The bill seeks to improve collaboration between cities and counties in Washington State regarding road construction and maintenance, with a focus on rural communities. It introduces a new section that highlights the role of county resources, such as road construction crews, in maintaining the highway system. The bill amends existing laws, specifically RCW 35.22.620 and RCW 35.23.352, to clarify definitions and limitations related to public works projects. A key provision exempts public roadway striping and paving performed by counties for first-class cities from certain percentage limitations on public works performed by city employees. Additionally, it outlines procurement conditions for public works, including the use of unit priced contracts and competitive bidding requirements, while establishing thresholds for when bidding is necessary. Moreover, the bill amends RCW 35.77.030 to permit county commissioners to utilize funds from the county road fund for the construction, repair, and maintenance of city or town streets, along with related engineering and administrative services. It mandates that payments made by cities or towns under these agreements be deposited into the county road fund. A significant addition allows for the use of regularly employed county personnel for construction work when the lowest bid exceeds the amount that can be done without a contract. The bill also prohibits the division of street construction projects into smaller parts to avoid competitive bidding requirements, thereby promoting transparency and inclusivity in public contracting.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 35.77.030
Substitute Bill: 35.77.030