Gov. Ferguson to sign legislation for Eastern WA, Highway 395 safety
Governor Bob Ferguson will visit Yakima Friday, March 20 to sign several bills championed by Eastern Washington lawmakers, including one that would regulate a dangerous stretch of Highway 395 north of Pasco.
The bill signing ceremony will start at 1:30 pm at the conference center at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, located at 200 University Parkway in Yakima.
Crash prevention zone bill
The governor is expected to sign Senate Bill 6066, sponsored by Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco.
The “crash prevention zone” bill would authorize cities, counties and the Washington State Department of Transportation to create a zone on roadways where serious injuries and fatalities are greater than expected in the previous five years compared to similar areas.
The new designation would highlight the problem area and require officials to create plans to address the underlying causes of the deadly crashes.
To pay for these zones, drivers found violating traffic laws in that zone would face double the fines. The additional money would be set aside to pay for studies, improvements or traffic enforcement.
The bill initially gives Pasco, Franklin County or the Department of Transportation the ability to create a zone covering the area of Highway 395 between Pasco and Mesa.
That stretch of highway would be the test case for the program until 2029, when other counties, cities and Department of Transportation can create crash prevention zones in other areas of the state.
The 5-mile stretch of road has claimed the lives of 12 people since 2015 and dozens others have been hurt. That total has included the family of a Benton County sheriff’s deputy and a Kahlotus councilman.
The measure has support from the City of Pasco, the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington Associations of Counties and Washington Counties Risk Pool.
If approved and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, the crash prevention zone could be created as soon as this summer.
More legislative action
Other bills being signed by the governor on Friday include:
• House Bill 2358 - Updating timber sale process efficiencies and adopting consistent language for the department’s land sales.
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Dent
• House Bill 2104 - Aviation assurance funding in response to wildland fires.
Sponsor: Rep. Tom Dent.
• Substitute House Bill 2452 - Modifying requirements for service of rent increase notices.
Sponsor: Rep. April Connors
• Substitute House Bill 2525 - Establishing the heritage orchards program.
Sponsor: Rep. Gloria Mendoza
• Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 - Targeted urban area tax preferences.
Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie Barnard
• Senate Bill 6132 - Authorizing a narrow modification to indebtedness limits for select inland port districts to ensure continued eligibility for federal funding for rail, power, and other critical public infrastructure improvement.
Sponsor: Sen. Judy Warnick
• Substitute Senate Bill 5841 - Completion of postsecondary financial aid applications.
Sponsor: Sen. Matt Boehnke
• Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6194 - Allowing payments to be made for services provided by any rural hospital that is located on a federally recognized Indian reservation.
Sponsor: Sen. Curtis King
• Substitute Senate Bill 6170 - Adjusting monetary limits regarding contracting rules for state highway construction work and procurement.
Sponsor: Sen. Curtis King
