SRC-AMY S.B. 514 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 514
78R5409 JRJ-DBy: Lindsay
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/5/2003
As Filed


DIGEST 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

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 545B, Transportation Code, by adding Section
545.0652, as follows: 

Sec. 545.0652.  COUNTY RESTRICTION ON USE OF HIGHWAY.  (a) Defines
"department" and "highway." 

(b) 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. 

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

(d) 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. 

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

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

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

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.