LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 17, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
               Transportation
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1492  by Hardcastle (Relating to painting, marking, and
               lighting requirements for certain antenna structures.),
               As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1492, As Introduced:  positive impact of $0 through the biennium    *
*  ending August 31, 2003.                                               *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                                   $0  *
          *       2003                                    0  *
          *       2004                                    0  *
          *       2005                                    0  *
          *       2006                                    0  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
         *****************************************************
         * Fiscal Year   Probable Savings/(Cost) from State   *
         *                          Highway Fund              *
         *                              0006                  *
         *      2002                             $(2,775,000) *
         *      2003                                        0 *
         *      2004                                        0 *
         *      2005                                        0 *
         *      2006                                        0 *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the department to
adopt rules for marking antenna structures between 50 feet and 200 feet
in height above ground level.
  
  
Methodology
  
TxDOT estimates having approximately 370 radio towers falling into the
height range covered by the bill and the cost for marking these towers
with an industry standard dual lighting system would be $7,500 per
tower.   This system includes medium intensity strobe for daytime and
red beacon/strobe for night.  TxDOT estimates that a one time cost of
$2,775,000 would be realized with the implementation of the bill.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
Although local units of government would realize similar costs of $7,500
per tower to mark towers in the height range required by the bill, no
significant fiscal implication is anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, RT, MW