(1) The legislature declares the following transportation facilities and services to be of statewide significance: Highways of statewide significance as designated by the legislature under chapter 47.05 RCW, the interstate highway system, interregional state principal arterials including ferry connections that serve statewide travel, intercity passenger rail services, intercity high-speed ground transportation, major passenger intermodal terminals excluding all airport facilities and services, the freight railroad system, the Columbia/Snake navigable river system, marine port facilities and services that are related solely to marine activities affecting international and interstate trade, key freight transportation corridors serving these marine port facilities, and high capacity transportation systems serving regions as defined in RCW 81.104.015. The department, in cooperation with regional transportation planning organizations, counties, cities, transit agencies, public ports, private railroad operators, and private transportation providers, as appropriate, shall plan for improvements to transportation facilities and services of statewide significance in the statewide multimodal transportation plan. Improvements to facilities and services of statewide significance identified in the statewide multimodal transportation plan, or to highways of statewide significance designated by the legislature under chapter 47.05 RCW, are essential state public facilities under RCW 36.70A.200.

(2) The department of transportation, in consultation with local governments, shall set level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of statewide significance. Although the department shall consult with local governments when setting level of service standards, the department retains authority to make final decisions regarding level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of statewide significance. In establishing level of service standards for state highways and state ferry routes of statewide significance, the department shall consider the necessary balance between providing for the free interjurisdictional movement of people and goods and the needs of local communities using these facilities. When setting the level of service standards under this section for state ferry routes, the department may allow for a standard that is adjustable for seasonality.

Findings—Intent—2009 c 514: See note following RCW 36.70A.085.

Findings—Intent—2007 c 516: See note following RCW 47.01.011.

Finding—Intent—2007 c 512: “The legislature finds from the 2006 Washington state ferries financing study that the state has limited information on state ferry users and markets. Accurate user and market information is vital in order to find ways to maximize the ferry systems’ current capacity and to make the most efficient use of citizens’ tax dollars. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that Washington state ferries be given the tools necessary to maximize the utilization of existing capacity and to make the most efficient use of existing assets and tax dollars. Furthermore, it is the intent of the legislature that the department of transportation adopt adaptive management practices in its operating and capital programs so as to keep the costs of the Washington state ferries system as low as possible while continuously improving the quality and timeliness of service.” [ 2007 c 512 § 1.]

Highways of statewide significance: RCW 47.05.022.