Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1208 amends provisions of the Transportation Code relating to the mitigation of traffic congestion on highways. The bill transfers certain authority from the Texas Transportation Commission to the Texas Department of Transportation. It provides that the department may finance and may enter into agreements with certain transportation authorities for the design, construction, operation, or maintenance of a high occupancy vehicle lane. It provides that the commission may designate and the department may finance, design, construct, operate, or maintain one or more lanes of a state highway facility as exclusive lanes. And it provides that if the commission authorizes the department to charge a toll, the department may enter into an agreement with certain transportation authorities to design, construct, operate, or maintain the toll lane. If restricted lanes are to be located within a municipality, the commission is required to consult with the municipality before adopting an order regarding the restrictions. House Bill 1208 requires the department, either directly or through a contract, to erect and maintain traffic control devices to implement the lane restrictions, and requires the installation of the traffic control devices before restricting a lane. The bill also refers to the fee imposed for nonpayment of the proper toll as a collection fee, rather than an administrative fee.