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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of certain local government |
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transportation infrastructure projects; authorizing the issuance |
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of bonds. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 172.001, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subdivision (4-a) and amending Subdivision (7) to read as |
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follows: |
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(4-a) "Intelligent transportation system" means: |
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(A) innovative or intelligent technological |
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transportation systems, infrastructure, or facilities, including |
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elevated freight transportation facilities: |
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(i) in proximity to, or within, an existing |
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right-of-way on the state highway system; or |
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(ii) that connect land ports of entry to the |
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state highway system; |
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(B) communications or information processing |
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systems that improve the efficiency, security, or safety of freight |
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movement on the state highway system, including improving the |
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conveyance of freight on dedicated intelligent freight lanes; or |
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(C) a transportation facility or system that |
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increases truck freight efficiencies in the boundaries of an |
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intermodal facility or hub. |
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(7) "Rail facilities" means: |
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(A) passenger or freight rail facilities, |
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including: |
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(i) tracks; |
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(ii) a rail line; |
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(iii) switching, signaling, or other |
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operating equipment; |
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(iv) a depot; |
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(v) a locomotive; |
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(vi) rolling stock; |
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(vii) a maintenance facility; and |
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(viii) other real and personal property |
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associated with a rail operation; |
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(B) an intermodal hub; |
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(C) an automated conveyor belt for the movement |
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of freight; |
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(D) an intelligent transportation system that |
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operates with or as part of facilities described by Paragraphs |
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(A)-(C); or |
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(E) a system of facilities described by |
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Paragraphs (A)-(D) [property, or an interest in that property, that
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the board determines is necessary or convenient to provide a rural
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rail transportation system; and
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[(B)
property or an interest necessary or
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convenient to acquire, provide, construct, enlarge, remodel,
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renovate, improve, furnish, use, or equip the system, including:
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[(i) a right-of-way;
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[(ii)
an earthwork or structure, including
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clearing and grubbing of right-of-way, demolition of a structure,
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relocation of utilities, a pipeline, or any other obstacle in a
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right-of-way, stripping and stockpiling, removal of subsoil for
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embankment or spoil, a borrow pit, dressing and seeding of a slope,
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construction of a culvert, a road crossing, a bridge, restoration
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of a roadway, drainage within a right-of-way or along a road
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network, and restoration of a hydrologic system;
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[(iii) trackwork;
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[(iv)
a train control, including
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signalling, interlocking equipment, speed monitoring equipment, an
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emergency braking system, a central traffic control facility, and a
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communication system;
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[(v)
a passenger or freight service
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building, terminal, or station, a ticketing facility, a waiting
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area, a platform, a concession, an elevator, an escalator, a
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facility for handicapped access, an access road, a parking facility
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for passengers, a baggage handling facility, a local maintenance
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facility, and offices for district purposes and includes an
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interest in real property necessary or convenient for an item
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listed under this subparagraph;
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[(vi) rolling stock; and
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[(vii) a maintenance facility]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 172, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 172.211 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 172.211. OTHER POWERS OF COUNTY, DISTRICT, AND |
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NAVIGATION DISTRICT. (a) This section applies only to a county |
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that: |
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(1) is adjacent to a county with a population of four |
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million or more; |
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(2) has a population of 300,000 or more; and |
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(3) has created a district by concurrent order with an |
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adjacent county pursuant to Section 172.052. |
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(b) A county acting through the commissioners court or a |
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local government corporation may adopt an order that authorizes the |
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county and a navigation district located wholly or partly in the |
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county to: |
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(1) develop rail facilities as a qualifying project |
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under Chapter 2267, Government Code; and |
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(2) issue bonds for rail facilities secured by a |
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pledge of the revenues of the facilities, including contract |
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revenue, grant revenue, or other revenue collected in connection |
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with the facilities. |
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(c) If each county that created a district adopts an order |
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described by Subsection (b), the district may exercise the powers |
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described by that subsection. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |