HBA-TBM H.B. 1750 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1750 By: Gutierrez Transportation 4/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Border crossing between Mexico and Texas is often unnecessarily time consuming. Both commercial and noncommercial vehicles wait in lines that stretch for miles because present inspection procedures are tedious and out of date. The resulting traffic congestion is deleterious to the surrounding community, inconvenient for travelers, and detrimental to business. In accordance with legislation passed last session, the Texas Transportation Institute with the assistance of the Center for Transportation Research at The University of Texas at Austin has developed a design that will help to remedy this problem. The Intelligent Transportation Systems for Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) will use new technology to allow for quick inspection and passage of commercial vehicles across the Texas-Mexico border. The system now needs to be studied for feasibility and cost in order to move forward with implementation. House Bill 1750 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to study the feasibility, costs, and benefits of ITS/CVO and to implement the system if appropriate. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1750 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to study the feasibility of the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems for Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) at international bridges, other appropriate locations at ports of entry from Mexico, and vehicle weight facilities operated by the state. The study must include an analysis of the costs and benefits of use of ITS/CVO. In conducting the study, TxDOT is required to consult with customs brokers, freight forwarders, and domestic and Mexican motor carriers. To the extent TxDOT considers appropriate based on the results of the study, the bill requires TxDOT to implement the use of ITS/CVO. TxDOT is required to coordinate with transportation officials of other jurisdictions to develop interoperability standards for ITS/CVO. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.