LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 29, 2001
TO: Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
Transportation
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB3597 by Capelo (Relating to the authority of a
municipality to alter speed limits.), As Introduced
**************************************************************************
* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB3597, 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 $(4,100,000) *
* 2003 (32,800) *
* 2004 (32,800) *
* 2005 (32,800) *
* 2006 (32,800) *
*****************************************************
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to allow the governing body
of a municipality to temporarily lower speed limits on the state highway
system within the boundaries of the municipality for sporting events or
other major attractions and it would require that these be designated by
the use of speed zone speed limit flashers. The bill would also prohibit
a municipality from establishing a speed limit in excess of 60 miles per
hour.
The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds
majority vote in both houses; otherwise, the bill would take effect
September 1, 2001.
Methodology
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) estimates that it would be
required to install, operate, and maintain signs for 328 temporary speed
limit zones in cities under 50,000 for a total cost of $4.1 million in
fiscal year 2002. TxDOT estimates that temporary speed zones would be
implemented by approximately 50 percent of cities with populations from
20,000 to 49,999 and by approximately 25 percent of cities with
populations from 10,000 to 19,999. For the purpose of this analysis, it
is assumed that 6 cities with populations from 40,000 to 49,999 would
implement 3 temporary speed zones; that 11 cities with populations from
30,000 to 39,999 would implement 2 temporary speed zones; and that 288
cities with populations from 10,000 to 29,999 would implement 1 temporary
speed zone. TxDOT estimates that each installation would include two
solar signs at $6,000 each and two static regulatory signs at $250 each.
TxDOT also estimates that ongoing maintenance and operations costs would
result in $32,800 ($100 per zone) being realized annually beginning in
fiscal year 2003.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
Source Agencies: 405 Texas Department of Public Safety, 601 Texas
Department of Transportation
LBB Staff: JK, JO, MW