By: Ogden S.B. No. 586
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the creation of the Center for Transportation Safety as
1-3 part of the Texas Transportation Institute.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. The legislature finds that:
1-6 (1) in 1998, over 3,500 people died on Texas roads,
1-7 and the economic loss associated with traffic crashes in Texas in
1-8 that year was nearly $9 billion;
1-9 (2) in 1999, there were 3,106 fatal traffic accidents
1-10 that resulted in 3,519 deaths;
1-11 (3) deaths in rural areas of Texas, which are areas
1-12 that include towns with a population of less than 5,000, increased
1-13 by 1.4 percent over the number of deaths in 1998. These deaths
1-14 constitute 59.6 percent of the statewide death toll, as compared to
1-15 58 percent of all of the state's traffic deaths in 1998. The death
1-16 toll on rural interstates increased by 2.5 percent, from 238 in
1-17 1998 to 244 in 1999;
1-18 (4) there were no days in 1998 or 1999 during which
1-19 there were no deaths on Texas highways;
1-20 (5) as vehicle miles of travel continue to increase at
1-21 a much more rapid rate than does new roadway capacity, roadway
1-22 safety will become an even more serious issue in the years to come;
1-23 (6) although significant progress has been made over
1-24 the past two decades in reducing fatalities per vehicle mile
1-25 traveled, the absolute number of fatalities has remained at an
2-1 unacceptable level;
2-2 (7) for many years the topic of roadway safety has not
2-3 been a priority for research and education, resulting in a shortage
2-4 of educated professionals, poor and incomplete databases, and the
2-5 inadequate advancement of the state of the practice;
2-6 (8) new technologies and systems are on the horizon
2-7 that, with research and implementation, can effect major
2-8 improvements in roadway safety; and
2-9 (9) for these reasons the state must focus not only on
2-10 transportation issues of adding capacity and economic development,
2-11 but on issues of public health and safety.
2-12 SECTION 2. Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding
2-13 Subchapter J to read as follows:
2-14 SUBCHAPTER J. CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION SAFETY
2-15 Sec. 88.801. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
2-16 (1) "Center" means the Center for Transportation
2-17 Safety.
2-18 (2) "Institute" means the Texas Transportation
2-19 Institute, a component of The Texas A&M University System.
2-20 Sec. 88.802. ESTABLISHMENT. The Center for Transportation
2-21 Safety is established as a component of the institute and shall be
2-22 administered in the same manner as other programs of the institute.
2-23 Sec. 88.803. PROGRAMS. (a) The center shall conduct
2-24 programs of research, education, and technology transfer to support
2-25 the state's role in improving the safety of the roadways in this
2-26 state.
3-1 (b) The programs may include, but are not limited to:
3-2 (1) developing and testing roadway safety technologies
3-3 and supporting their implementation;
3-4 (2) aiding transportation planners to better prepare
3-5 for future roadway transportation needs;
3-6 (3) studying complex policy issues and providing input
3-7 as to how roadway safety affects such issues and affects roadway
3-8 transportation for sustainable development;
3-9 (4) conducting research and studies that foster
3-10 productivity and competitiveness in the roadway safety industry;
3-11 (5) fostering public awareness of the importance of
3-12 roadway safety to the economy of this state;
3-13 (6) transferring knowledge and technology to industry,
3-14 state and local governments, and the public;
3-15 (7) establishing programs and partnerships with public
3-16 or private entities to develop and implement new policies,
3-17 technology, strategies, relationships, and sources of funding;
3-18 (8) studying environmental conflicts, complements, and
3-19 risks associated with roadway transportation;
3-20 (9) engaging in other activities consistent with the
3-21 purpose of the center; and
3-22 (10) other activities as determined by the board.
3-23 Sec. 88.804. CONTRACTS. The center may enter into
3-24 interagency contracts and agreements and may contract with local,
3-25 state, county, federal, and private entities for work under the
3-26 center's programs.
4-1 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
4-2 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
4-3 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
4-4 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
4-5 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.