Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 47.56.401 — High occupancy toll lanes defined., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 47.56.401. High occupancy toll lanes defined.
For the purposes of RCW
46.61.165, *
47.56.403, and *
47.66.090, "high occupancy toll lanes" means one or more lanes of a highway that charges tolls as a means of regulating access to or the use of the facility, to maintain travel speed and reliability. Supporting facilities include, but are not limited to, approaches, enforcement areas, improvements, buildings, and equipment.
Notes
Intent—2005 c 312: "The legislature recognizes that the Puget Sound region is faced with growing traffic congestion and has limited ability to expand freeway capacity due to financial, environmental, and physical constraints. Freeway high occupancy vehicle lanes have been an effective means of providing transit, vanpools, and carpools with a fast trip on congested freeway corridors, but in many cases, these lanes are themselves getting crowded during the peak commute times, while some are being underused at off-peak times.
It is the intent of the legislature to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the freeway system. To evaluate methods to accomplish this, it is beneficial to evaluate alternative approaches to managing the use of freeway high occupancy vehicle lanes, including pilot projects to determine and demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of implementing high occupancy toll lanes. The legislature acknowledges that state route 167 provides an ideal test of the high occupancy toll lane concept because it is a congested corridor, it has underused capacity in the high occupancy vehicle lane, and it has adequate right-of-way for improvements needed to test the concept. Therefore, it is the intent of this act to direct that the department of transportation, as a pilot project, develop and operate a high occupancy toll lane on state route 167 in King county and to conduct an evaluation of that project to determine impacts on freeway efficiency, effectiveness for transit, feasibility of financing improvements through tolls, and the impacts on freeway users." [
2005 c 312 s 1.]
Captions—2005 c 312: "Section captions used in this act are not any part of the law." [
2005 c 312 s 9.]
Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 47.56.401
What does Revised Code of Washington § 47.56.401 cover?
Section 47.56.401 ("High occupancy toll lanes defined.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Washington § 47.56.401?
A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 47.56.401" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Washington law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.
How does Washington § 47.56.401 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Washington can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Washington.
