By: Blanco, Anchia, Romero, Jr., Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 260
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a cross-border motor vehicle traffic
congestion web portal.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 201.2075 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.2075. CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC CONGESTION WEB PORTAL.
(a) The department in collaboration with the Texas A&M
Transportation Institute shall develop and maintain a publicly
accessible web portal designed to provide real-time information
regarding motor vehicle movements at ports of entry between this
state and the United Mexican States and in surrounding areas for the
purpose of alleviating cross-border motor vehicle traffic
congestion. The web portal must provide integrated information
related to:
(1) wait times and crossing times;
(2) real-time traffic volumes;
(3) the number of motor vehicles at the crossing;
(4) the number of and type of lanes that are open at
the crossing; and
(5) determining accurate travel times on both sides of
the crossing, including travel times between specified
destinations.
(b) In developing and maintaining the web portal, the
department may collaborate with other governmental entities,
including federal agencies, state and local transportation
agencies of this state or the United Mexican States, and political
subdivisions of this state or the United Mexican States.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department is not
required to develop the web portal if the web portal would duplicate
an existing web-based platform provided by the federal government
that provides all the information described by Subsections
(a)(1)-(5) for the purpose of alleviating cross-border motor
vehicle traffic congestion.
SECTION 2. Not later than September 1, 2021, the Texas
Department of Transportation shall develop the web portal required
under Section 201.2075, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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.