TWT H.B. 130 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


TRANSPORTATION
H.B. 130
By: Pitts
4-25-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Texas law requires that a road maintained by a county have an engineering
and traffic investigation conducted before a speed limit can be changed.
Many county maintained roads never have an engineering and traffic
investigation.  If there has not been a engineering and traffic
investigation conducted the legal speed limit falls under Section
545.352(b), Transportation Code.  As a result most county roads have legal
speed limits in excess of 50 mph. 

PURPOSE

To give a commissioner's court of a county the authority to legally lower
the speed limit of a road, without the conducting an engineering and
traffic investigation. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sec. 545.355(a), Transportation Code, to  allow a county
commissioners court, by a majority vote, to lower a speed limit on a a
county road or highway if the commission determines that the prima facie
speed limit is unreasonable or unsafe. 

SECTION 2. Emergency Clause - Effective upon passage.