(1) A public transportation benefit area authority as provided in subsection (2) of this section may, pursuant to an interlocal agreement, annex an adjacent city operating a transit system under chapter 35.95 RCW within the county in which the public transportation benefit area is located. This method of annexation is an alternative method and is additional to all other methods provided for in this chapter.

(2) An authority and the governing body of an adjacent city described in subsection (1) of this section may jointly initiate an annexation process for annexing the city into the public transportation benefit area by adopting an interlocal agreement as provided in chapter 39.34 RCW and under this subsection between the authority and the city. The authority and the city shall jointly agree on the annexation and its effective date. The interlocal agreement must set a date for a public hearing on the agreement for annexation.

(3) A public hearing must be held by each governing body, separately or jointly, before the agreement is executed. Each governing body holding a public hearing shall:

(a) Separately or jointly, publish a notice of availability of the agreement at least once a week for four weeks before the date of the hearing in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the public transportation benefit area and one or more newspapers of general circulation within the city; and

(b) If the governing body has the ability to do so, post the notice of availability of the agreement on its website for the same four weeks that the notice is published in the newspapers under (a) of this subsection. The notice must describe where the public may review the agreement.

(4) On the date set for hearing, the public must be afforded an opportunity to be heard. Following the hearing, if the governing body determines to undertake the annexation, it must do so by ordinance, if a city's governing body, and by resolution, if a public transportation benefit area's governing body. Upon the effective date of the annexation the city annexed must become part of the public transportation benefit area and must cease operating a transit system under chapter 35.95 RCW. Upon passage of the annexation ordinance and resolution a certified copy of each must be filed with the legislative authority of the county in which the city is located.

(5) After an annexation under this section occurs, the county legislative authority of the county in which the public transportation benefit area is located may by resolution annex [the] county area under its jurisdiction into the public transportation benefit area. This method of annexation is an alternative method and is additional to all other methods provided for in this chapter.

Findings—Intent—2025 c 417: See note following RCW 82.38.030.