LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
April 14, 1997
TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 2469
Committee on Transportation By: McReynolds
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB2469 ( Relating
to the operation of vehicles transporting timber or timber products
and to the operation of vehicles transporting poles or pipe.)
this office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB2469-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium
ending August 31, 1999.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would allow for the adjustment of axle lengths as it
applies to the transportation of timber and timber products.
Methodolgy
The Department of Transportation (TxDot) stated that exempting
timber hauling vehicles from axle spacing requirements would
result in greater and more frequent overstressing of the state's
roads and bridges. The department estimates that additional
damage would be incurred on 4,100, or 11 percent, of the state's
on system bridges, mostly on Farm-to-Market (FM) roads, and
7,700, or 85 percent, of the bridges that are off state's highway
system. TxDot estimated that more of the off system bridges
would be impacted because they were designed and constructed
for trucks with a maximum gross weight of 30,000 lbs.
The
TxDot has estimated the annual on-system bridge damage cost
to be $199,559 and the off-system cost to be $352,077 for a
total for both systems of $551,636. In addition, the department
stated that as bridges become older and damage to the bridges
accumulates the bridges would need to be inspected more often.
The department estimated that 2,167 bridges would fall into
that category and could need one additional inspection per year.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable
Savings/(Cost)
from State
Highway Fund
0006
1998 ($551,636)
1998 (551,636)
2000 (551,636)
2001 (551,636)
2002 (551,636)
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government
is anticipated.
Source: Agencies: 405 Department of Public Safety
601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,ML