Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1489 by Watson (Relating to the powers and jurisdiction of a regional mobility authority.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend Chapter 370 of the Transportation Code to expand the definition of a transportation project under this section to include a bridge, border crossing inspection station located at or near specified border crossings; or port security, transportation, or facility projects eligible for funding under Chapter 55 of this code.
The bill would authorize a Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) to acquire, plan, design, construct, maintain, repair, or operate a transportation project on behalf of another governmental entity, if the project is located in the RMA's jurisdiction; the project is being acquired or maintained on behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or another toll project entity; or for a project that TxDOT approved.
The bill would authorize an RMA to study, evaluate, design, finance, acquire, construct, operate, maintain, repair, expand, or extend a transportation project of the RMA in any county that is not part of the RMA under an agreement between the RMA and the county. Under current statute, an RMA's authority to construct a project outside its boundaries is limited to a project in a county that is a continuation of a project located within the boundaries of the RMA.
The bill would provide an RMA with the authority to construct and operate projects, including toll projects, in any area of the state subject to entering into an agreement with the county in which the project is located, with TxDOT or another governmental entity on whose behalf the project is constructed and/or operated.
The bill would establish that a border inspection facility could be used solely to conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
TxDOT indicated no significant fiscal impact on the agency or on the operations of TxDOT is anticipated. DPS indicated no fiscal impact to the department is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 601 Department of Transportation