| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade |
|
|
separation projects. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 471, Transportation Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 471.010 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 471.010. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RAILROAD GRADE |
|
|
SEPARATION PROJECTS. (a) For the purpose of increasing public |
|
|
safety, enhancing economic development, and reducing traffic, the |
|
|
department shall establish and administer a program to award grants |
|
|
to political subdivisions of this state or railroad companies to |
|
|
fund: |
|
|
(1) rail-roadway grade separation projects that are |
|
|
located at intersections of railroads and roadways that are not |
|
|
part of the state highway system; and |
|
|
(2) rail-pedestrian grade separation projects that |
|
|
are located at intersections of railroads and pedestrian crossings. |
|
|
(b) A political subdivision or railroad company may use |
|
|
money awarded by the department under this section as matching |
|
|
funds to secure additional funding for a grade separation project |
|
|
described by Subsection (a). |
|
|
(c) Each grant awarded under this section must be approved |
|
|
by the commission. The commission may not approve a grant under |
|
|
this section unless the commission determines that: |
|
|
(1) at least 10 percent of the total project costs will |
|
|
be provided by a source other than the state; or |
|
|
(2) if the grant money is being used as matching funds |
|
|
under Subsection (b), at least 10 percent of the amount used as |
|
|
matching funds will be provided by a source other than the state. |
|
|
(d) The department may fund the grant program under this |
|
|
section only from money appropriated by the legislature for that |
|
|
purpose and from gifts and grants, including grants from the |
|
|
federal government. The department may solicit and accept gifts |
|
|
and grants from any source for the purposes of this section. Money |
|
|
deposited to the credit of the state highway fund may not be used to |
|
|
fund a grant awarded under this section. |
|
|
(e) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
|
|
implement this section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the Texas |
|
|
Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
|
|
471.010, Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2025. |