| TO: | Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3771 by Harper-Brown (Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to adopt safety standards for high-speed rail.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), upon application by a railroad company, to adopt safety standards for high-speed passenger rail rolling stock and systems that operate at speeds in excess of 185 miles per hour for that railroad. A railroad company would not need to seek approval of safety standards from TxDOT if the railroad is operating under standards approved by the Federal Rail Adminsitration. The bill would require TxDOT to impose a reasonable fee on a railroad company that submits an application to cover all costs to administer the provisions of the bill.
Based on information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed the agency would adopt fees to be assessed with the application from a railroad company in an amount that would be sufficient to cover the agency's costs of evaluating safety standards and adopting rules as provided by the bill. TxDOT does not anticipate receiving applications from railroads in Texas for the adoption of safety standards as authorized by the bill during the next five fiscal years. Based on the analsysis of TxDOT, it is assumed the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant fiscal impact to the state.
| Source Agencies: | 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, KJG, TG
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