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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the Texas Department of Transportation to |
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demonstrate that alternatives to toll roads have been considered. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.6041 to read as follows: |
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Before the department proceeds with a toll highway project, |
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the department must demonstrate to the legislature's satisfaction |
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that it conducted a full study of toll and non-tolled highway |
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alternatives, among other alternatives, in strict accord with |
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National Environment Policy Act (42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et seq.) |
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and implementing federal regulations, and with analysis of data and |
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information pursuant to the federal Data Quality Act (67 F.R. |
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8452). |
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SECTION 2. Prior to proceeding with a toll highway project, |
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the department must also demonstrate to the legislature's |
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satisfaction that it has afforded meaningful involvement to, and |
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given consideration to input from, local elected officials and the |
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public, and that the selected toll project is the most cost |
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effective and least environmentally harmful alternative. |