Copy
Session Begins, Job of the Week, From the Other Washington, Committee Season is coming - please plan, Transit in the News
Vol. 5, Issue 1: January 10, 2020

As the 2020 legislative session begins, WSTA will be keeping a sharp eye on the supplemental transportation budget and how the repercussions of I-976 will have on it. In addition, we continue to work legally with our I-976 lawsuit in the courts which could take months before we finally know its fate. WSTA's Advocacy Team will be working to advance the Board approved Legislative Priorities (see below), work with our multimodel partners and stakeholders to protect and defend the interest of transit and work to broaden the support we enjoy. The WSTA weekly will have a weekly update from Michael Shaw, WSTA's lobbyist, outlining the week's activities and advancement of the session.  

As always, if you have questions please feel free to contact me at justin@watransit.com

Sincerely, 

Justin D. Leighton
Executive Director - WSTA 


2020 WSTA Legislative Priorities

The WSTA Legislative Priorities are agreed and approved on by the WSTA Board of Directors.
Download PDF: WSTA 2020 Legislative Priorities

  • Identify and seek legislative support to address the impacts of I-976.

  • Seek legislation to give public transit agencies flexibility with state-owned, funded, or leased Park & Rides. 

  • Support policies and legislation incentivizing zero-emission transit vehicles. 

  • Support legislation to protect the efficiency and effectiveness of bus operations in congested corridors. 

  • Support the inclusion of significant public transit expenditures in carbon reduction-related legislation.

  • Update, protect, maintain, and increase state funding programs to support public transit.

  • Ensure effective and efficient delivery of public transit.

Pre-Session Legislative Update
by Michael Shaw, WSTA Lobbyist 

The 2020 legislative session starts next Monday.   So far there are 167 pre-filed House bills and 178 pre-filed Senate bills, and all the bills that did not pass last year are still technically alive since this is the second session of the biennium.  It’s a 60-day “short” session and we all hope it gets done on time (March 12th).
The Legislature has released the committee agendas for next week.  The most significant hearings for transits are the transportation committees’ hearings on the Governor’s supplemental transportation bills (HB 2322).  See https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?billnumber=2322&year=2019 for details.
Unlike “long” 105-day sessions, when they seat a new Legislature and draft the biennial budgets, these follow-up short sessions are supposed to be less ambitious.  The bill cutoff dates seem designed to keep most bills from passing leaving only time for priority matters.  The draft cutoff dates are:
  • February 7th – Last day to pass bills from the house of origin policy committees
  • February 11 – Last day to pass bills from house of origin fiscal committees
  • February 19th – Last day to consider bills in house of origin
  • February 28th – Last day to pass bills in policy committees from opposite house.
  • March 2nd – Last day to pass bills from fiscal committees from opposite house
  • March 6th – Last day to consider bills from opposite house.
  • March 12th – End of regular session
While there are a few weeks at the front end to have hearings, this schedule leaves little time to pass policy bills from the opposite chamber (9 days for hearings and executive session).   No time for most bills to survive.
This session is made more interesting by the passage of I-976, which put transportation funding into disarray and the emergence of a new House Speaker.  Yet, as noted earlier, we all hope that we get done in time without the need for special sessions.
 

WSTA Job of the Week

Transit Capital Project Manager III and IV
(Transit Engineer IV and V)
King County Metro Transit

 

Transit Capital Project Managers assist in delivering the future of mobility to our region through the Metro Connects strategic plan. Metro Connects requires a substantial expansion of capital investments to create optimal transit travel conditions. The new Transit Capital Project Managers will join a growing group of dedicated professionals to support current and planned programs within the Capital Project Delivery section.
 

 Click Here For More 

White House Streamlines NEPA Reviews for Infrastructure Projects

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to streamline reviews of infrastructure projects in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposal would improve interagency coordination, reduce administrative burden, and expand the number of projects eligible for categorical exclusions (CEs). It would establish a time limit of two years for federal agencies to complete environmental impact statements (EISs) or one year for environmental assessments (EAs). However, a senior agency official of the lead agency may establish a new time limit beyond two years. This period will be measured from the date of the issuance of the notice of intent to the date a record of decision is signed. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio expressed his disapproval, while Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso lauded the action. See a Fact Sheet on the proposed rule and talking points provided by the White House for additional information. The Administration is accepting public comment until Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Please let us know if you would like us to draft a response on your behalf.
 

EPA Moves to Curb Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking feedback on an upcoming regulation to establish national emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from heavy-duty vehicles. EPA hopes to streamline emissions regulations and certification procedures for engine manufacturers with this proposal. The agency plans to release a proposed rule in late spring or early summer 2020. A final regulation expected in early 2021 to advance the goals of the EPA Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI). See this fact sheet on the ANPR. Comments will be due 30 days following publication in the Federal Register. Please let us know if you would like us to draft a comment for you.
 

DOT Issues New Autonomous Vehicle Guidance

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) released its fourth iteration of voluntary guidance for the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. During a keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao emphasized that the guidance continues “the same hands-off approach” taken by the Administration over recent years to spur innovation through the development phase. The guidance engages 38 federal components and centers around three principles: 1) protecting users and communities; 2) promoting efficient markets; and 3) facilitating coordinated efforts. We will let you know when the guidance is published in the Federal Register for public review and comment.

 

 
CLICK HERE

WSTA offers a comprehensive clearinghouse for transit jobs across the state.  Use our website to interactively locate an agency in the area you wish to work or scroll through the list agencies and jobs available.  

If you are a transit agency and have an opening - please use the submit button on the website.
 
Visit WSTA Committees web page, HERE, for information on each meeting listed below.

WSTA Board of Directors 1st Quarter Board Meeting & Legislative Conference
Feb 5 & 6
Olympia, WA

WSTA Operations Committee
March 4 - 6
Bellingham, WA

WSTA Vanpool Committee
March 13
Bremerton, WA 

WSTA HR Roundtable 
March 20
Vancouver, WA

WSTA Finance Officers Leadership Committee
March 25
Leavenworth, WA

Maintenance & Facilities Committee
March 31
Vancouver, WA

2020 Spring Maintenance Forum
April 1 - 2
Vancouver, WA
 

Full Events Calendar
can be found HERE
transit employees are encouraged to follow, engage and participate in the WSTA committee structure.  No need to be asked or nominated to join your counterparts around the state!

What Committee best fits you?  

Click HERE to find out! 


 
WSTA pays an annual membership to the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), which allows our Transit Agency members access to their services.  Check out what is new with MRSC. 

Available for WSTA Transit Members: 
Ask MRSC - Ask MRSC Archives


 


Ask Transit
WSTA's partner tWashingtonton State Transit Insurance Pool (WSTIP) provides an "Ask Transit" tool which allows agency employees to ask a question and staff will work to research that question and respond back. 
.
Click Here to Ask Transit
 
Copyright © WSTA, 2016, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2629 12th Court SW
Olympia, WA 98502

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list