| TO: | Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Transportation |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB13 by Leibowitz (Relating to the operation of a state highway or segment of a state highway as a toll project.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to specify that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) may not operate a state highway or segment of state highway as a toll facility unless (1) the project was open to traffic as a turnpike project on or before September 1, 2005; (2) the project was designated as a toll project when the project was initially described in a plan or program for roads released or disclosed to the public by a metropolitan planning organization or TxDOT, if the proposed toll project is not located in the territory of a metropolitan planning organization; or (3) the Texas Transportation Commission converts the highway to a toll project through the determination and voter approval process prescribed under current law.
TxDOT indicates that the provisions of the bill would limit the authority to increase traffic capacity on the state highway system through the use of tolled lanes or facilities. Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed the agency would utilize other existing funds and financing methods for the construction of any currently planned toll projects that would not be authorized under the provisions of the bill.
| Source Agencies: | 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, TG
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