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

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Governor