(1) At the time of formation, the area to be included within the boundary of the authority shall be that area set forth in the system plan adopted by the joint regional policy committee. Prior to submitting the system and financing plan to the voters, the authority may make adjustments to the boundaries as deemed appropriate but must assure that, to the extent possible, the boundaries: (a) Include the largest-population urban growth area designated by each county under chapter 36.70A RCW; and (b) follow election precinct boundaries. If a portion of any city is determined to be within the service area, the entire city must be included within the boundaries of the authority.

     (2) After voters within the authority boundaries have approved the system and financing plan, elections to add areas contiguous to the authority boundaries may be called by resolution of the regional transit authority, after consultation with affected transit agencies and with the concurrence of the legislative authority of the city or town if the area is incorporated, or with the concurrence of the county legislative authority if the area is unincorporated. Only those areas that would benefit from the services provided by the authority may be included and services or projects proposed for the area must be consistent with the regional transportation plan. The election may include a single ballot proposition providing for annexation to the authority boundaries and imposition of the taxes at rates already imposed within the authority boundaries.

     (3) Upon receipt of a resolution requesting exclusion from the boundaries of the authority from a city whose municipal boundaries cross the boundaries of an authority and thereby result in only a portion of the city being subject to local option taxes imposed by the authority under chapters 81.104 and 81.112 RCW in order to implement a high capacity transit plan, and where the vote to approve the city's incorporation occurred simultaneously with an election approving the local option taxes, then upon a two-thirds majority vote of the governing board of the authority, the governing board shall redraw the boundaries of the authority to exclude that portion of the city that is located within the authority's boundaries, and the excluded area is no longer subject to local option taxes imposed by the authority. This subsection expires December 31, 1998.

[1998 c 192 § 1; 1992 c 101 § 5.]