2005.05.23

Both houses of the Texas legislature have passed HB2702 which refines the law on tollroads in the state with as many projects under consideration as in the rest of the country put together. Important sections of the new law provide for:

• a popular vote on conversion of state highways to toll roads

• use of toll surpluses or toll concession fees limited to the district in which they are raised

• limit commercial developments along Trans Texas Corridors (TTCs)

• TTCs to have interchanges with most intersecting roads

• 50 year limit on toll concessions

Gobbledegook Texas-style

At least one part of the bill is incomprehensible - to this non-Texan at least.

Consider this brilliant bit of legislative analysis: "SECTION 7. Amends Section 201.943, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (l), to prohibit obligations from being issued if the commission or department requires that toll roads be included in a regional mobility plan in order for a local authority to receive an allocation from the Texas Mobility Fund (fund), except that bond proceeds deposited in the fund and other money in the fund is authorized to be spent in the eight metropolitan areas, as identified in the department's transportation strategic plan and uniform transportation plan, regardless of whether the regional mobility plan includes toll roads."

TOLLROADSnews 2005-05-23