Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/28/1996 02:37 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 28, 1996
2:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gary Davis, Chairman
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chair
Representative Tom Brice
Representative Don Long
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jeanette James
Representative Jerry Sanders
Representative Bill Williams
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation by the Port of Bellingham
HOUSE BILL NO. 517
"An Act relating to records and hearings of the Department of
Public Safety; relating to a temporary permit to drive a motor
vehicle; relating to regulation of motor vehicles and commercial
motor vehicles; relating to renewal of a driver's license by mail;
increasing the property damage amounts for proof of financial
responsibility and proof of motor vehicle eligibility in order to
lawfully operate a motor vehicle in the state; relating to certain
notifications in accidents involving property damage; relating to
motor vehicle registration procedures; and providing for an
effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
*HOUSE BILL NO. 518
"An Act exempting certain persons engaged in selling or servicing
certain vehicles from overtime wage requirements."
- BILL POSTPONED
*HOUSE BILL NO. 462
"An Act relating to the offenses of driving while intoxicated and
refusal to submit to a chemical test of breath or blood; amending
Rules 6 and 32.1, Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure; and providing
for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
*HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29
Providing for a contest among the elementary school students of
Alaska to name the new ferry of the Alaska marine highway system.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 517
SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLES: REGULATION & INSURANCE
SPONSOR(S): TRANSPORTATION
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/14/96 2750 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/14/96 2751 (H) TRANSPORTATION, JUDICIARY
02/21/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
02/21/96 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/28/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 517
SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLES: REGULATION & INSURANCE
SPONSOR(S): TRANSPORTATION
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/14/96 2750 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/14/96 2751 (H) TRANSPORTATION, JUDICIARY
02/21/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
02/21/96 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/28/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 518
SHORT TITLE: OVERTIME COMP FOR VEHICLE SALES PEOPLE
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/15/96 2776 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/15/96 2776 (H) TRANSPORTATION, LABOR & COMMERCE
02/28/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 462
SHORT TITLE: DRUNK DRIVING: EVIDENCE & SENTENCING
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) PORTER,Toohey
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/02/96 2606 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/02/96 2606 (H) TRANSPORTATION, JUDICIARY
02/28/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HCR 29
SHORT TITLE: STUDENT CONTEST TO NAME NEW FERRY
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) WILLIAMS
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/12/96 2721 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
02/12/96 2722 (H) TRANSPORTATION, STATE AFFAIRS
02/28/96 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
WITNESS REGISTER
MICHAEL J. BRENNAN, President
Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Harbor Center Building
1801 Roeder Avenue, Number 140
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Telephone: (306) 734-1330
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Port of
Bellingham
BOB HILPERT, Director of Marine Operations
Port of Bellingham
P.O. Box 1737
Bellingham, Washington 98227-1727
Telephone: (206) 676-2500
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Port of
Bellingham
JAMES DARLING, Executive Director
Port of Bellingham
625 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98225-5017
Telephone: (306) 671-6411
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Port of
Bellingham
JACK MEYERS, Vice-President and General Manager
Maritime Contractors, Incorporated
201 Harris Avenue
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Telephone: (306) 647-0080
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information on the Port of
Bellingham
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 96-7, SIDE A
Number 000
The House Transportation Standing Committee was called to order by
Chairman Gary Davis at 2:37 p.m. Members present at the call to
order were Representatives G. Davis, Masek, Brice, and Long. A
quorum was present.
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS announced that the agenda was the presentation
by the Port of Bellingham. He said the other bills on the agenda
would be postponed to another meeting due to time constraints.
Number 058
MICHAEL J. BRENNAN, President, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, introduced the other representatives from
the Port of Bellingham. These representatives included Sheryl
Hershey, Member, Chamber Executive Board, Bellingham/Whatcom
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Personnel Manager, Bellingham
Cold Storage Company; Dick Wells, Senior Vice-President, U.S. Bank
of Washington and President, Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce
and Industry: Fred Sexton, President, Bellingham Regional Economic
Development Council; Ginny Benton, Commissioner, Port of
Bellingham; Jack Meyers, Vice-President and General Manager of
Maritime Contractors, Incorporated; Jim Darling, Executive Director
of the Port of Bellingham; Scott Walker, Commissioner, Port of
Bellingham; and Bob Hilpert, Director of Marine Terminals.
Number 149
BOB HILPERT, Director of Marine Terminals, showed various slides
from the Port of Bellingham. The first slide was titled,
"Bellingham Cruise Terminal Comparative Passenger and Auto
Statistics," this slide showed that almost 39,000 people in 1992
sailed in the 73 trips and a little less than 30,000 people sailed
in 1995 in 53 trips.
Number 249
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of a sailing vessel destined for the San
Juan Islands and then on to Vancouver Island. He said this is a
daily passenger route. He said there is also a sailing vessel that
goes into the San Juan Islands on sailing ventures.
Number 273
MR. HILPERT showed a slide title, "Demographics of Fairhaven
Transportation Center (Bellingham Cruise Terminal)," which showed
the head count of people who moved through the Bellingham Cruise
Terminal, which is now known as Fairhaven Transportation Center
since the addition of the Fairhaven Train Station. He said this
slide goes from 1992 when roughly 65,000 people went through the
terminal to 1995 when nearly 86,000 people went through the
terminal. He said services have increased due to several services
including the Zodiac, a sailing vessel built in 1923, which was the
old San Francisco pilot vessel; the Victoria Star which operates
into Vancouver Island; the San Juan Island Shuttle Express which
operates into the San Juans; and other smaller vessel launch
services and salmon charters.
MR. HILPERT said Amtrak opened operations in 1995 which directly
tied the train services with Bellingham Cruise Terminal and the
Alaska Marine Highway System. He said Greyhound has also started
service, as well as other bus carriers. He said there are various
special events, not including when naval ships call or the "Ski to
Sea" event.
Number 384
MR. HILPERT presented a slide showing the first day that AmTrak
arrived, on May 26, 1995.
Number 398
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of Fairhaven Transportation Center from
Harris Street.
Number 414
MR. HILPERT showed a slide titled, "Major Events Fairhaven
Transportation Center," focused on the events of 1995. These
events included the construction which began on the former Pacific
American fisheries headquarters. He said $2 million and $2.25
million of Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)
money was obtained for this construction, almost $1.2 of Port of
Bellingham funds, for a total of nearly $3.9 million. He said
Northwest Stage Lines as well as Trailways began operations in
January of 1995, Greyhound started business in March of 1995,
AmTrak started in May of 1995, and Fairhaven Transportation
Center's grand opening was in July of 1995.
Number 473
MR. HILPERT showed another slide with the same title, "Major Events
Fairhaven Transportation Center," and said in October of 1995 a
truck route was made connecting old Fairhaven Parkway and forming
a direct connection with Interstate 5. He said this route was
funded by Washington State Department of Transportation, City of
Bellingham, and the Port of Bellingham for a total of $750,000. He
said, during the summer of 1995, Fairhaven Transportation Center
won a merit award from the American Institute of Architects for
professional excellence in the design of the building. In January
of 1996, AmTrak announced that Mt. Baker International, from
Seattle to Vancouver, was the run of the year. He said the seven
month bookings topped 56,000 people. He said AmTrak is discussing
the possibility of adding one more train to this service, and added
that currently there is one daily train doing this route. In
February of 1996, Maritime Contractors and the Port agreed to
extend their dock at Fairhaven Shipyard to handle deeper draft
vessels and to handle 600 foot vessels.
Number 566
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of an aerial view of Fairhaven
Transportation Center. He pointed out the AmTrak station, the
Bellingham Cruise Terminal and where the Columbia was docked.
Number 586
MR. HILPERT showed a pan view of Fairhaven Transportation Center
and pointed out the Maritime Contractors, Incorporated facilities.
Number 600
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of the opening of Fairhaven
Transportation Center.
Number 611
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of the second level of the Fairhaven
Transportation Center.
Number 622
MR. HILPERT showed a slide of the second level down to the main
floor of the Fairhaven Transportation Center. He said Fairhaven
Transportation Center is booked for special events, such as
weddings, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Number 653
MR. HILPERT showed the final slide, which was Columbia sailing off
into the sunset.
Number 678
JAMES DARLING, Executive Director, Port of Bellingham, was next to
speak. He said it is apparent that the people of Bellingham and
all of Whatcom County really support this linkage with Alaska. He
said $13 million of local money is invested in the Fairhaven
Transportation Center and another $2 million is invested in the
street connector and the train station itself. He said the Port of
Bellingham has a wonderful working relationship with the Alaska
Marine Highway System. He said it is a contractual relationship,
with occasional differences, but that is has always been
professional and the Alaska Marine Highway System does the state of
Alaska justice. He invited questions from the committee members.
Number 748
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE commented that there is no more beautiful
town in the state of Washington than the city of Bellingham.
Number 777
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS said it is always beneficial to have a
presentation on the Port of Bellingham, especially with new
Transportation Committee Members. He said he was reminded of some
of the ferry proposals for the ferry system in Southeast Alaska.
He said private enterprises are looking at extending services
further out of the main hub. He mentioned the similarity of when
the Port of Bellingham won the contract, services went from a major
city, Seattle, into a smaller community. He mentioned a tour he
received this summer.
Number 867
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS mentioned that the city of Bellingham reminds
the legislature of Bette Cato as she moved there after she retired.
He added a personal reference to friends of his, Bob and Judy
Walston, who attempted to retire in Bellingham but have ended up
running the terminal in Bellingham. He said Bellingham is a great
place and lamented the fact that he hadn't spent more time there
when he lived in Longview.
Number 968
REPRESENTATIVE BEVERLY MASEK said she chairs the House
International Trade and Tourism Committee, and asked how much money
is funded through the private sector and how much is funded through
the state in regards to construction, maintenance and operations.
MR. DARLING said the ferry terminal was constructed completely by
local dollars. He said the ticketing for the Alaska Marine Highway
System is contracted and is a break even venture. He said the debt
service on the building is paid for locally. He said the train
station received $2.75 million of the $3.8 million from state and
federal sources. He said the third remaining of the capital costs
was paid for locally and is being recovered through commercial
leases such as the Espresso Stand, Travel Agency and possibly an
Outfitter Service. He said the ISTEA Fund was received from the
federal government as a result of it being the only ferry/train
link in the United States.
Number 1102
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK remarked that Alaska is a young state and
still developing. She said it must look at what other areas, such
as the city of Bellingham, to see what they are doing. She thanked
them for coming and sharing information about what they are doing.
MR. DARLING said they would like Alaska to have a physical presence
in Bellingham through a tourism effort or an economic trade
development effort. He said the city of Bellingham does a lot of
work in the tourism business as well as in commerce and industry.
He said a lot of firms in Whatcom County do work up in Alaska and
there is a strong connection.
MR. HILPERT said they would supply an office, if Alaska supplied a
representative.
Number 1182
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS commented that more people probably could not
be accommodated unless there were more sailings.
Number 1213
MR. DARLING said when the booking is opened in December, the summer
sailings are usually filled within a two week period. He said it
is hard to get space on the ferries in the summer. He said the
ticketing costs of that run was matched with the cost of operating
that run, so no additional state funds were needed to support that
particular run.
Number 1244
REPRESENTATIVE DON LONG made a comment regarding the number of
people and asked for an explanation.
Number 1259
MR. HILPERT said those were times when two sailings a week were
being run, he said 73 sailings occurred.
Number 1280
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS asked how the ISTEA money was obtained.
Number 1287
MR. DARLING said the money was obtained from a special category of
federal money relating to the development of historic structures,
"a value added transportation input" on a historic structure. He
said because there were multiple modes of transportation it put the
funding for Fairhaven Transportation Center on the top of the list.
Number 1315
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked if was difficult to obtain this ISTEA
funding.
Number 1328
MR. DARLING said it was not because Fairhaven Transportation Center
qualified in so many ways and especially because of the
marine/train link. He said the Council of Governments, which
represents all of Whatcom County and municipalities in the county,
supported this proposal.
Number 1362
REPRESENTATIVE MASEK asked if there were other companies for the
same type of grants under the ISTEA Fund.
Number 1370
MR. DARLING said under the historical context there were not many.
He said Fairhaven Transportation Center was the old Pacific
American Fisheries Headquarters which was the largest salmon packer
in the world and did all their business in Alaska.
Number 1400
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS asked for information about Maritime
Contractors, Incorporated.
Number 1415
JACK MEYERS, Vice-President and General Manager, Maritime
Contractors, Incorporated, said it is a full service shipyard and
the new construction on the facilities has been completed. He said
they are in discussions to construct the new freedom jumbo ferries.
He said they are constructing the steel portion of the car deck and
all of the superstructure on the passenger deck including the
solarium, pilot deck, stacks, in (indiscernible), rudder of all
three ferries. He said this work should be completed within two
and a half years. He said his company has completed buoys and buoy
tenders for the Coast Guard, and completed a remote control
(indiscernible) barge, 260 feet in length for the Navy. He said
the main industry of his company is repair work and the extended
dock will give his company a lot more business.
Number 1452
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS asked what the company's capacity was in terms
of the length of vessels.
Number 1464
MR. MEYERS said it depended on draft, he said the largest vessel
would be a 378 feet Coast Guard vessel. He said they would be able
to take a (indiscernible) destroyer with a 30 foot draft and
(indiscernible) that is 565 feet.
Number 1481
CHAIRMAN GARY DAVIS clarified that they do not have dry dock
capability. He thanked the representatives from Bellingham.
ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business to come before the House
Transportation Standing Committee, Chairman Gary Davis adjourned
the meeting at 3:03 p.m.
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