84R7106 JRR-F
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 1919
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of the Texas Transportation Commission to
  establish variable speed limits.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 545.353, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  The commission, by order recorded in its minutes, may
  establish a variable speed limit program to allow the temporary
  lowering of a prima facie speed limit to address inclement weather,
  congestion, road construction, or any other condition that affects
  the safe and orderly movement of traffic on a roadway.  Notice of a
  speed limit established under the program may be displayed using a
  stationary or portable changeable message sign, as defined by
  Section 544.013.  A speed limit that is established under the
  program:
               (1)  must be based on an engineering and traffic
  investigation;
               (2)  may be effective for all or a designated portion of
  the highway and for any period of the day or night, as the
  department determines necessary; and
               (3)  is effective only when the speed limit is posted
  and only if a sign notifying motorists of the change in speed limit
  is posted at least 500 feet but not more than 1,000 feet before the
  point at which the speed limit begins.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.