| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a prohibition on converting high occupancy vehicle |
|
|
highway lanes to tolled lanes. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 228.201, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 228.201. LIMITATION ON TOLL FACILITY DESIGNATION. |
|
|
[(a)] The department may not operate a nontolled state highway or a |
|
|
segment of a nontolled state highway as a toll project, and may not |
|
|
transfer a highway or segment to another entity for operation as a |
|
|
toll project, unless: |
|
|
(1) the commission by order designated the highway or |
|
|
segment as a toll project before the contract to construct the |
|
|
highway or segment was awarded; |
|
|
(2) the project was designated as a toll project in a |
|
|
plan or program of a metropolitan planning organization on or |
|
|
before September 1, 2005; |
|
|
(3) the highway or segment is reconstructed so that |
|
|
the number of nontolled lanes on the highway or segment is greater |
|
|
than or equal to the number in existence before the reconstruction; |
|
|
or |
|
|
(4) a facility is constructed adjacent to the highway |
|
|
or segment so that the number of nontolled lanes on the converted |
|
|
highway or segment and the adjacent facility together is greater |
|
|
than or equal to the number in existence on the converted highway or |
|
|
segment before the conversion[; or
|
|
|
[(5)
subject to Subsection (b), the highway or segment
|
|
|
was open to traffic as a high-occupancy vehicle lane on May 1,
|
|
|
2005]. |
|
|
[(b)
The department may operate or transfer a
|
|
|
high-occupancy vehicle lane under Subsection (a)(5) as a tolled
|
|
|
lane only if the department or other entity operating the lane
|
|
|
allows vehicles occupied by a specified number of passengers to use
|
|
|
the lane without paying a toll.] |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |