| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | By: Coleman H.B. No. 4514 | |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 5 | 5 | AN ACT | |
| 6 | 6 | relating to requiring the Texas Department of Transportation to | |
| 7 | 7 | demonstrate that alternatives to toll roads have been considered. | |
| 8 | 8 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 9 | 9 | SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, | |
| 10 | 10 | is amended by adding Section 201.6041 to read as follows: | |
| 11 | 11 | Before the department proceeds with a toll highway project, | |
| 12 | 12 | the department must demonstrate to the legislature's satisfaction | |
| 13 | 13 | that it conducted a full study of toll and non-tolled highway | |
| 14 | 14 | alternatives, among other alternatives, in strict accord with | |
| 15 | 15 | National Environment Policy Act (42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et seq.) | |
| 16 | 16 | and implementing federal regulations, and with analysis of data and | |
| 17 | 17 | information pursuant to the federal Data Quality Act (67 F.R. | |
| 18 | 18 | 8452). | |
| 19 | 19 | SECTION 2. Prior to proceeding with a toll highway project, | |
| 20 | 20 | the department must also demonstrate to the legislature's | |
| 21 | 21 | satisfaction that it has afforded meaningful involvement to, and | |
| 22 | 22 | given consideration to input from, local elected officials and the | |
| 23 | 23 | public, and that the selected toll project is the most cost | |
| 24 | 24 | effective and least environmentally harmful alternative. |