78R5979 RVH-D

By:  Coleman                                                    H.C.R. No. 95 



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Green Ribbon Project, pioneered in the Texas 
Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) Houston District, is a 
public-private partnership to enhance the appearance of the 
landscape along our public highways in urban areas by planting 
trees, shrubs, and other vegetation native to Texas or adaptable to 
its climate; by considering local historical, social, and 
environmental characteristics; and by incorporating public art; 
and
	WHEREAS, Rider 57, page VII-35, Chapter 1515, Acts of the 
77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001 (the General 
Appropriations Act), states that it is the intent of the 
legislature that TxDOT expand the Green Ribbon Project to other 
areas of the state; and
	WHEREAS, Rules later adopted by the Texas Transportation 
Commission and published in the Texas Administrative Code apply the 
project's principles statewide by requiring each of the 25 
transportation districts to establish a Green Ribbon Master Plan 
that includes each city with a population greater than 100,000 and 
to consider that master plan when planning and designing all 
transportation projects; and
	WHEREAS, In the case of a contract for an urban highway 
transportation project that is located in a nonattainment area or 
near nonattainment areas--as it relates to air quality--Rider 57 
requires TxDOT to allocate to the transportation district an amount 
equal to not less than one-half of one percent and not more than one 
percent of the amount to be spent under the contract for the 
project, with at least half of the allocation to be used for the 
planting of trees and other vegetation that help mitigate the 
effects of air pollution; and
	WHEREAS, A transportation district may spend funds allocated 
for a Green Ribbon Project that are not used for the landscaping 
improvements associated with a transportation project on 
landscaping improvements along another urban highway located in the 
same district; and
	WHEREAS, Additionally, if two or more transportation 
districts share an allocation, Rider 57 requires the districts to 
divide the allocation according to the portion of the amount under 
the contract that will be spent in each district; and
	WHEREAS, The environmental and aesthetic treatment of the 
landscape along our state's highways has a history that dates back 
to the 1920s when trees and shrubs were routinely salvaged and 
replanted during highway construction and when bluebonnets were 
sown to both control soil erosion and add aesthetics as an element 
in highway project planning; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby direct the Texas Department of Transportation to expand the 
Green Ribbon Project statewide, according to the requirements of 
Rider 57 and department rules in the Texas Administrative Code, to 
enhance the appearance of the landscape along our urban public 
highways; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an 
official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the 
Texas Department of Transportation.