BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1264

By: Corte

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For those living in residential areas near railroad tracks, the sound of train horns at each intersection can be heard throughout the day and night. The Federal Railroad Administration has created quiet zones as a remedy for communities that wish to silence this noise. A quiet zone is a series of one or more rail or street intersections that have been modified to be safe enough that the possibility of a collision has been reduced to a point where the trains no longer have to sound their horns.

H.B. 1264 allows certain Type A general-law municipalities to enter into interlocal contracts with surrounding municipalities and expend funds for the establishment of railroad quiet zones.

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

H.B. 1264 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the governing body of a general-law municipality to enter into an interlocal contract with the surrounding municipality for the establishment of a railroad quiet zone located outside the boundaries of the general-law municipality that the governing body determines will benefit the general-law municipality. The bill authorizes a general-law municipality to expend municipal funds and issue certificates of obligation or bonds to pay for expenses associated with such a railroad quiet zone, including expenses related to feasibility, engineering, and traffic studies and improvements related to the railroad quiet zone. The bills makes its provisions applicable only to a Type A general-law municipality that is an enclave surrounded entirely by a municipality with a population of 1.1 million or more.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.