S.B. 514 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 514
By: Lindsay
Transportation
 Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a municipality is authorized to restrict  vehicles, by class,
to designated lanes of the municipality's highway.  Houston's application
of this policy has reduced traffic accidents by 68 percent and encouraged
other municipalities to adopt the policy.  However, current law does not
apply to highways outside a municipality's jurisdiction, preventing
counties from taking advantage of a policy that could significantly reduce
traffic accidents.  

As proposed, S.B. 514 authorizes a commissioners court to restrict, by
class of vehicle, through traffic to two or more designated lanes on a
county highway. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SB 514 amends Subchapter B, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, by adding
Section 545.0652, as follows: 

Defines "department" and "highway."

Authorizes a county commissioners court to restrict through traffic, by
vehicle class, to two or more lanes on a highway in the county and outside
municipal jurisdiction. 

Requires an order under Subsection (b) to allow a restricted vehicle
unrestricted lane access to pass traffic and enter and exit the highway. 

Requires the commissioners court to submit the restriction description to
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) prior to issuing an order.
Prohibits the commissioners court from enforcing the restriction unless
certain criteria are met. 

Requires TxDOT to approve restrictions in a systematic fashion that
prevents inconsistent designated lane restrictions among adjacent counties
or municipalities, as much as practicable. 

Authorizes TxDOT's executive director, or the executive director's
designee, to suspend or rescind approval under this section under certain
circumstances. 

Requires TxDOT to erect and maintain traffic-control devices necessary to
implement and enforce an order under this section. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.