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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and operation of a motor-bus-only |
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lane pilot program in certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 455, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 455.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 455.006. MOTOR-BUS-ONLY LANE PILOT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety |
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and in conjunction with the appropriate mass transit authorities |
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and the municipalities served by those authorities, shall establish |
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and operate a motor-bus-only lane pilot program for highways in |
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Bexar, Denton, Travis, and Williamson Counties that are part of the |
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state highway system and have shoulders of sufficient width and |
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structural integrity. |
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(b) The program shall: |
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(1) provide for the use by motor buses of highway |
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shoulders as a low-speed bypass of congested highway lanes when the |
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speed of vehicles being operated on the main traveled part of the |
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adjacent highways is 35 miles per hour or less; |
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(2) limit the maximum speed of a motor bus being |
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operated on a motor-bus-only lane to 35 miles per hour; |
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(3) gain local operational experience with the |
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conversion of existing highway shoulders to motor-bus-only lanes |
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during peak traffic periods; and |
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(4) take into consideration the following: |
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(A) safety; |
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(B) travel time and reliability; |
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(C) driver and passenger perceptions; |
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(D) level of service and maintenance; and |
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(E) capital improvements. |
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(c) The department shall initiate the motor-bus-only lane |
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program as soon as practicable but not later than December 31, 2007. |
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(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department may not |
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establish or operate a motor-bus-only lane on a highway or toll |
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facility maintained by a regional tollway authority established |
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under Chapter 366 without the authority's consent. |
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SECTION 2. Section 542.002, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 542.002. GOVERNMENT VEHICLES. A provision of this |
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subtitle applicable to an operator of a vehicle applies to the |
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operator of a vehicle owned or operated by the United States, this |
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state, or a political subdivision of this state, except as |
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specifically provided otherwise by this subtitle [for an authorized
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emergency vehicle]. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (c), Section 545.058, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A limitation in this section on driving on an improved |
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shoulder does not apply to: |
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(1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a |
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call; |
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(2) a police patrol; [or] |
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(3) a bicycle; or |
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(4) a motor bus of a transportation entity described |
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by Section 455.006 operating on a shoulder designated by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation under that section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 545.352, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The maximum speed limit for a motor bus of a |
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transportation entity described by Section 455.006 that is |
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operating on the shoulder of a highway designated as a |
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motor-bus-only lane by the Texas Department of Transportation under |
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that section is 35 miles per hour. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |