Texas House Bill HB3551

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the conduct of a live sound study after the completion of certain transportation projects.

Impact

The implementation of HB3551 is poised to enhance the accountability of transportation projects in Texas, particularly those involving sound barriers. By enforcing a systematic assessment of sound barrier efficacy, the state is likely to ensure that communities adjacent to transportation infrastructure receive the expected noise mitigation benefits. The bill aims to address potential issues where sound barriers may not perform as intended, giving local communities a means to advocate for improvements when projections are not met.

Summary

House Bill 3551 introduces a requirement for live sound studies to be conducted following the completion of certain transportation projects that include sound barriers. Specifically, the bill mandates that within one year of completing such projects, either the Texas Department of Transportation or designated toll project entities must assess the efficacy of the sound barriers. The assessment aims to evaluate whether the sound mitigation measures effectively meet the projected noise reduction standards outlined in initial modeling forecasts.

Contention

One notable point of contention regarding HB3551 hinges on the expected execution and practicality of the sound study requirements. Critics may raise concerns about the resources required to conduct such studies and the subsequent financial obligations for modifying or constructing new barriers if existing ones fail to meet expectations. There may also be debate regarding the methodologies used in noise mitigation modeling and whether the current framework effectively serves the interests of impacted communities.