LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
February 25, 2009

TO:
Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB434 by Wentworth (Relating to the establishment and operation of a motor-bus-only lane pilot program in certain counties.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require the Texas Department of Transportation  (TxDOT), in consultation with the Department of Public Safety and in conjunction with certain mass transit authorities and municipalities, to establish and operate a motor bus-only lane pilot program for highways in Bexar, Denton, El Paso, Travis, and Williamson Counties that are part of the state highway system and have shoulders of sufficient width and structural integrity to provide for this use by motor buses of highway shoulders as a low-speed bypass of congested highway lanes.  The bill would prohibit the establishment of motor-bus only lanes on certain highways and toll facilities.

Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed any costs and duties associated with implementing the
provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to
each house or otherwise on September 1, 2009.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
601 Department of Transportation
LBB Staff:
JOB, KJG, MW, TG, TP