[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6127430,"mediaKeyId","2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b","parentId",2663374,"title","Bill would require WSDOT to share project plans with utilities, prompt report on federal funding for fish‑barrier relocations","audioSeconds",3030,"startMs",60000,"endMs",3090000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b&start=60&end=3090","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b/thumbnail_60000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6127430/Washington/Bill-would-require-WSDOT-to-share-project-plans-with-utilities-prompt-report-on-federal-funding-for-fishbarrier-relocations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127430-8487da02d30cea1393635fcf8651af95/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582579&Signature=c7kvop65WsFhRXo8heh~eijCbBVJL~C1IGZsSByxwY3DM~GEoA04piZZpDJpPplr42HPZ4ySlB7sMLEamBCP5oA9pJbKNMFYWUPjUH411w~g-fBDTZpxT9N4br7~D9BuQzniqy~eObqNdzCIgGoI7dxgHVe10EYTaxFkSYvCRIie1jRoh9Y2FxJ~HSxTKb7YnbOCIUK2EFhH0dtoZS~eoXQP9UhjUMp13I4dNqtykAnTrABI5efQSOxrvb3uTTwgbQ9ScmQHDCDoiJ47zAxZd94UGmyWSu8F5W~nqm1yL8Pe2RvXgv~AJ55zm5AHfwUcxIVVKhw8D-yi7hFM4zdpIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The House Transportation Committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5690, a measure that would require the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to adopt policies proactively sharing planned highway-project information with utility owners so they can coordinate installation or relocation work.

The bill’s sponsor and staff told the committee the change is meant to reduce duplicated work and ratepayer costs by encouraging utilities to take advantage of “open ditch” opportunities during state projects. “This is just a good government efficiency bill…when one agency is doing work on something, we let other agencies know what’s going on so that we can collaborate,” said Senator Drew McEwen, sponsor of the measure.

Supporters from utilities and public utility districts said better notice and coordinated planning would reduce costs borne by small utility ratepayers. Kristen Masteller, general manager of Mason County PUD No. 1, said three current WSDOT-related relocations cost her utility about $4,300,000 and that her system serves roughly 5,600 meters, which she said equates to “about a $767 impact per household per customer” and would require roughly a $64 monthly surcharge for a year to cover the relocation costs.

WSDOT officials said they support the goal of coordination but urged the committee to narrow the bill. “Section 1 of this bill broadens the statute to include all utilities, which WSDOT estimates would require approximately 10 new full time staff to assist with the additional coordination efforts,” said Greg Gahowski, state utilities manager at WSDOT. He also told the committee that longstanding legal limits on motor vehicle fund expenditures may constrain WSDOT’s ability to use state or some federal funds to pay utility relocation costs.

Multiple utility and PUD representatives urged the committee to require at least one year’s advance notice of fish‑barrier and related highway projects, and to have WSDOT pursue available federal funding for utility relocations tied to fish‑passage work. Bill Clark of the Washington PUD Association told the committee there is a federal program that could provide about $200 million per year for utility relocations associated with fish‑barrier projects but said local utilities cannot apply directly; only the state or tribes may be applicants.

WSDOT reported a fiscal estimate tied to the bill (as amended on the Senate floor) of about $2,500,000 per biennium to support the preplanning and design collaboration, and said an additional one‑time consultant cost would likely be needed to prepare the report the bill would require. WSDOT asked the committee to remove the broader coordination duties in section 1 and to preserve statutory language on the required December 15, 2026 report, citing attorney‑general guidance and state constitutional limits on motor vehicle fund use.

The committee took testimony from multiple utilities and WSDOT representatives and did not take a committee vote during the hearing. The public hearing on SB 5690 concluded after the testimony.

Why this matters: utilities say relocation costs for small providers can be disproportionately high, and coordination could prevent redundant work and heavy one‑time cost shifts to ratepayers. WSDOT said the policy goal is shared but the agency needs clarity on funding authority and staff capacity before taking on new proactive duties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 3/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Transportation Committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5690, a measure that would require the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to adopt policies proactively sharing planned highway-project information with utility owners so they can coordinate installation or relocation work.","taxTitle","Transportation, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20272,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6127418,"New WSDOT secretary outlines priorities: workforce, preservation, safety, ferries and fish‑passage funding",1676,871000,2547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b&start=871&end=2547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b/thumbnail_871000.jpg","/articles/6127418/Washington/New-WSDOT-secretary-outlines-priorities-workforce-preservation-safety-ferries-and-fishpassage-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127418-f7e7f24aa9bc88ff94abe788b862bcce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582579&Signature=E-ON7QKEqToEDX2Fr~NZy~Rmpo6eHOOuEh4PQOuAffcUQPk4DDAzIg4iIiV7N3AaZSjDeDzU9cyy03KK4bRKVGzJtUDrCZ5HzF9L99Vk~NiMdrpgfxTj~uMDDCKlGj7jY4FPhn3-wMkd2i1cnKrJTXrtJ27L9h4sPLyyOk5sZEkLasSlcjaJxFedrsUWLD7~~gsOrGZTT7u4BCBrozRC9Nkk68x123kgDmy9GRyle5aTyJE~E2zuzGLc7fgWuWD2t-dzP6fJkhiM8ypdSQmy5eUnueiNxTWHzQesJpOUXnWscVHyXMAljLTvwjxn-L8kubJHZ2NfpnujZpbPAVj60w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Julie Meredith, the newly confirmed secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation, told the House Transportation Committee she intends to focus on workforce development, preservation of existing assets, safety, ferry reliability, and fish‑passage work amid a constrained state budget.

“WSDOT’s mission is to provide safe, reliable and cost‑effective transportation,” Meredith said, introducing herself and noting she has worked at WSDOT for more than 36 years. She told lawmakers the department manages a multimodal system with a replacement value she described as “a quarter of a trillion dollar state transportation system.”

Meredith said WSDOT’s workforce has become less experienced in recent years: median tenure in a current job is about six years, nearly 40% of staff have been in their current job for a year or less, and almost 60% have two years or less in their position. She said recruitment and retention — including competitive salaries and outreach to schools and universities — will be priorities.

On funding, Meredith told the committee that fuel‑tax revenue forecasts used for the 2024 adopted budget have since dropped by “over $530,000,000” across the 2023–25 and 2025–27 biennia, and that project and operating costs have risen. She described preservation, operations and maintenance, safety, fish passage, and ferries as the agency’s largest unfunded needs.

Meredith described safety work and the department’s “target zero” goal to reduce deaths and serious injuries on state roadways. She praised expanded programs such as complete streets and a new work‑zone speed camera program; she said the first camera will go live soon.

On the Washington State Ferries system, Meredith said service is improving: “more than 98% of scheduled sailings are being completed each week and on time performance is rising as well,” and that delaying two ferry conversions until after the 2026 World Cup will help return the system to pre‑pandemic service levels with 18 ferries in service.

Meredith said the state and tribes are in court‑approved mediation over the state’s obligation to remove fish barriers. As of June 2024, she said 146 injunction barriers have been corrected, opening about 570 miles of potential habitat, and another 155 barriers are under contract. She said additional funding is necessary to complete the program and that WSDOT will continue to work with tribes and partners.

Committee members asked questions about workforce pipelines, use of consultants and technology, fish‑passage decision tools, and intercity passenger rail. Meredith said WSDOT will continue outreach to universities and high schools to recruit new workers, will use consultants for specialized expertise, and sees passenger rail as an important future mode that requires stronger staffing and coordination.

Meredith closed by asking legislators for partnership on both near‑term and long‑term solutions given current budget constraints. The committee did not take formal action on the briefing; members asked for follow‑up briefings and data, including a requested breakdown of the $7.5 billion funding shortfall referenced by one representative.

Why this matters: WSDOT manages critical transportation assets across modes. The secretary’s briefing highlights personnel turnover, reduced fuel‑tax revenue, and program delivery pressures — factors that will shape the department’s budget requests and legislative priorities in the coming biennia.","Julie Meredith, the new Washington State Secretary of Transportation, briefed the House Transportation Committee on agency priorities including workforce development, system preservation, safety goals, ferry operations, and fish passage delivery. Meredith said the department faces revenue declines, an aging workforce, and rising project costs and",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6127423,"Committee hears bill to require insurance and second‑vehicle proof for new collector plates; DOL estimates systems changes and mailing costs",2450,430000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b&start=430&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663374-2352c8381ecac8c709ecdd677de1c80b/thumbnail_430000.jpg","/articles/6127423/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-insurance-and-secondvehicle-proof-for-new-collector-plates-DOL-estimates-systems-changes-and-mailing-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127423-d810fef42519590ca85163a8148d5cd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773582579&Signature=nnUbI2iVCPU9ACzxL8nrap8Xq9MpX1enwSCe1LxUG7zqWobWqLUnmMPJ8pzsEdZlenohNO2yPKuEcE7Im~PsNHPNRr5GQeUB0FtlUJiDsmiIBSV1Xe3XR~HEiL5qASRr4WP9GPf3XSDNtTRk-JOdRXISUE5dnv6oh2zGbzf1qoCX2QDJYVgBCljVCWPoyMt1ogkoG9Y6yxf9fkBrPIPLkHcdNf03BYJod~76J9vQxa1P8dMIAScFnfZBY7eFrpIV2Ka5g6X-HK2G0mBnkB1-uuEKa3Xyouksug3cWfZzTyVtqMv~P8Lm44U7SOYOBNhG92XSiX98Qrd9B23l0DhBWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Transportation Committee held a public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 5127, a companion to House Bill 1194, which would change eligibility and insurance rules for collector vehicle and horseless carriage plates.

Sandy Myers, committee staff, summarized the bill: under current law collector and horseless‑carriage plates are exempt from the state’s motor‑vehicle liability insurance requirement. SB 5127 would repeal that exemption; after Jan. 15, 2026 applicants for a collector vehicle plate must provide proof of a collector‑vehicle insurance policy with statutory minimum liability limits. The bill would also require new applicants to show proof of ownership and current registration of a second vehicle used for daily driving, commuting, or work purposes; the Department of Licensing (DOL) may grant exceptions if the applicant demonstrates alternative regular transportation.

Jill Johnson, Legislative and Special Projects Manager at DOL, told the committee the agency supports the bill’s intent to reduce program misuse and ensure the collector‑plate exemption is limited to vehicles infrequently used for special purposes. Johnson said DOL estimates the department would incur a one‑time drive‑system change cost of about $39,500 (fiscal year 2026) and roughly $182,500 in printing and mailing notifications to current plate holders; the net impact on cash receipts is indeterminate but expected to be positive.

Committee members asked about retroactivity and enforcement. Johnson said the new insurance requirement is applied to existing collector‑plate holders, while the second‑vehicle registration requirement takes effect Jan. 15, 2026 and would not apply retroactively. She said DOL currently has “a little under 300,000 vehicle owners out there with collector vehicle plates,” but that the agency cannot confidently verify how many of those vehicles are on the road because applicants often apply once and do not reappear in DOL records.

Senator John Lubbock, who described the bill as a response to program abuse reported by DOL, said the intent is to better align the program with its original purpose and to curb misuse. The committee did not adopt amendments or take a final vote during the hearing; the public testimony portion concluded after agency representatives and several legislators questioned technical and retroactivity details.

Why this matters: SB 5127 would change longstanding exemptions for certain antique and collector‑status vehicles, shifting insurance responsibilities back onto owners and adding a new proof‑of‑daily‑vehicle requirement for new applicants. DOL’s system and notification costs and the large number of existing plate holders prompted committee questions about enforcement, retroactivity, and costs to both the department and vehicle owners.","Substitute Senate Bill 5127 would repeal the longstanding insurance exemption for collector vehicle and horseless carriage plates, require proof of collector‑vehicle insurance for applicants after January 15, 2026, and require new applicants to show ownership and registration of a second daily‑use vehicle (with exemptions possible). Department of","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would require WSDOT to share project plans with utilities, prompt report on federal funding for fish‑barrier relocations

New WSDOT secretary outlines priorities: workforce, preservation, safety, ferries and fish‑passage funding

Committee hears bill to require insurance and second‑vehicle proof for new collector plates; DOL estimates systems changes and mailing costs