Interim Report to the 84th Legislature House Committee on Transportation December 2014 HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERIM REPORT 2014 A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 84TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE LARRY PHILLIPS CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE CLERK COURTNEY REID 2 Committee On Transportation December 23, 2014 Larry Phillips P.O. Box 2910 Chairman Austin, Texas 78768-2910 The Honorable Joe Straus Speaker, Texas House of Representatives Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas State Capitol, Rm. 2W.13 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Mr. Speaker and Fellow Members: The Committee on Transportation of the Eighty-third Legislature hereby submits its interim report including recommendations and drafted legislation for consideration by the Eighty-fourth Legislature. Respectfully submitted, Larry Phillips, Chair Armando 'Mando' Martinez, Yvonne Davis Vice Chair Joe C. Pickett Ruth Jones McClendon Debbie Riddle Linda Harper-Brown Allen Fletcher George Lavender Cindy Burkett R.D. 'Bobby' Guerra Armando "Mando" Martinez Vice-Chairman Members: Yvonne Davis, Joe C. Pickett, Ruth Jones McClendon, Debbie Riddle, Linda Harper-Brown, Allen Fletcher, George Lavender, Cindy Burkett, R.D. "Bobby" Guerra TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERIM STUDY CHARGES AND COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ........................................ 8 TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE'S FIVE MOST POPULOUS REGIONS................................................................................................................ 10 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 12 Background ............................................................................................................................... 12 State Highway System Usage ................................................................................................... 12 State Highway System Road and Bridge Performance ............................................................. 12 Rural Connectivity and Mobility .............................................................................................. 14 Expansion of Rural Interstates .............................................................................................. 14 “Super 2” Upgrades .............................................................................................................. 14 Ports-to-Plains Corridor ........................................................................................................ 15 I-69 Committee Priority Segments ....................................................................................... 15 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 15 USE OF STATE FUNDS IN AREAS IMPACTED BY THE ENERGY SECTOR .................... 16 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 18 Background ............................................................................................................................... 18 Costs to Local and State Government ....................................................................................... 18 HB 1025 ................................................................................................................................ 18 SB 1747 ................................................................................................................................. 19 Gravel Roads ......................................................................................................................... 20 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 20 COUNTY AUTHORITY TO UTILIZE TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AND TRANSPORTATION REINVESTMENT ZONES ..................................................................... 22 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 24 Background ............................................................................................................................... 24 Legislation Affecting TRZ’s ..................................................................................................... 24 County TRZ’s ........................................................................................................................... 26 County Energy TRZ’s ............................................................................................................... 27 Attorney General Opinion GA-1076 ........................................................................................ 28 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 29 TEXAS' MARITIME PORT SYSTEM ........................................................................................ 30 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 32 Background ............................................................................................................................... 32 Imports and Exports .................................................................................................................. 33 Gulf Intracoastal Waterway ...................................................................................................... 34 Panama Canal Expansion .......................................................................................................... 35 Water Resources Development Act .......................................................................................... 36 TxDOT Maritime Division ....................................................................................................... 37 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 39 TEXAS PASSENGER AND FREIGHT RAIL ............................................................................ 40 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 42 Background ............................................................................................................................... 42 Freight Rail in Texas ................................................................................................................. 42 South Orient Rail Line .......................................................................................................... 43 Tower 55 ............................................................................................................................... 44 Neches River Rail Bridge ..................................................................................................... 44 Passenger Rail in Texas ............................................................................................................ 44 Intercity Passenger Rail ............................................................................................................ 45 Commuter, Regional, and Light Rail ........................................................................................ 45 Passenger Rail Studies .............................................................................................................. 46 TxDOT Rail Division ............................................................................................................... 47 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 49 TEXAS TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE .................................................................................... 50 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 52 Background ............................................................................................................................... 52 TTTF Report Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 52 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 57 TXDOT "TURNBACK" PROGRAM .......................................................................................... 58 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 60 Background ............................................................................................................................... 60 Current Program Status ............................................................................................................. 60 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 62 DMV OVERSIGHT...................................................................................................................... 64 Committee Action ..................................................................................................................... 66 Background ..............................................................................................................................