TWT S.B. 1704 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


TRANSPORTATION
S.B. 1704
By: Ogden (Delisi)
5-9-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, the law sets speed limits on farm-to-market and ranch-to-market
roads at 70 miles per hour in the daytime and 65 miles per hour at
nighttime. There are many two-lane farm-to-market and ranch-to-market
roads in this state that do not have paved shoulders and are dangerous to
travel at the 70-mile-per-hour speed limit.  This bill provides that a
lawful speed is 70 miles per hour in the daytime and 65 miles per hour on
a farm-to-market road if that road has a pavement width greater than 20
feet; and 60 miles per hour in the daytime and 55 miles per hour at night
on a highway that is outside and urban district and on a farm-to-market or
ranch-to-market road having a pavement width of 20 feet or less. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1704 provides that a lawful speed is 70 miles per hour
in the daytime and 65 miles per hour on a farm-to-market road if that road
has a pavement width greater than 20 feet; and 60 miles per hour in the
daytime and 55 miles per hour at night on a highway that is outside and
urban district and on a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road having a
pavement width of 20 feet or less. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code, to provide that
a lawful speed is 70 miles per hour in daytime and 65 miles per hour in
nighttime on a farm-to-market road if that road has a pavement width
greater than 20 feet; and 60 miles per hour in daytime and 55 miles per
hour at night on a highway that is outside an urban district and on a
farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road having a pavement width 20 feet or
less. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 545.353, Transportation Code, by adding
Subsection (h), to authorize the prima facie speed limit under Section
545.352(b)(3), to be increased if the Texas Transportation Commission
determines from the results of an engineering and traffic investigation
that a higher prima facie speed limit is reasonable and safe. 

SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.