H.B. No. 1079
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation of the
Ports-to-Plains Corridor, including an evaluation of the
feasibility of certain improvements to Interstate Highway 27.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this Act:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the Ports-to-Plains
Advisory Committee established under this section.
(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of
Transportation.
(3) "Improvement" has the meaning assigned by Section
221.001, Transportation Code.
(4) "Port of entry" has the meaning assigned by
Section 621.001, Transportation Code.
(5) "Ports-to-Plains Corridor" means the highways
designated as the Ports-to-Plains Corridor under Section 225.069,
Transportation Code.
(b) The department shall conduct a comprehensive study of
the Ports-to-Plains Corridor. The study must evaluate the
feasibility of, and the costs and logistical matters associated
with, improvements that create a continuous flow, four-lane divided
highway that meets interstate highway standards to the extent
possible, including improvements that:
(1) extend Interstate Highway 27:
(A) from its southern terminus to Interstate
Highway 20;
(B) from Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate
Highway 10; and
(C) from Interstate Highway 10 to the port of
entry located in Laredo;
(2) extend Interstate Highway 27:
(A) from its northern terminus to Dumas;
(B) from Dumas to Stratford; and
(C) from Stratford to the Oklahoma state border;
and
(3) extend Interstate Highway 27:
(A) from its northern terminus to Dumas;
(B) from Dumas to Dalhart; and
(C) from Dalhart to the New Mexico state border.
(c) In conducting the study under Subsection (b) of this
section, the department shall:
(1) use the reports submitted to the department by the
advisory committee under Subsection (j) of this section; and
(2) hold quarterly public meetings on a rotational
basis in Amarillo, Laredo, Lubbock, and San Angelo to gather public
feedback on improvements or expansions to the Ports-to-Plains
Corridor.
(d) The department shall establish a Ports-to-Plains
Advisory Committee to assist the department in conducting the study
under Subsection (b) of this section.
(e) The advisory committee is composed of:
(1) the county judge, or an elected county official or
the administrator of the county's road department, as designated by
the county judge, of each county along the Ports-to-Plains
Corridor, including the counties along the possible extensions of
Interstate Highway 27 described by Subsection (b) of this section;
and
(2) the mayor, or the city manager or assistant city
manager, as designated by the mayor, of Amarillo, Big Spring,
Carrizo Springs, Dalhart, Del Rio, Dumas, Eagle Pass, Eldorado,
Lamesa, Laredo, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Sonora,
Sterling City, Stratford, and Tahoka.
(f) The advisory committee shall meet at least twice each
year on a rotational basis in Lubbock and San Angelo.
(g) The department, in conjunction with the advisory
committee, shall establish segment committees for each geographic
segment along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as determined by the
department. The segment committees are composed of:
(1) volunteers who may represent:
(A) municipalities, counties, metropolitan
planning organizations, ports, chambers of commerce, and economic
development organizations along that segment of the
Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
(B) the oil and gas industry; and
(C) the trucking industry;
(2) department representatives; and
(3) any other interested parties.
(h) A segment committee established under Subsection (g) of
this section for a segment along the Ports-to-Plains Corridor shall
submit a report to the advisory committee providing input for the
study conducted by the department under Subsection (b) of this
section. The report must include:
(1) an examination of the ability of the energy
industry to transport products to market;
(2) an evaluation of the economic development impacts
of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, including whether the improvement
or expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor would create
employment opportunities in this state;
(3) a determination of whether improvements or
expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor would relieve traffic
congestion in the segment;
(4) an examination of freight movement along the
Ports-to-Plains Corridor;
(5) a determination and prioritization of
improvements and expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor that are
warranted in order to promote safety and mobility, while maximizing
the use of existing highways to the greatest extent possible and
striving to protect private property as much as possible;
(6) a determination of the areas that are preferable
and suitable for interstate designation;
(7) an examination of project costs related to the
improvement or expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor; and
(8) an assessment of federal, state, local, and
private funding sources for a project improving or expanding the
Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
(i) Not later than June 30, 2020, each segment committee
established under Subsection (g) of this section shall submit to
the advisory committee the report described by Subsection (h) of
this section, including priority recommendations for improvement
and expansion of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor.
(j) Not later than October 31, 2020, the advisory committee
shall review and compile the reports submitted by each segment
committee under Subsection (i) of this section and submit to the
department:
(1) the reports submitted by each segment committee;
and
(2) a summary and any recommendations based on those
reports.
(k) The advisory committee and each segment committee shall
conduct extensive public involvement campaigns for feedback on
preliminary recommendations made by the committees before
submitting the reports under Subsections (i) and (j) of this
section.
(l) Not later than January 1, 2021, the department shall
submit a report on the results of the study conducted under
Subsection (b) of this section to the governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
presiding officer of each standing committee of the legislature
with jurisdiction over transportation matters.
(m) This Act expires August 31, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1079 was passed by the House on April
24, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1079 on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 126, Nays 16,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1079 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays
1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor