RCW 36.79.140 provides for the authorization of rural arterial trust account funds for projects of an emergent nature. This chapter describes the manner in which counties may request funding for such emergent projects and the manner in which the county road administration board will respond to such requests.

Projects of an emergent nature may be funded through the rural arterial program as authorized by chapter 36.79 RCW. An emergent project is defined as a project whose need the county was unable to anticipate at the time the six-year program of the county was developed. Emergency work to temporarily restore a county road for the short-term use of the traveling public is not eligible for funding as an emergent project; however, a project to permanently repair a county road after an emergency may be considered for funding if the proposed project meets all other requirements of the rural arterial program.

To be eligible for emergent project approval, the project shall be evaluated by the county road administration board grant programs engineer, with the participation of the county engineer, on the same point system as all other projects within the region. The proposed emergent project must rank at or above the regional funding cutoff line on the current array based upon one hundred percent of the current estimated regional allocation as determined by the county road administration board.

All projects for which rural arterial program funding is being requested under this chapter are subject to the following:

(1) The requesting county has the sole burden of making a clear and conclusive showing that the project is emergent as described in this chapter; and

(2) The requesting county shall clearly demonstrate that the need for the project was unable to be anticipated at the time the current six-year transportation program was developed; and

(3) The requesting county agrees to a reduction in the next funding period's maximum RATA eligibility to the county equal to the RATA that may be awarded. Should that region not have a maximum RATA eligibility for each county, the requesting county agrees to withdraw, amend or delay an existing approved project or portion thereof in an amount equal to the RATA that may be provided for the project.

Counties may request consideration and action by the county road administration board at any time, however, the county road administration board will address all such requests at its next regular quarterly meeting. A county may request, and the county road administration board chair may convene, a special meeting to consider such a request as provided for in WAC 136-01-030.