BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3269

By: Callegari

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Poor traffic signal timing has been identified as a serious contributor to traffic delays on major roadways, resulting in a variety of negative consequences such as wasted time, wasted fuel, and risky driving behavior. Some Texas cities have already sought to improve their traffic signal operations and have seen measurable results, which together with broader studies indicate that better traffic signal management can result in considerable improvements to mobility and reductions in fuel consumption and travel time.  C.S.H.B. 3269 seeks to encourage traffic signal efficiency as a matter of state policy.

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

C.S.H.B. 3269 amends the Health and Safety Code to include traffic-control signalization technologies and programs among the projects toward which grants awarded under the new technology research and development program administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are required to be directed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3269 omits provisions included in the original requiring the Department of Public Safety to conduct a study regarding improvement of traffic-control signalization.