The bill amends existing Washington state laws regarding the use of limited access facilities and transit-only lanes by private transportation services. It allows highway authorities to reserve these facilities for various classes of vehicles, including private employer transportation service vehicles, provided they meet certain conditions. Specifically, the bill introduces provisions that enable local authorities in counties with populations over 2,000,000 to issue fee-for-use permits for private transportation employer services to access transit-only lanes that also allow other vehicles to reach adjacent businesses. This is contingent upon the establishment of operational performance measures to ensure that public transportation operations remain efficient, reliable, and safe.

Additionally, the bill mandates that local authorities, with the approval of public transportation providers, must prepare annual reports assessing whether established performance measures and standards are being met. If any performance measures are not met, the permit for private transportation services must be revoked until conditions improve. The bill also clarifies the definition of "private employer transportation service" and outlines the allocation of revenues generated from the fee-for-use permits, ensuring that funds are used for administrative costs and maintenance of transit-only lanes.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 47.52.025, 46.61.165
Substitute Bill: 47.52.025, 46.61.165