By Oliveira, et al. H.B. No. 1918
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Texas Department of Transportation planning of
1-3 multimodal and intermodal transportation.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
1-6 is amended by adding Section 201.208 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 201.208. INTERMODAL PLANNING FUNCTION. Notwithstanding
1-8 any other law, the department is designated as the state's planning
1-9 agency for intermodal transportation, including highways, airports,
1-10 railroads, and seaports for purposes of federal law.
1-11 SECTION 2. Section 201.601, Transportation Code, is amended
1-12 to read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 201.601. STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. (a) The
1-14 department shall develop a statewide transportation plan that meets
1-15 the requirements of 23 U.S.C. Section 135, as amended, and contains
1-16 all modes of transportation, including:
1-17 (1) highways, farm-to-market roads, and turnpikes;
1-18 (2) aviation;
1-19 (3) mass transportation;
1-20 (4) railroads [and high-speed railroads]; and
1-21 (5) water traffic.
1-22 (b) In addition to the planning factors outlined in the
1-23 statewide transportation plan described by Subsection (a) and any
1-24 applicable federal statutes and regulations, the department shall,
2-1 in developing the plan:
2-2 (1) seek written and oral comments from
2-3 representatives of the airline, maritime, shipping, and railroad
2-4 industries in this state;
2-5 (2) consider issues raised by staff or representatives
2-6 of the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, the
2-7 Center for Transportation Research at The University of Texas at
2-8 Austin, and any other transportation council, center, or
2-9 institution in this state;
2-10 (3) develop recommendations concerning linkages
2-11 between statewide transportation facilities and national and
2-12 international markets;
2-13 (4) develop recommendations concerning transportation
2-14 linkages between rural communities in this state and national and
2-15 international markets and between the border region and national
2-16 and international markets;
2-17 (5) develop strategies to make ports located on the
2-18 Gulf Coast of this state the ports of choice for commerce in the
2-19 United States;
2-20 (6) develop strategies to eliminate congestion at
2-21 international border crossings in this state;
2-22 (7) address and recommend means to facilitate access
2-23 to ports located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico; and
2-24 (8) address funding for the plan [In developing the
2-25 plan, the department shall seek opinions and assistance from other
2-26 state agencies and political subdivisions that have responsibility
2-27 for the modes of transportation listed by Subsection (a). As
3-1 appropriate, the department and such an agency or political
3-2 subdivision shall enter into a memorandum of understanding relating
3-3 to the planning of transportation services].
3-4 SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
3-5 is amended by adding Section 201.613 to read as follows:
3-6 Sec. 201.613. TRANSPORTATION PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)
3-7 In this section, "border region" has the meaning assigned by
3-8 Section 481.001, Government Code.
3-9 (b) The commission shall appoint a transportation plan
3-10 advisory committee to coordinate and oversee the development of the
3-11 statewide transportation plan required by Section 201.601. In
3-12 making appointments to the advisory committee, the commission shall
3-13 appoint members who represent transportation interests and who come
3-14 from different geographic regions of this state. At least one
3-15 member must be a resident of the border region.
3-16 (c) A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of
3-17 the commission.
3-18 (d) A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to
3-19 receive compensation for serving as a member but is entitled to
3-20 reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the member while
3-21 performing the member's duties on the advisory committee.
3-22 (e) Except as provided by this section, the advisory
3-23 committee is subject to Chapter 2110, Government Code.
3-24 SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2001, the Texas
3-25 Department of Transportation shall complete the plan required by
3-26 Section 201.601, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, and
3-27 submit the plan to the governor and legislature.
4-1 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
4-2 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
4-3 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.