 |
|
|
|
|
State Transportation Commission
to Discuss Litter,
Safety
and Tolls
Posted
4.13.07
Transportation Commission
Office - PO Box 47308 -
Olympia, WA 98504-7308
(360) 705-7070
Date: April
13, 2007
| Contact: |
Reema
Griffith, Transportation
Commission Executive
Director, 360-705-7070 |
OLYMPIA – The dangers
of highway litter, highway
safety strategies and bridge
tolls will be on the agenda
for review and discussion
when the Washington State
Transportation Commission
convenes for its monthly
meeting next week in Olympia.
The Commission’s
regular monthly meeting
starts at 9 a.m. on Tuesday,
April 17, and reconvenes
at 9 a.m., Wednesday, April
18. The meeting will be
held at the Transportation
Building, Commission Board
Room, 310 Maple Park Avenue
SE, Olympia, and is open
to the public.
On Tuesday, representatives
of the State Department
of Ecology and Washington
State Patrol will present
information about a new
statewide campaign focusing
on the dangers and consequences
of highway litter. The
campaign is targeted at
raising public awareness
about the most dangerous
littering – unsecured
loads and throwing out
lit cigarettes. More than
10 million pounds of litter
comes from traveling vehicles
each year, creating roadway
hazards for drivers. In
addition, the Washington
State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) responds to about
40 brush and grass fires
along state highways each
year. Smoke from fires
can greatly reduce visibility
and endanger motorists.
Fines for littering are
significant and if an unsecured
load results in injuries,
the driver may be charged
with a gross misdemeanor.
Enforcement emphasis patrols
are scheduled throughout
the state.
Last month, Governor Gregoire
approved the state’s
Strategic Highway Safety
Plan, which establishes
priorities and strategic
investments for improving
highway safety. On Tuesday,
representatives of the
Washington Traffic Safety
Commission and WSDOT will
brief Transportation Commissioners
on key elements of this
data-driven plan and describe
implementation plans for
each of their agencies.
The plan’s development
was a collaborative effort
involving many state and
local agencies, tribes,
non-profit and service
organizations, and others
with traffic safety responsibilities.
The plan meets federal
guidelines and aligns with
the Washington Transportation
Plan issued by the Commission.
The Commission is moving
closer to setting tolls
for the new Tacoma Narrows
Bridge crossing. On Wednesday
they will discuss the timeline
and process for formal
adoption of tolls, the
public involvement and
hearing process, possible
toll exemptions, and toll
scenarios based on a possible
subsidy from the legislature.
The Commission is expected
to make a final decision
on toll rates in late April
or early May, upon the
adjournment of the 2007
legislative session. The
Transportation Commission
has statutory authority
for setting ferry fares
and highway tolls.
News Archive
|
