| 1 | 1 | | 89R13396 AND-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Leo Wilson H.B. No. 4605 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to the designation of routes for the movement of oversize |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | and overweight vehicles in certain counties. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | is amended by adding Section 623.009 read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 623.009. DESIGNATED ROUTE IN COUNTY. (a) This section |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | applies only to a county that: |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (1) has a population of less than 100,000; and |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (2) contains a port or is located within 15 miles of a |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | port. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (b) Notwithstanding Section 623.003, to the extent the |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | department is required to determine a route under this chapter in |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | the unincorporated area of a county, the department shall consult |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | with the commissioners court of the county to designate to the |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | department the route in that area. The commissioners court shall |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | consult with the Texas Department of Transportation, port |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | authorities, regional planning organizations, and trucking |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | industry before recommending the designation of a route under this |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | section. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (c) In making a routing recommendation under this section, |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | the commissioners court shall consider: |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (1) the proximity of the route to ports, |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | transportation hubs, and intermodal facilities; |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (2) existing roadway conditions, infrastructure, and |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | capacity to support oversize and overweight vehicles; |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | (3) traffic safety concerns, including accident |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | history and the safety of local communities; |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | (4) environmental impacts, including air quality and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | noise pollution; and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (5) potential for economic development, including the |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | movement of goods to and from local businesses and industries. |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | (d) The Texas Department of Transportation: |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (1) is responsible for installing appropriate signs |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | for the designated route; and |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | (2) shall allocate money from the state highway fund |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | for the maintenance of the designated route if authorized under |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Subtitle B, Title 6. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (e) The Department of Public Safety shall have authority to |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | enforce requirements related to a route designated under this |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | section. |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 2. Section 623.009, Transportation Code, as added |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | by this Act, applies only to a routing determination made under |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | Chapter 623, Transportation Code, on or after the effective date of |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | this Act. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|