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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Texas Transportation Commission to |
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establish variable speed limits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 545.353, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) The commission, by order recorded in its minutes, may |
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establish a variable speed limit program to allow the temporary |
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lowering of a prima facie speed limit to address inclement weather, |
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congestion, road construction, or any other condition that affects |
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the safe and orderly movement of traffic on a roadway. Notice of a |
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speed limit established under the program may be displayed using a |
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stationary or portable changeable message sign, as defined by |
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Section 544.013. A speed limit that is established under the |
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program: |
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(1) must be based on an engineering and traffic |
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investigation; |
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(2) may be effective for all or a designated portion of |
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the highway and for any period of the day or night, as the |
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department determines necessary; and |
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(3) is effective only when the speed limit is posted |
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and only if a sign notifying motorists of the change in speed limit |
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is posted at least 500 feet but not more than 1,000 feet before the |
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point at which the speed limit begins. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |