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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade |
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separation projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 471, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 471.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 471.010. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RAILROAD GRADE |
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SEPARATION PROJECTS. (a) For the purpose of increasing public |
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safety, enhancing economic development, and reducing traffic, the |
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department shall establish and administer a program to award grants |
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to political subdivisions of this state to fund: |
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(1) rail-roadway grade separation projects that are |
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located at intersections of railroads and public roadways that are |
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not part of the state highway system; and |
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(2) rail-pedestrian grade separation projects that |
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are located at intersections of railroads and public pedestrian |
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crossings. |
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(b) Each grant awarded under this section must be approved |
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by the commission. The commission may not approve a grant under |
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this section unless the commission determines that at least 10 |
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percent of the total project costs will be provided by a source |
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other than the state. |
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(c) The department may fund the grant program under this |
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section only from money appropriated by the legislature for that |
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purpose and from gifts and grants, including grants from the |
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federal government. The department may solicit and accept gifts |
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and grants from any source for the purposes of this section. Money |
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deposited to the credit of the state highway fund may not be used to |
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fund a grant awarded under this section. |
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(d) A political subdivision that receives a grant under this |
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section shall designate the department to manage contracting for, |
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in accordance with Subchapter A, Chapter 223, and supervision of |
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the planning and construction of a project for which the grant was |
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awarded. A political subdivision shall enter into an agreement |
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with the department prescribing the terms of a designation under |
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this subsection in accordance with applicable state or federal law. |
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The department, acting as the designee of a political subdivision |
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under this section, shall make each contract in accordance with the |
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law governing the making of contracts by or on behalf of the state. |
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(e) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the Texas |
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Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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471.010, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |