H.B. No. 1079
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation of the
  Ports-to-Plains Corridor, including an evaluation of the
  feasibility of certain improvements to Interstate Highway 27.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this Act:
               (1)  "Advisory committee" means the Ports-to-Plains
  Advisory Committee established under this section.
               (2)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
  Transportation.
               (3)  "Improvement" has the meaning assigned by Section
  221.001, Transportation Code.
               (4)  "Port of entry" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 621.001, Transportation Code.
               (5)  "Ports-to-Plains Corridor" means the highways
  designated as the Ports-to-Plains Corridor under Section 225.069,
  Transportation Code.
         (b)  The department shall conduct a comprehensive study of
  the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. The study must evaluate the
  feasibility of, and the costs and logistical matters associated
  with, improvements that create a continuous flow, four-lane divided
  highway that meets interstate highway standards to the extent
  possible, including improvements that:
               (1)  extend Interstate Highway 27:
                     (A)  from its southern terminus to Interstate
  Highway 20;
                     (B)  from Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate
  Highway 10; and
                     (C)  from Interstate Highway 10 to the port of
  entry located in Laredo;
               (2)  extend Interstate Highway 27:
                     (A)  from its northern terminus to Dumas;
                     (B)  from Dumas to Stratford; and
                     (C)  from Stratford to the Oklahoma state border;
  and
               (3)  extend Interstate Highway 27:
                     (A)  from its northern terminus to Dumas;
                     (B)  from Dumas to Dalhart; and
                     (C)  from Dalhart to the New Mexico state border.
         (c)  In conducting the study under Subsection (b) of this
  section, the department shall:
               (1)  use the reports submitted to the department by the
  advisory committee under Subsection (j) of this section; and
               (2)  hold quarterly public meetings on a rotational
  basis in Amarillo, Laredo, Lubbock, and San Angelo to gather public
  feedback on improvements or expansions to the Ports-to-Plains
  Corridor.
         (d)  The department shall establish a Ports-to-Plains
  Advisory Committee to assist the department in conducting the study
  under Subsection (b) of this section.
         (e)  The advisory committee is composed of:
               (1)  the county judge, or an elected county official or
  the administrator of the county's road department, as designated by
  the county judge, of each county along the Ports-to-Plains
  Corridor, including the counties along the possible extensions of
  Interstate Highway 27 described by Subsection (b) of this section;
  and
               (2)  the mayor, or the city manager or assistant city
  manager, as designated by the mayor, of Amarillo, Big Spring,
  Carrizo Springs, Dalhart, Del Rio, Dumas, Eagle Pass, Eldorado,
  Lamesa, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Sonora,
  Sterling City, Stratford, and Tahoka.
         (f)  The advisory committee shall meet at least twice each
  year on a rotational basis in Lubbock and San Angelo.
         (g)  The department, in conjunction with the advisory
  committee, shall establish segment committees for each geographic
  segment along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as determined by the
  department. The segment committees are composed of:
               (1)  volunteers who may represent:
                     (A)  municipalities, counties, metropolitan
  planning organizations, ports, chambers of commerce, and economic
  development organizations along that segment of the
  Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
                     (B)  the oil and gas industry; and
                     (C)  the trucking industry;
               (2)  department representatives; and
               (3)  any other interested parties.
         (h)  A segment committee established under Subsection (g) of
  this section for a segment along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor shall
  submit a report to the advisory committee providing input for the
  study conducted by the department under Subsection (b) of this
  section.  The report must include:
               (1)  an examination of the ability of the energy
  industry to transport products to market;
               (2)  an evaluation of the economic development impacts
  of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, including whether the improvement
  or expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor would create
  employment opportunities in this state;
               (3)  a determination of whether improvements or
  expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor would relieve traffic
  congestion in the segment;
               (4)  an examination of freight movement along the
  Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
               (5)  a determination and prioritization of
  improvements and expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor that are
  warranted in order to promote safety and mobility, while maximizing
  the use of existing highways to the greatest extent possible and
  striving to protect private property as much as possible;
               (6)  a determination of the areas that are preferable
  and suitable for interstate designation;
               (7)  an examination of project costs related to the
  improvement or expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor; and
               (8)  an assessment of federal, state, local, and
  private funding sources for a project improving or expanding the
  Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
         (i)  Not later than June 30, 2020, each segment committee
  established under Subsection (g) of this section shall submit to
  the advisory committee the report described by Subsection (h) of
  this section, including priority recommendations for improvement
  and expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
         (j)  Not later than October 31, 2020, the advisory committee
  shall review and compile the reports submitted by each segment
  committee under Subsection (i) of this section and submit to the
  department:
               (1)  the reports submitted by each segment committee;
  and
               (2)  a summary and any recommendations based on those
  reports.
         (k)  The advisory committee and each segment committee shall
  conduct extensive public involvement campaigns for feedback on
  preliminary recommendations made by the committees before
  submitting the reports under Subsections (i) and (j) of this
  section.
         (l)  Not later than January 1, 2021, the department shall
  submit a report on the results of the study conducted under
  Subsection (b) of this section to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
  presiding officer of each standing committee of the legislature
  with jurisdiction over transportation matters.
         (m)  This Act expires August 31, 2021.
         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, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1079 was passed by the House on April
  24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1079 on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 126, Nays 16,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1079 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 15, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor