AN ACT
1-1 relating to agreements by and the authority of regional tollway
1-2 authorities.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
1-5 is amended by adding Section 201.113 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 201.113. AGREEMENTS WITH REGIONAL TOLLWAY AUTHORITIES.
1-7 (a) Notwithstanding Sections 221.003 and 224.031, the commission
1-8 and a regional tollway authority governed by Chapter 366 may enter
1-9 into an agreement for the improvement by a regional tollway
1-10 authority of portions of the state highway system.
1-11 (b) In this section, "improvement" means construction,
1-12 reconstruction, maintenance, and the making of a necessary plan or
1-13 survey before beginning construction, reconstruction, or
1-14 maintenance and includes a project or activity appurtenant to a
1-15 state highway, including drainage facilities, surveying, traffic
1-16 counts, driveways, landscaping, lights, or guardrails.
1-17 SECTION 2. Subchapter I, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
1-18 is amended by adding Section 201.707 to read as follows:
1-19 Sec. 201.707. AGREEMENTS FOR SERVICES ON REGIONAL TOLLWAY
1-20 AUTHORITY PROJECTS. Notwithstanding Section 201.703(c), the
1-21 department and a regional tollway authority governed by Chapter 366
1-22 may enter into an agreement for the provision by the department,
1-23 for fair and reasonable compensation, of services on the regional
1-24 tollway authority's turnpike projects, including but not limited to
2-1 courtesy patrols.
2-2 SECTION 3. The section heading and Subsection (a), Section
2-3 545.354, Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
2-4 Sec. 545.354. AUTHORITY OF TEXAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY AND
2-5 REGIONAL TOLLWAY AUTHORITIES TO ALTER SPEED LIMITS ON TURNPIKE
2-6 PROJECTS. (a)(1) In this section, "authority" means the Texas
2-7 Turnpike Authority or a regional tollway authority governed by
2-8 Chapter 366.
2-9 (2) If an authority [the Texas Turnpike Authority]
2-10 determines from the results of an engineering and traffic
2-11 investigation that a prima facie speed limit described in this
2-12 subchapter is unreasonable or unsafe on a part of a turnpike
2-13 constructed and maintained by the authority, the authority by order
2-14 recorded in its minutes shall determine and declare a reasonable
2-15 and safe prima facie speed limit for vehicles or classes of
2-16 vehicles on the turnpike.
2-17 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-18 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 537 passed the Senate on
March 18, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 537 passed the House on
May 19, 1999, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor