Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

________________________ TRANSPORTATION
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires TxDOT to coordinate with the governing body of any municipality, county, or rural railroad
transportation district on receipt of notice of intent to abandon or discontinue rail service to determine
whether to acquire the rail facilities or take other action to provide for continued rail service.
Automating Enforcement of Toll Fees - S.B. 454
by Senator Armbrister
House Sponsor: Representative Alexander
Automatic vehicle identification photography and video surveillance at toll facilities can provide the date,
location, and other relevant information for identifying a violator's vehicle.
Makes failure or refusal to pay a toll a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $250.
Provides exceptions for emergency vehicles, leased cars, and recently sold cars.
Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Turnpike Authority to implement an
automated enforcement system at toll facilities.
Electronic Submission of Bid Guaranty to TxDOT - S.B. 487
by Senator Ogden
House Sponsor: Representative Hamric
Electronic bidding is intended to reduce errors in bids, thereby reducing the number of disqualified bids and
increasing the bids that TxDOT is able to consider.
Provides TxDOT with various alternative methods by which to accept and use a bid guaranty for a state
highway improvement contract.
Requires the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) to provide a method by which a bidder may
submit a bid guaranty and authorizes the use of an electronic funds transfer, a check, a money order, an
escrow account, a trust account, a credit card, or another suitable method as determined by the
commission.
Graduated Drivers License - S.B. 577
by Senator Bivins, et al.
House Sponsors: Representative Driver, et al.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 16-year-old drivers have crash
rates three times that of 17-year-old drivers. To reduce crash rates, NHTSA encourages easing young
drivers into progressively more difficult driving situations through the implementation of a graduated driver
licensing system.
Prohibits persons under 18 years of age, during the first six months after receiving drivers licenses, from
operating a motor vehicle between midnight and 5 a.m., except for work, school-related activities, or
medical emergencies, or with more than one passenger in the vehicle under 21 years of age who is not a
family member.
Senate Research Center 305