RCW 47.56.850
Transportation commission as state tolling authority—Powers and duties—Toll rates—Restrictions on toll revenue.
(1) Unless these powers are otherwise delegated by the legislature, the transportation commission is the tolling authority for the state. The tolling authority shall:
(a) Set toll rates, establish appropriate exemptions, if any, and make adjustments as conditions warrant on eligible toll facilities;
(b) Review toll collection policies, toll operations policies, and toll revenue expenditures on the eligible toll facilities and report annually on this review to the legislature.
(2) The tolling authority, in determining toll rates, shall consider the policy guidelines established in RCW 47.56.830.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by the legislature, in setting and periodically adjusting toll rates, the tolling authority must ensure that toll rates will generate revenue sufficient to:
(a) Meet the operating costs of the eligible toll facilities, including necessary maintenance, preservation, renewal, replacement, administration, and toll enforcement by public law enforcement;
(b) Meet obligations for the timely payment of debt service on bonds issued for eligible toll facilities, and any other associated financing costs including, but not limited to, required reserves, minimum debt coverage or other appropriate contingency funding, insurance, and compliance with all other financial and other covenants made by the state in the bond proceedings;
(c) Meet obligations to reimburse the motor vehicle fund for excise taxes on motor vehicle and special fuels applied to the payment of bonds issued for eligible toll facilities; and
(d) Meet any other obligations of the tolling authority to provide its proportionate share of funding contributions for any projects or operations of the eligible toll facilities.
(4) The established toll rates may include variable pricing, and should be set to optimize system performance, recognizing necessary trade-offs to generate revenue for the purposes specified in subsection (3) of this section. Tolls may vary for type of vehicle, time of day, traffic conditions, or other factors designed to improve performance of the system.
(5) In fixing and adjusting toll rates under this section, the only toll revenue to be taken into account must be toll revenue pledged to bonds that includes toll receipts, and the only debt service requirements to be taken into account must be debt service on bonds payable from and secured by toll revenue that includes toll receipts.
(6) The legislature pledges to appropriate toll revenue as necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. When the legislature has specifically identified and designated an eligible toll facility and authorized the issuance of bonds for the financing of the eligible toll facility that are payable from and secured by a pledge of toll revenue, the legislature further agrees for the benefit of the owners of outstanding bonds issued by the state for eligible toll facilities to continue in effect and not to impair or withdraw the authorization of the tolling authority to fix and adjust tolls as provided in this section. The state finance committee shall pledge the state's obligation to impose and maintain tolls, together with the application of toll revenue as described in this section, to the owners of any bonds.
[ 2009 c 498 § 15; 2008 c 122 § 7.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 47 - Public Highways and Transportation
Chapter 47.56 - State Toll Bridges, Tunnels, and Ferries.
47.56.030 - Powers and duties regarding toll facilities—Purchasing.
47.56.031 - Approval of tolls.
47.56.032 - Authority of department and commission relating to state ferries.
47.56.040 - Toll bridges authorized—Investigations.
47.56.042 - State boundary bridges—Investigations—Agreements with counties or states.
47.56.050 - Purchase of bridges and ferries authorized—Provisions applicable.
47.56.060 - Toll bridges—General powers of department and officials—Financial statements.
47.56.070 - Toll facilities authorized—Provisions applicable.
47.56.076 - Regional transportation investment district—Vehicle tolls authorized.
47.56.077 - Concessions to operate private business on toll road prohibited.
47.56.078 - Transportation benefit district—Vehicle tolls authorized.
47.56.090 - Authority to acquire right-of-way in constructing a toll bridge.
47.56.100 - Toll bridges—Right-of-way across state highways and political subdivisions—Compensation.
47.56.110 - Toll bridges—Resolution of necessity in acquiring right-of-way—Effect of.
47.56.120 - Toll bridges—Construction directed—Costs.
47.56.130 - Toll bridges—Bonds—Cooperative funds from state and federal government.
47.56.140 - Toll bridges, bonds—Form, contents, manner of sale—Interim bonds.
47.56.160 - Toll bridges—Toll revenue fund.
47.56.165 - Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account.
47.56.167 - Toll collection account.
47.56.170 - Toll bridges—Transfer of funds for bond payments—Surplus funds.
47.56.180 - Toll bridges—Payments made by warrants on vouchers—Interest on deposits.
47.56.190 - Toll bridges—Agreement on deposit of funds.
47.56.200 - Toll bridges—Use of bond proceeds and revenue for expenses.
47.56.210 - Toll bridges—Remedies of bond holders.
47.56.220 - Toll bridges—Limitations on other service—Protection of outstanding bonds.
47.56.230 - Toll bridges—Insurance or indemnity bonds authorized.
47.56.240 - Toll bridges—Fixing of toll rates authorized—Lien of bonds on revenue.
47.56.245 - Toll charges retained until costs paid.
47.56.247 - Credit permits for vehicular passage.
47.56.248 - Credit permits for vehicular passage—Cash deposit or bond—Revocation of permit.
47.56.250 - Contributions by the state or political subdivision—Bonds—Repayment.
47.56.254 - Sale of unneeded property—Authorized—Rules.
47.56.255 - Sale of unneeded property—Certification to governor—Execution, delivery of deed.
47.56.256 - Franchises for utility, railway, urban public transportation purposes.
47.56.257 - Deposit of moneys received under RCW 47.56.253 through 47.56.256.
47.56.258 - Notification requirements.
47.56.270 - 1950 Tacoma Narrows bridge part of primary highways.
47.56.271 - 1950 Tacoma Narrows bridge toll-free—Exception.
47.56.366 - Hood Canal bridge—Public sport fishing—Disclaimer of liability.
47.56.401 - High occupancy toll lanes defined.
47.56.600 - Naches Pass tunnel—Design.
47.56.711 - Spokane river bridges.
47.56.725 - County ferries—Deficit reimbursements—Capital improvement funds.
47.56.730 - "No Smoking" areas on ferries—Establishment directed.
47.56.770 - Refunding bonds—Authorized.
47.56.772 - Refunding bonds—Liquidation of existing bond funds.
47.56.773 - Refunding bonds—Repayment to Puget Sound capital construction account.
47.56.774 - Various bond issues—Charge against fuel tax revenues.
47.56.790 - Interstate 90 floating bridge tolls—Federal authorization—Report.
47.56.796 - Toll rates—Legislative approval—Adjustments—Reports.
47.56.820 - Imposition of tolls on eligible toll facilities—Who may authorize, revenue expenditures.
47.56.830 - Policy guidelines for eligible toll facility proposals.
47.56.840 - Tolling advisory committee.
47.56.855 - Report to legislature on toll rate increases and decreases by transportation commission.
47.56.864 - Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project account—Deposits—Use and transfer of funds.
47.56.875 - State route No. 520 corridor account—Deposits—Use and transfer of funds.
47.56.876 - State route number 520 civil penalties account.
47.56.884 - Interstate 405 and state route number 167 express toll lanes account.
47.56.888 - Interstate 405 and state route number 167 corridors—Performance—Reevaluation of options.
47.56.895 - Puget Sound Gateway facility—Toll rates.