs cities planning under the Growth Management Act to align their land use policies with transit infrastructure development. It does this by amending various state laws and introducing new definitions for housing types, such as "cottage housing" and "courtyard apartments," and clarifying "affordable housing." This legislation seeks to maximize state investments in mass transit by fostering the creation of vibrant, walkable, and accessible communities that include diverse housing options.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases housing density near transit, clarifies affordable housing definitions, and introduces new housing types to expand options, directly advancing housing development goals.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill directly promotes transit-oriented housing near public transit infrastructure, aligning land use policies to increase density and usage of public transportation, supporting sustainable transit access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1418: Adding two voting members that are transit users to the governing body of public transportation benefit areas.

HB 1418 modifies the governing bodies of public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) by adding two new voting members who are transit users. This increases the maximum number of voting members for single-county PTBAs to 11 and for multi-county PTBAs to 17. One new member must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization and occasionally use transit. This aims to include the perspectives of transit riders in the governance of public transportation systems, and meetings must be accessible by transit to facilitate their participation.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds transit user representation to PTBA governance, enhancing rider input in transit decisions and strengthening public transit oversight.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 5528: Concerning the installation of transportation electrification infrastructure.

Senate Bill 5528 requires electricians installing electric vehicle charging equipment on public works projects in Washington State to be certified by the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP) or a similar nationally recognized program. This ensures consistent safety and effectiveness standards for the electrical components of these installations and maintenance. The requirement applies only if the certification program is open to all general journeyman level electricians. Apprentices are exempt when supervised by a certified journeyman, and installations contracted before January 1, 2026, are also excluded.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates certification for EV charging infrastructure installation, ensuring safety and effectiveness, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure development for transportation.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires certified electricians for EV charging infrastructure on public projects, ensuring safety and promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation

signed · Washington · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1244: Concerning training as an alternative to driver license suspension for the accumulation of certain traffic infractions.

Substitute House Bill 1244 provides an alternative to driver's license suspension for Washington drivers who accumulate multiple moving traffic infractions. Under this bill, instead of serving a full 60-day license suspension, drivers can complete a required safe driving course either after receiving notice of a pending suspension or during the suspension period. Completing the course allows for the early termination of the suspension, though a one-year probation period still applies. This early termination option is available to a driver once every five years.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes traffic safety via mandatory safe driving courses instead of license suspensions, aligning with transportation safety indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Transportation