OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday signed new laws allowing traffic enforcement cameras on public school buses, toll lanes on I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue and coffee stands in park-and-ride lots.
School bus drivers gathered around Gregoire as she signed the bill aimed at catching drivers who illegally pass a bus when it is stopped to let students on and off.
Under the new law, the automated cameras can photograph a vehicle’s license plate and forward it to law enforcement which, in turn, can send a ticket to the car’s registered owner.
Violations would be treated like a parking infraction but carry a hefty fine of up to $394 — double the fine for infractions in a school zone.
School districts can affix cameras to any or all buses in its fleet only after a public vote by the school board.
These cameras are basically the same ones used by cities to catch speeders and those running red lights. Use on school buses stirred up far less political heat and this bill authored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, sailed almost unanimously through the Legislature.
Another bill signed Monday will give motorists a chance to buy their way out of congestion when driving on I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue.
It would allow drivers traveling alone to pay a toll to use the carpool lanes starting in 2014.
What’s envisioned is similar, though not identical, to what’s now done on Highway 167 south of Renton.
Toll lanes would be set up in both directions of I-405 between Bellevue and its junction with I-5 in Lynnwood. Drivers would pay through use of transponders.
Before tolling begins, however, the state must first construct a second carpool lane from NE Sixth Street in Bellevue to the Highway 522 exit. This work will cost roughly $400 million and may take two years to complete.
And, still to be determined is who gets to use the lanes for free.
On Highway 167, a car with two or more occupants can travel in the lane without paying. But state transportation officials may recommend a minimum of three people per car on 405 HOT lanes.
Another bill signed Monday could bring coffee stands, hot dog sellers and other vendors to park-and-ride lots owned by the state and public transit agencies.
The law will let the state Department of Transportation, or any local transit agency using state money for a park-and-ride, to lease out part of the lot to a private contractor.
There are about 336 park-and-ride lots in Washington with 117 of them run by the state.
Revenue gained from the lease agreements would be plowed back into operating and maintaining the lot. Any additional money collected beyond that would be funneled into the state’s transportation budget for support of commuter bus and train services.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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