Senate passes transportation bills

OLYMPIA – The Washington state Senate approved several transportation bills Saturday, including one to allow the Department of Licensing to contract out driver’s exams to private driving schools and local school districts.

The measure is designed to cut wait times at DOL offices, where the administration of licensing exams is staff’s most time-consuming function.

Supporters say that contracting out driver’s tests would free up staff to help other customers more quickly and therefore reflect more positively on state government.

Driving schools would be able to set their own price for the licensing exams.

The DOL would still issue driver’s licenses, and would be authorized to randomly re-test drivers to hold the process accountable to department standards.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and returns to the House for approval of amendments.

The Senate also approved:

• A bill that directs the state Department of Transportation to begin construction of high occupancy toll lanes on Interstate 405 near Bellevue.

• A bill allowing for special “Music Matters” license plates to generate revenue for music programs in schools.

Associated Press