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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on converting certain segments or lanes |
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of a state highway to toll projects or managed lanes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 224, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 224.1525 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 224.1525. LIMITATION ON MANAGED LANES. (a) In this |
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section, "managed lane" means a lane of a highway the use of which |
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is restricted to increase the efficiency of the highway. The term |
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includes exclusive lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes, and toll |
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lanes. |
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(b) The department may not: |
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(1) operate an unrestricted lane of a state highway as |
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a managed lane, and may not transfer an unrestricted lane to another |
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entity for operation as a managed lane; or |
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(2) operate a managed lane other than a tolled lane of |
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a state highway as a toll lane, and may not transfer a managed lane |
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other than a tolled lane to another entity for operation as a toll |
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lane. |
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SECTION 2. Section 228.201, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 228.201. LIMITATION ON TOLL FACILITY DESIGNATION. |
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[(a)] The department may not operate a nontolled state highway or a |
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segment of a nontolled state highway as a toll project, and may not |
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transfer a nontolled highway or segment to another entity for |
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operation as a toll project[, unless:
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[(1)
the commission by order designated the highway or
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segment as a toll project before the contract to construct the
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highway or segment was awarded;
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[(2)
the project was designated as a toll project in a
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plan or program of a metropolitan planning organization on or
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before September 1, 2005;
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[(3)
the highway or segment is reconstructed so that
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the number of nontolled lanes on the highway or segment is greater
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than or equal to the number in existence before the reconstruction;
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[(4)
a facility is constructed adjacent to the highway
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or segment so that the number of nontolled lanes on the converted
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highway or segment and the adjacent facility together is greater
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than or equal to the number in existence on the converted highway or
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segment before the conversion; or
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[(5)
subject to Subsection (b), the highway or segment
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was open to traffic as a high-occupancy vehicle lane on May 1,
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2005]. |
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[(b)
The department may operate or transfer a
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high-occupancy vehicle lane under Subsection (a)(5) as a tolled
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lane only if the department or other entity operating the lane
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allows vehicles occupied by a specified number of passengers to use
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the lane without paying a toll.] |
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SECTION 3. Sections 228.204 and 228.206, Transportation |
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Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |