HBA-NRS H.B. 2171 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2171 By: Elkins Transportation 4/23/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Houston is the only major city in the United States that has enclosed high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV). The current system in Houston only moves traffic one way for a certain period time. HOV lanes require the space of two lanes, but offer only one lane of travel. Many other cities use what is known as a diamond lane system. The diamond lane system allows the HOV lane to be available, allows buses to have a dedicated lane to travel, and allows access on and off the HOV lane 24 hours a day. House Bill 2171 provides that the diamond lane system must be used for HOV lanes constructed in Texas after September 1, 2001. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Department of Transportation in SECTION 2 of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2171 amends the Transportation Code to provide that a high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) must be designated, constructed, operated, and maintained so as to allow vehicles to move freely between the HOV lane and adjacent lanes of the highway. The bill does not prohibit the erection of a barrier between lanes for traffic moving in opposite directions. The bill applies only to an HOV lane initially constructed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or designated by the Texas Transportation Commission after September 1, 2001. The bill requires TxDOT to adopt the rules necessary to implement provisions relating to HOV lanes not later than December 31, 2001. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.