[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326727,"mediaKeyId","2323757-ef817e6d2169a8071fbefea290793fca","parentId",2323757,"title","Bill would direct WSDOT to convene work group to streamline permitting for transportation projects","audioSeconds",514,"startMs",569000,"endMs",1083000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323757-ef817e6d2169a8071fbefea290793fca&start=569&end=1083","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323757-ef817e6d2169a8071fbefea290793fca/thumbnail_569000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326727/Washington/Bill-would-direct-WSDOT-to-convene-work-group-to-streamline-permitting-for-transportation-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326727-a7799a16f61cfeb564d8be353e9463c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770990162&Signature=gVCTunGpYfGQAqpElutQU04pUrbyD~T8xbludI2EKbcTi6WKmxd5bI6prwRHuHvBd645RF2sHE8yS4Qc5DCDBjG9JqdjB5F-R4LFygkK33foSLE4muVCrAPW3eEjRZVybPqvXPSibXABwQ~2wqH4mnwz7iejz~x1hX8SwuS9--XHUc8m6SHH5E1puut7krw4ib3xRLABRcJePY-1v8MkwxmwqPkdr5eUygJVjJf5btBCbrbpmUl6-sH7qNhy3nkMm1-gSNfk4w5wcrLr7bdCGZ01bdr12Ub0TS5zxdpcCNmhNI~paxXJuJr5strh2gKMxHNKNRAXPB-UbcEAPrie-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Transportation","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1902 would direct the Washington State Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Ecology, to convene a multi-stakeholder work group to develop recommendations to streamline permitting for transportation projects while maintaining environmental and regulatory protections.

\"Under this bill, WSDOT, in consultation with Department of Ecology, is directed to convene a work group to develop recommendations to streamline the permitting of transportation projects,\" said David Monnke, staff to the committee, during the bill summary. The bill text, summarized for the committee, requires the work group to include representatives from WSDOT, the Department of Ecology, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Association of Washington Cities, the Washington State Association of Counties, an organization representing general contractors, a construction trades representative, and tribal governments invited by the WSDOT secretary.

The bill sets procedural deadlines: the work group must hold its first meeting by July 30, 2025, and submit a report to the Legislature, including any recommended legislation, by Nov. 1, 2026. The bill would take effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislative session in which it passes. A partial fiscal note presented during the hearing estimated a fiscal impact to WSDOT of $288,000: $250,000 for a consultant to convene the group and prepare the report and $38,000 to cover staff participation, oversight and tribal outreach.

Representative Addison Richards, the bill sponsor, said the measure aims to bring stakeholders together to reduce the time and cost of projects. \"What we wanna do is to bring together stakeholders to talk about what it's gonna take to align, environmental, labor, and other standards to ultimately get our projects built faster and cheaper,\" Richards said, citing a local intersection where a roundabout is being considered as an example of projects slowed by multi-agency permitting.

Committee staff said the work group must ensure recommendations \"ensure that all appropriate environmental and regulatory protections are maintained.\" The bill analysis included references to federal and state permits typically required for transportation projects, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, the Shoreline Management Act, the federal Clean Water Act, and hydraulic project approvals.

The public hearing on House Bill 1902 concluded with no final vote recorded; the committee did not specify next steps during the session. The bill requires WSDOT to file the work group report by Nov. 1, 2026, if enacted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Transportation - 2/17/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1902 would require WSDOT to convene a multi-stakeholder work group to develop recommendations to streamline permitting for transportation projects while maintaining environmental protections.","taxTitle","Transportation, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20272,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326732,"Farm and hauling operators tell House committee longer truck-trailer combinations improve efficiency and pose no added safety risk",470,88000,558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323757-ef817e6d2169a8071fbefea290793fca&start=88&end=558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323757-ef817e6d2169a8071fbefea290793fca/thumbnail_88000.jpg","/articles/6326732/Washington/Farm-and-hauling-operators-tell-House-committee-longer-truck-trailer-combinations-improve-efficiency-and-pose-no-added-safety-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326732-650895bf0fa9aa6e9ee2142e19bc8d11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770990162&Signature=A3FOkQcCVTmmZtYzHh~kO3CkaE-xZCPe8ZeqiNq~PA9u3k5og5lYc7S5Dq0WEpjIxlqhOHGQUKZA064iZG0tXXtqwW90WSVjG9WP5miSKFYOU8rMTfSFPAmEn2V1txCISjGAuvi9ZePGm9bWSxAIUswy1hNS8NQdodH1tpAFjHLWlXbDgKrwWPi74G4T~MAQ9zdT9loKnqH--CYmTTWCny~Wovls0Vj0OKuNXtvdD9ROpraFJ3LhfkXkEtFJOw8tt99HB5Q1Mg5AgO7~xtQQoqvTIae3x9M1~g-Uftvk91JQZbAhYY4BH6YKt0EUjO5GkNt9ROP2Pq~UKqyPYKaMeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Farmers and commercial haulers told a House committee during a public hearing on House Bill 1898 that allowing longer truck-and-trailer combinations would let operators use equipment more efficiently, cut trips and emissions, and would not compromise safety.

The testimony matter-of-factly tied the proposal to savings on fuel and equipment costs and to reduced wear on roadways. \"I don't believe there's a maximum length on the outfit,\" said Brian Maiden, who identified himself as a farmer and hauler. \"So there's, really no safety concern, to to worry about.\" Maiden also said using the proposed combinations would let farmers avoid owning extra equipment that sits idle because current rules make some assets inefficient to use.

Why it matters: supporters said the change would lower operating costs for farmers and reduce vehicle miles traveled. \"That's less wear and tear on my equipment, less wear and tear that I'm gonna be, spending on or less money I spend on fuel, less time I'm on on the road, less emissions,\" said Justin McLennan, who described himself as a transportation operator. Caleb Gwerter, testifying on behalf of the Washington Farm Bureau, told the committee the bill would \"help reduce farms and or reduce carbon footprints from farms as they're transporting product from farm to farm, farm to processor, and farm to port in some cases.\" Gwerter also pointed to a prior change that increased weights for specific commodities, saying it had produced measurable carbon reductions for milk haulers.

Local elected officials who testified also supported the measure. \"I would strongly support it,\" said Marty Hall, who identified himself as a commissioner in Columbia County and a farmer. Hall said he had checked with local public works engineers and found no agency objections to the vehicle type on highways; he also described how the proposed truck-trailer combinations track more predictably than similarly long semi-trailer combinations.

Committee members asked about safety. Representative Stevie asked whether \"there are any added safety concerns by going longer that we need to know about?\" Maiden replied that the trailer sections are already capped at 68 feet end to end and said the proposed combination is \"a lot more maneuverable, to get in and out of tight spaces where possibly you may have to back up to get loaded or unloaded.\"

The public hearing record closed after the final witness. The committee did not take a final vote during the hearing and next steps were not specified on the record.","During a House public hearing on House Bill 1898, farmers and commercial haulers testified that allowing longer truck-trailer combinations would increase efficiency, reduce trips and emissions, and would not create new safety issues, while local officials also voiced support.","actionData","errors"]

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Bill would direct WSDOT to convene work group to streamline permitting for transportation projects

Farm and hauling operators tell House committee longer truck-trailer combinations improve efficiency and pose no added safety risk