LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
April 6, 1999
TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on
State Affairs
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB1444 by Barrientos (Relating to noise abatement
measures on certain highways in this state.), As
Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* SB1444, As Introduced: positive impact of $0 through the biennium *
* ending August 31, 2001. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2000 $0 *
* 2001 0 *
* 2002 0 *
* 2003 0 *
* 2004 0 *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Cost from State Change in Number of State *
* Year Highway Fund Employees from FY 1999 *
* 0006 *
* 2000 $(240,558) 1.0 *
* 2001 (4,794,709) 26.0 *
* 2002 (4,694,709) 26.0 *
* 2003 (6,784,709) 26.0 *
* 2004 (6,784,709) 26.0 *
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Fiscal Analysis
The bill would require the Texas Department of Transportation, TxDot, to
develop and implement a statewide Type II Sound Noise Barrier Program in
Texas.
Methodology
TxDot estimates there are potentially 142 miles of Type II noise barrier
sites along existing highways statewide. TxDot assumed the average
construction cost of the barriers to be $1,000,000 per mile. The
department projected expenditures of $5,000,000 a year for the
construction of Type II projects starting in fiscal year 2003. At an
average length of 2,000 feet for existing noise barrier projects, the
department estimated that the total number of potential Type II projects
and associated traffic noise analyses would exceed 300 projects. The
department estimated that at least half (150) of the required traffic
noise analyses would be performed by consultants at an average cost of
$50,000 per analysis in fiscal years 2001 and 2002. The additional
analyses would require additional 25 FTE's from 2001 through the end of
the analysis. TxDot stated that the actual construction of Type II
noise barriers associated with a statewide program could not be applied
uniformly and consistently on a statewide basis until after the three
year survey and noise analyses were completed.
Local Government Impact
This bill may impact local governments who participate with TxDot in cost
sharing on Type II noise abatement projects.
Source Agencies:
LBB Staff: JK, SD, ML