RCW 47.01.260
Authority of department.
(1) The department of transportation shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties necessary, convenient, or incidental to the planning, locating, designing, constructing, improving, repairing, operating, and maintaining state highways, including bridges and other structures, culverts, and drainage facilities and channel changes necessary for the protection of state highways, and shall examine and allow or disallow bills, subject to the provisions of RCW 85.07.170, for any work or services performed or materials, equipment, or supplies furnished.
(2) Subject to the limitations of RCW 4.24.115, the department, in the exercise of any of its powers, may include in any authorized contract a provision for indemnifying the other contracting party against specific loss or damages arising out of the performance of the contract.
(3) The department is authorized to acquire property as provided by law and to construct and maintain thereon any buildings or structures necessary or convenient for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and administration of the state highway system and to acquire property and to construct and maintain any buildings, structures, appurtenances, and facilities necessary or convenient to the health and safety and for the accommodation of persons traveling upon state highways.
(4) The department is authorized to engage in planning surveys and may collect, compile, and analyze statistics and other data relative to existing and future highways and highway needs throughout the state, and shall conduct research, investigations, and testing as it deems necessary to improve the methods of construction and maintenance of highways and bridges.
[ 2006 c 368 § 2; 1983 c 29 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 58 § 1.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 47 - Public Highways and Transportation
Chapter 47.01 - Department of Transportation.
47.01.011 - Legislative declaration.
47.01.031 - Department created—Transfer of powers, duties, and functions.
47.01.041 - Secretary of transportation—Appointment, salary, removal.
47.01.051 - Commission created—Appointment of members—Terms—Qualifications—Removal.
47.01.061 - Commission—Procedures and internal operations.
47.01.070 - Director's and commissioner's prior assignments may be delegated.
47.01.071 - Commission—Functions, powers, and duties.
47.01.075 - Transportation policy development.
47.01.078 - Transportation system policy goals—Duties.
47.01.081 - Department—Organization—Management personnel.
47.01.091 - Advisory councils.
47.01.101 - Secretary—Authority and duties.
47.01.131 - Continuation of state services to department.
47.01.180 - Roads and bridges in state parks.
47.01.190 - State aid engineer.
47.01.210 - Contract without bid or bond with public utilities and municipal corporations.
47.01.240 - Coordination of long-range needs studies.
47.01.250 - Consultation with designated state officials.
47.01.260 - Authority of department.
47.01.270 - Radioactive or hazardous cargo, notice of prohibition.
47.01.280 - Application for improvements to existing highways.
47.01.290 - Environmental review of transportation projects.
47.01.330 - Office of transit mobility.
47.01.340 - Local and regional transportation goals.
47.01.380 - State route No. 520 improvements—Exceptions.
47.01.408 - State route No. 520 improvements—Design requirements.
47.01.412 - State route No. 520 improvements—Tax deferrals—Definition.
47.01.415 - State route No. 520 improvements—Finance plan.
47.01.417 - State route No. 520 improvements—Finance plan—Revenue sources and savings recognition.
47.01.420 - Naming and renaming state transportation facilities.
47.01.425 - Jurisdictional transfers.
47.01.430 - Wounded combat veterans internship program.
47.01.435 - Highway construction workforce development—Reports.
47.01.460 - Adjustments to recreational vehicle fees.
47.01.470 - Transfer of ownership of department-owned vessel—Review of vessel's physical condition.
47.01.475 - Transfer of ownership of department-owned vessel—Further requirements.
47.01.490 - Reporting engineering errors on highway construction projects—Requirements.
47.01.495 - Construction program business plan—Requirements—Progress reports—Advisory group.
47.01.505 - Interstate 5 Columbia river bridge project—Joint legislative action committee.
47.01.510 - Autonomous vehicle executive and legislative work group.
47.01.515 - Environmental justice obligations of the department of transportation.