Texas Senate Bill SB1127

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to nontolled lanes on a highway that has been converted from a nontolled highway to a toll project.

Impact

The primary impact of SB1127 is on state laws governing highway construction and tolling practices. It aims to ensure that when highways are reconstructed, a sufficient number of nontolled lanes remain in service to accommodate non-toll paying users. This recognition of nontolled lanes supports public access and potentially alleviates congestion on parallel toll routes. The specification about excluding frontage roads may streamline compliance and reduce disputes regarding highway planning and toll assignments.

Summary

SB1127 addresses the regulations surrounding nontolled lanes on highways that have been transitioned from nontolled to toll projects. Specifically, it amends the Transportation Code to stipulate how the number of nontolled lanes is determined during highway reconstructions. The bill clarifies that only general-purpose lanes that are part of the main highway will count towards this number and explicitly excludes lanes on frontage roads from the calculation.

Contention

While there may not be extensive public contention noted at this time, discussions around toll projects often bring out arguments regarding fairness and accessibility. Proponents may argue that ensuring nontolled lanes protects the public's right to travel without incurring additional costs, while some toll project supporters may contend that toll revenues are necessary for roadway maintenance and development. Moving forward, any legal interpretations or amendments based on this bill could provoke further debate about the balance between public infrastructure funding and user accessibility.