Streamlined road permits get legislative green light

Associated Press

OLYMPIA — The Legislature, hoping to spend more on roads and less on the regulatory maze, on Thursday sent Gov. Gary Locke a bill to streamline the environmental permit process for roads.

The measure, approved unanimously by the House following a 39-3 OK by the Senate earlier this week, is considered a centerpiece of lawmakers’ efforts to wring more efficiency out of the Department of Transportation and to overhaul state and local construction practices.

Locke plans to sign the measure, Senate Bill 6188, on Tuesday.

The governor called it "a crucial reform that will speed up … projects, yet maintain environmental protections." The measure is "an important step on the road to relieving the state’s traffic congestion," he said.

The bill, first suggested by a citizen study commission appointed by Locke and the Legislature, has been seen by the Republicans as a prerequisite to considering a $10 billion, 10-year financing package for roads and mass transit.

"We need to clearly demonstrate we can spend tax dollars efficiently and effectively to earn the public’s trust," said House Transportation Committee co-chairwoman Maryann Mitchell, R-Federal Way. "We can then take a serious look at how to pay for long-term improvements to keep Washington moving."

The legislation creates an efficiency and accountability committee, including legislators and representatives of state agencies and local governments. The construction industry, tribes, labor and environmental groups will have nonvoting members.

The panel will devise ways to streamline the environmental permit process for local projects and those of statewide and regional significance, including a simultaneous review by different levels of government.

The committee would recommend legislative or administrative changes needed to remove roadblocks to efficient permitting.

Mitchell said the streamlining could cut the permit process in half, saving months or even years and cutting project costs by as much as 20 percent.

She and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said the measure doesn’t shortchange the environment.

"Permit streamlining isn’t about relaxing environmental standards, it’s about reining in a runaway bureaucracy," Mitchell said. "It’s about cutting time, not cutting our commitment to the environment."

"It’s a way to do business smarter," said Rep. Sandra Romero, D-Olympia.

Rep. Dave Mastin, R-Walla Walla, said it offers a "faster, smarter, better" approach.

"We’re not only saving the people of Washington state hundreds of millions of dollars, but also getting these projects done quicker so they can spend less time in their cars," said Rep. Erik Poulsen, D-Seattle.

The Legislature already has voted to authorize the state Transportation Department to use a "design-build" arrangement for projects over $10 million and for building new ferries. Currently, design and construction are separate phases, potentially with different contractors. Under the new system, all phases of the contract would be handled by a single contractor and the state wouldn’t have to follow competitive bidding laws.

The change will save both time and money, sponsors said.