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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to planning for equity of access to and safety and |
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diversity of transportation systems. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 201.601(a), (a-1), and (c), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall develop a statewide transportation |
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plan covering a period of 24 years that contains safe options for |
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all modes of transportation, including: |
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(1) walking, by pedestrians of all ages and abilities; |
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(2) bicycling; |
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(3) highways and turnpikes; |
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(4) [(2)] aviation; |
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(5) [(3)] mass transportation; |
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(6) [(4)] railroads and high-speed railroads; and |
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(7) [(5)] water traffic. |
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(a-1) The plan must: |
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(1) contain specific and clearly defined |
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transportation system strategies, long-term transportation goals |
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for the state and measurable targets for each goal, and other |
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related performance measures; |
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(2) identify priority corridors, projects, or areas of |
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the state that are of particular concern to the department in |
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meeting the goals established under Subdivision (1); [and] |
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(3) contain a participation plan specifying methods |
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for obtaining formal input on the goals and priorities identified |
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under this subsection from: |
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(A) other state agencies; |
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(B) political subdivisions; |
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(C) local transportation entities; and |
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(D) the general public; |
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(4) use methodologies to plan for equitable access to |
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transportation systems by all area residents; and |
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(5) consider alternative design and investment |
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options, alternative growth forecasts, and robust alternative |
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travel demand models that will ensure equity among the area's |
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residents. |
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(c) The plan must include a component that is not |
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financially constrained and identifies transportation improvements |
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designed to relieve congestion, end traffic deaths, and increase |
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safe and fast transportation access by all modes of |
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transportation. In developing this component of the plan, the |
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department shall seek opinions and assistance from officials who |
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have local responsibility for modes of transportation listed in |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 201.620, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.620. COORDINATION WITH METROPOLITAN PLANNING |
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ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS. (a) The |
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department shall collaborate with metropolitan planning |
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organizations to develop mutually acceptable assumptions for the |
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purposes of long-range federal and state funding forecasts and use |
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those assumptions to guide long-term planning in the statewide |
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transportation plan under Section 201.601. |
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(b) The assumptions under Subsection (a) must be developed: |
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(1) through a public process; |
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(2) using methodologies to plan for equitable access |
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to transportation systems by all area residents; and |
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(3) using a range of reasonable alternative future |
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population and job growth scenarios and travel demand models. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |