Washington Administrative Code Title 136 - County Road Administration Board
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Title 136 - County Road Administration Board lays out the detailed rules and regulations adopted by the Washington State County Road Administration Board (CRAB). CRAB is a unique state agency established by the Washington Legislature (under RCW 36.78.070) to oversee and support the 39 county road departments across Washington.
CRAB's mission is to preserve and enhance the transportation infrastructure of Washington's counties by providing standards of good practice, fair administration of funding programs, and professional engineering and technology assistance. WAC Title 136 is the primary means by which CRAB fulfills this mission.
Here's a breakdown of the key areas and types of regulations you'll find within WAC Title 136:
I. Organizational and Administrative Chapters (e.g., 136-01 to 136-03):
Chapter 136-01 - Organization and operation of county road administration board: Defines CRAB's structure, purpose, and how it operates.
Chapter 136-02 - Implementation of state Environmental Policy Act: Outlines how CRAB complies with environmental review requirements.
Chapter 136-03 - Public access to information and records: Details procedures for public records requests to CRAB.
II. Standards of Good Practice (The core of CRAB's oversight - e.g., Chapters 136-04 to 136-70):
These chapters establish mandatory standards that county road departments must meet to be eligible for state funding distributed by CRAB. They cover various aspects of road management and operations:
Chapter 136-04 - Annual certification of good practice: This is a critical chapter requiring counties to annually certify that they are following CRAB's "Standards of Good Practice" to remain eligible for state fuel tax revenues.
Chapter 136-11 - Maintenance management: Rules for effective maintenance of county roads, including planning, scheduling, and documentation.
Chapter 136-12 - Standards of good practice—Vacancy or change in position of county engineer: Procedures for counties to follow when there's a change in the crucial role of the county engineer.
Chapter 136-14 - Standards of good practice—Priority programming: Guidelines for counties to develop and prioritize their road improvement projects.
Chapter 136-15 - Standards of good practice procedures for preparation of six-year transportation programs: Requires counties to develop and submit comprehensive six-year transportation programs, outlining planned projects and expenditures.
Chapter 136-16 - Standards of good practice - Annual road program, construction report, and construction by county forces limits: Details annual reporting requirements for road programs and sets limits on the value of construction projects that can be undertaken by county forces (without contracting externally).
Chapter 136-18 - Standards of good practice - Construction by county forces: Specific rules if a county chooses to do construction work with its own employees rather than contractors.
Chapter 136-20 - Standards of good practice—Inspection of bridges on county roads: Mandates regular inspection of bridges to ensure safety and structural integrity.
Chapter 136-25 - Standard of good practice—Traffic law enforcement expenditures: Guidelines for how county road funds can be used for traffic law enforcement purposes.
Chapter 136-40 - Standards of good practice—Accommodation of utilities on county roads: Rules for how utility companies can place their infrastructure on or along county road rights-of-way.
Chapter 136-50 - Standards of good practice—County road department administration: General administrative standards for efficient operation of county road departments.
Chapter 136-60 - Standards of good practice—Maintenance of county road logs: Requires counties to maintain accurate logs of their road network, including mileage, surface type, and condition, which is vital for state-level data collection and funding distribution.
Chapter 136-70 - Standards of good practice - Pavement management system requirement for county arterial preservation program eligibility: Requires counties to use a pavement management system to track and plan for the preservation of their arterial roads to qualify for specific funding programs.
III. Administration of Funding Programs (e.g., Chapters 136-100 to 136-600):
These chapters detail the rules for various state and federal funding programs that CRAB administers for county roads, including eligibility, application, allocation, and oversight:
Chapter 136-100 - Administration of the rural arterial program (RAP): Governs the allocation of funds from the Rural Arterial Trust Account (RATA) for rural road improvements.
Chapters 136-130 to 136-180: Provide granular details on prioritization, eligibility, project submittal, fund allocation, contracts, and voucher processing for RAP and RATA funds.
Chapter 136-210 - Design standards for rural arterial program projects: Specifies the design standards that RAP projects must meet.
Chapter 136-300 - Administration of the county arterial preservation program: Rules for programs focused on preserving existing arterial roads.
Chapter 136-400 - Administration of the county ferry capital improvement program: Governs funding for capital improvements to county-operated ferry systems (Washington has several counties with ferry services).
Chapter 136-500 - Emergency loan program (ELP): Regulations for providing emergency loans to counties for unforeseen road-related repairs or disasters.
Chapter 136-600 - Equipment rental and revolving fund: Rules for programs that help counties acquire or rent road maintenance equipment.
Overall Purpose of WAC Title 136:
The WAC Title 136 and the County Road Administration Board are essential for:
Ensuring Accountability: By establishing "Standards of Good Practice" and requiring annual certification, CRAB ensures that counties are effectively managing their road systems and using public funds wisely.
Promoting Consistency and Quality: The standards help ensure a minimum level of quality and consistency in county road maintenance and construction statewide.
Fair Funding Distribution: The detailed rules for funding programs ensure that state funds are allocated equitably and efficiently to county road projects.
Providing Technical Assistance: CRAB offers guidance, training, and technical expertise to help county engineers and road departments meet these standards and improve their operations.
Facilitating Data Collection: The requirements for road logs and pavement management systems enable a comprehensive understanding of the condition of Washington's county road network.
Essentially, CRAB acts as a vital link between the state and its 39 counties, ensuring that the vast network of county roads, which are critical for local commerce and community access, is well-maintained and efficiently managed.
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