By Keffer H.C.R. No. 33 77R2278 JLZ-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The safety of citizens across the state, and in 1-2 particular the safety of our children, is a matter of utmost 1-3 importance to Texans everywhere; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Transportation plays a 1-5 significant role in providing for the safety of citizens as they 1-6 travel on Texas highways, by authorizing, installing, and 1-7 maintaining traffic-control devices wherever such devices are 1-8 needed throughout the state highway system; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Although such devices generally serve to regulate 1-10 traffic and alert motorists and pedestrians to situations where 1-11 caution and care are necessary, the need for traffic-control 1-12 devices is especially critical along state highways and state-owned 1-13 rights-of-way in areas where significant numbers of schoolchildren 1-14 must travel on a daily basis, principally school zones adjacent to 1-15 or near school campuses; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Despite this critical need, undue delays in the 1-17 installation of traffic signals in school zones at or near newly 1-18 constructed school campuses and the absence of those devices even 1-19 in zones around some existing campuses have seriously jeopardized 1-20 the well-being of countless young schoolchildren as they travel to 1-21 and from school every day; and 1-22 WHEREAS, While the members of this Texas Legislature 1-23 recognize the widespread need for the installation of 1-24 traffic-control devices throughout the state's extensive highway 2-1 system, it is our fervent desire that the Texas Department of 2-2 Transportation give top priority to the authorization and 2-3 installation of such devices wherever a state highway passes 2-4 through or near a school zone in this state; now, therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-6 hereby express its support for the expedited installation of 2-7 traffic-control devices on state highways at or near school 2-8 campuses and encourage the Texas Department of Transportation and 2-9 the Texas Transportation Commission to implement appropriate 2-10 policies and procedures for the expedited installation of such 2-11 devices; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-13 copy of this resolution to the executive director of the Texas 2-14 Department of Transportation and to the chair of the Texas 2-15 Transportation Commission.