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stretch for miles because present inspection procedures are tedious and out
of date.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.