TxDOT reorganization bill advances in House

Would create 15 commissioners

Steve Hawley, May 08, 09.

UPDATE (05/12/09, 4:30 pm): The TxDOT restructuring bill advanced to the Senate on Monday, where it is likely to undergo further changes.

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The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sunset bill passed its second reading in the state House of Representatives on Friday, according to the Transportation Blog at the Dallas Morning News. The bill is scheduled for a third and final reading on Monday.

The bill contains an astonishing 154 amendments - another 29 were tabled or withdrawn - leaving even some legislators unsure of its exact contents:

“With so many amendments and amendments to amendments flying around, it’s hard to know for sure what their impact is,” said Rep. Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto.

The legislation would replace the current Texas Transportation Commission and its five appointed commissioners with fifteen elected commissioners, one of whom would be elected at-large, while the other fourteen would be elected from geographic districts. This is a similar arrangement as the Texas Board of Education. The fourteen commissioners elected from districts would serve two-year terms, while the at-large commissioner would serve a four-year term. Should the present bill become law, the first election would be held in November 2012.

The bill would also create a rail division at TxDOT and establish an eight-member legislative oversight committee. The department would undergo another sunset review in four years.

Another amendment would create the Texas High-Speed Rail Corporation to develop a high-speed rail system consistent with and in conjunction with the federal high-speed rail corridor program. The system, which must be capable of achieving speeds of 200 miles per hour, must “enhance connectivity to this state’s largest airports” as well as military installations such as Fort Hood.

As the Transportation Blog notes, the bill contains numerous amendments that have “absolutely nothing to do with the reorganization of Texas’ largest public agency,” including ones that “would phase out red-light cameras across the state, and would create new rules for adult business signs along interstates.” It also contains several subsections pertaining to specialty license plates.

The article also states that “private toll roads—and the ability for companies to pay big upfront payments for toll roads—would be significantly curtailed.” However, the legislation appears to exempt toll roads that are planned, such as the 180-mile Grand Parkway surrounding Houston, or already under construction.

The House must approve the bill again during its third reading, presumably next week, at which point it would go to the Senate and potentially the governor for final approval. The Transportation Blog notes, “Members may find objections over the weekend, and some amendments may be tweaked or pulled out of the bill.”

The Sunset Commission’s report last year recommended reducing the size of the Texas Transportation Commission from five members to one. Some lawmakers had even threatened to eliminate the department entirely.