LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 11, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable David Sibley, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Business & Commerce
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB681  by Shapleigh (Relating to use of intelligent
               transportation systems at certain transportation
               facilities.), As Introduced
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  SB681, 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                               $(500,000) *
         *      2003                            (130,000,000) *
         *      2004                             (13,000,000) *
         *      2005                             (13,000,000) *
         *      2006                             (13,000,000) *
         *****************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to
study the feasibility of using Intelligent Transportation Systems for
Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) at international bridges, other
appropriate locations at ports of entry from Mexico, and vehicle weight
facilities operated by the state. The bill would require the study to
include an analysis of the costs and benefits of using the systems,
including the costs of any necessary infrastructure improvements and
maintenance of the systems. The bill would require TxDOT to consult with
customs brokers, freight forwarders, and domestic and Mexican motor
carriers.

The bill would require TxDOT to implement the use of ITS/CVO to the
extent TxDOT considers appropriate based on the results of the study and
coordinate with transportation officials of other jurisdictions to
develop interoperability standards for the systems.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
TxDOT estimates conducting the feasibility study would cost $500,000.
TxDOT also estimates that 50 Weight-in-Motion Scales (WIMS) would be
installed with 22 of these being located at international border
crossings after the study was completed.  TxDOT estimates that each
installation would cost approximately $2.6 million and that all 50 WIMS
would be installed in fiscal year 2003.  TxDOT also estimates that
maintenance costs would be approximately $13,000,000 each year.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, RT, MW