Counties that have established a county transportation authority pursuant to chapter 36.57 RCW and public transportation benefit areas that have been established pursuant to this chapter are eligible to receive a one-time advanced financial support payment from the state to assist in the development of the initial comprehensive transit plan required by RCW 36.57.070 and 36.57A.060. The amount of this support payment is established at one dollar per person residing within each county or public transportation benefit area, as determined by the office of financial management, but no single payment shall exceed fifty thousand dollars. Repayment of an advanced financial support payment shall be made to the public transportation account in the general fund or, if such account does not exist, to the general fund by each agency within two years of the date such advanced payment was received. Such repayment shall be waived within two years of the date such advanced payment was received if the voters in the appropriate counties or public transportation benefit areas do not elect to levy and collect taxes enabled under authority of this chapter and RCW 35.95.040 and 82.14.045. The state department of transportation shall provide technical assistance in the preparation of local transit plans, and administer the advanced financial support payments authorized by this section.

Severability—Effective date—1975 1st ex.s. c 270: See notes following RCW 35.58.272.