Committee weighs bill requiring continuous, accessible pedestrian routes near hospitals, parks and schools during construction

Senate Bill 6,311, presented to the Senate Transportation Committee, would require permittees to maintain continuous, accessible pedestrian passage during construction projects within 300 feet of hospitals, parks and school zones. The proposed substitute directs the Department of Transportation to adopt rules and design standards for pedestrian reroutes and authorizes permitting authorities to inspect work zones, issue stop‑work orders and assess civil penalties for noncompliance.

Committee staff noted federal and ADA requirements already demand accessible routes during construction and cited the U.S. Department of Transportation's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Clint McCarthy said the bill mirrors existing federal accessibility expectations but would make state‑level design standards and inspection authority explicit for the specified zones. The staff fiscal estimate included partial cost figures; WSDOT provided a fiscal note estimate tied to rulemaking and anticipated project coverage.

Supporters — including the Association of Washington Cities, the Association of Counties, King County Metro and Transportation Choices Coalition — endorsed the bill's safety objective but urged the committee to provide local flexibility. Steven Ellis (Association of Washington Cities) said cities broadly support the policy goal but asked for clearer flexibility so local agencies can determine feasibility and avoid forcing contractors to build temporary infrastructure that does not exist at a site. Axel Swanson (Association of Counties) raised questions about procurement impacts, bid estimates and potential cost increases or timeline extensions.

King County Metro representatives and advocates emphasized the importance of maintaining access to transit and hospitals during construction; one witness noted concerns about stop‑work orders on very large projects and suggested the committee work with stakeholders to refine enforcement mechanisms.

The committee closed the public hearing and indicated staff would pursue possible amendments to focus school‑zone requirements on times when school is in session.