83R5098 JTS-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1253
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the relationship between Texas Department of
Transportation toll projects and adjoining free roads.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 228, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Sections 228.014 and 228.015 to read as
follows:
Sec. 228.014. PROHIBITION ON DISINCENTIVES FOR ADJOINING
FREE ROAD USE. The commission may not take any action in designing,
constructing, or operating a toll project under this chapter that,
without a clear engineering justification, incentivizes the use of
the project by discouraging the use of free adjoining roads,
including by:
(1) constructing and maintaining adjacent free roads
in a manner that requires a speed limit lower than that of the toll
project;
(2) establishing speed limits on adjacent free roads
that are slower than that of the toll project;
(3) establishing speed limits and installing traffic
signals based on anticipated growth; and
(4) timing traffic signals to disrupt traffic flow.
Sec. 228.015. TOLL PROJECT EXITS AS DECELERATION LANES.
The department shall construct exit lanes from toll projects in a
manner that allows motor vehicles exiting the toll project to
easily decelerate to the speed allowed on the adjoining road.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.