AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 792 enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, established a comprehensive development agreement (CDA) sunset date of August 31, 2009, and exempted certain projects until August 31, 2011.  The North Tarrant Express (NTE) is one of the exempted projects.

 

The NTE project covers 36.3 miles of existing interstate and state highways in northern Tarrant County.  The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has entered into a CDA to design, develop, finance, construct, maintain, and operate the NTE project.  Segments 1 and 2W of the project are under construction.  The purpose of C.S.S.B. 1017 is to ensure that TxDOT has clear authority to use CDA procurement to complete the remaining five segments of the project.

 

C.S.S.B. 1017 would extend limited CDA authority for the NTE project, currently the eighth most congested highway corridor in the state.  The NTE project is essential to the mobility and economic growth in what is now the fastest-growing region in the United States.

 

C.S.S.B. 1017 amends current law relating to certain comprehensive development agreements of the Texas Department of Transportation.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 223, Transportation Code, by adding Section 223.2011, as follows:

 

Sec. 223.2011.  LIMITED AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS USING COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.  Authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), notwithstanding Sections 223.201(f) (relating to TxDOT's authority to enter into a comprehensive development agreement with a private entity provided by this section expiring August 31, 2009, except as provided by Subsections (h) and (i)) and (i) (relating to the authority to enter into a comprehensive development agreement for a project exempted from Subsection (f) or Section 223.210(b) expiring August 31, 2011), to enter into a comprehensive development agreement relating to the following segments of the North Tarrant Express Project:

 

(1) on State Highway 183 from State Highway 121 to State Highway 161 (Segment 2E);

 

(2) on Interstate Highway 35W from Interstate Highway 30 to State Highway 114 (Segments 3A, 3B, and 3C); and

 

(3) on Interstate Highway 820 from State Highway 183 North to south of Randol Mill Road (Segment 4).

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2011.