BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 735

80R3990 JTS-D                                                                                                                  By: Hegar

Transportation & Homeland Security

3/9/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is authorized to convert frontage roads from two-way movement of traffic to one-way movement of traffic even if the local commissioners court objects to such a conversion.  Such a conversion can result in significant forced diversions.

As proposed, S.B. 735 prohibits TxDOT from converting a frontage road from two-way movement of traffic to one-way movement of traffic if the commissioners court of the county in which the frontage road is located adopts a motion or order objecting to the conversion and files such with the district engineer.

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 Subchapter C, Chapter 203, Transportation Code, by adding Section 203.035, as follows:

Sec. 203.035.  CONVERSION OF TWO-WAY FRONTAGE ROAD TO ONE-WAY FRONTAGE ROAD.  Prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from converting a frontage road that provides for two-way movement of traffic to a frontage road that provides for one-way movement of traffic if the commissioners court of the county in which the frontage road is located adopts a motion or order objecting to the conversion and files a copy of the motion or order with the district engineer for the applicable TxDOT district, notwithstanding Section 203.003 (Jurisdiction).

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2007.