AGO 1971 No. 36.
Case Date | November 26, 1971 |
Court | Washington |
Washington Attorney General Opinions
1971.
AGO 1971 No. 36.
November 26,
1971[Orig. Op. Page 1]PRIVATEOFFICES AND
OFFICERS -- STATE -- TOLL BRIDGE AUTHORITY -- RESERVING OF ONE LANE OF
EVERGREEN POINT BRIDGE FOR EXCLUSIVE BUS TRANSIT AND CAR POOL
USE.(1) The Washington toll bridge authority
resolution authorizing issuance of bonds for the Evergreen Point Toll Bridge
does not prohibit the highway commission from reserving a lane of the bridge
for exclusive transit use.(2) RCW 47.52.025
authorizing the highway authorities of the state, counties, and cities to
regulate, restrict, and prohibit the use of limited access facilities by the
various classes of vehicles or traffic empowers the state highway commission to
restrict the use of a highway lane across the Evergreen Point Toll Bridge for
exclusive transit use.(3) Additional legislation will
be required to authorize the highway commission to give preferential use of
lanes to cars carrying a specified minimum number of passengers.Honorable G. K. Jeff
Douthwaite State Representative, District 32A
5518 - 31st N.E. Seattle, WashingtonCite
as: AGO 1971 No. 36Dear Sir:
You have asked for an opinion of this office regarding the
legality of reserving one lane of the Evergreen Point Bridge for exclusive bus
transit and for car pool use. You have specifically inquired (a) whether any of
the covenants of the Washington toll bridge authority resolution authorizing
the issuance of bonds for financing construction of the Evergreen Point Bridge
would prohibit the assignment of a bridge lane for exclusive transit or car
pool use; and (b) whether the highway commission possesses the requisite
authority so to regulate the use of this facility.
We conclude that both the statutes authorizing the construction
and operation of the Evergreen Point Toll Bridge
[Orig. Op. Page 2]
and the bond resolution would permit the highway commission to
reserve one lane of the bridge for exclusive bus transit use. However,
additional legislation will be required to authorize the commission to give
preferential use of lanes to cars carrying a specified minimum number of
passengers.
ANALYSIS
The second Lake Washington toll bridge, commonly referred to as
the Evergreen Point Toll Bridge, was authorized by chapter 266, Laws of 1957,
now codified as RCW 47.56.281 - 47.56.286. Pursuant to the legislative act...
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