HBA-CMT H.C.R. 193 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 193 By: Krusee Transportation 4/27/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE For several years, Williamson County and the City of Round Rock have collaborated with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to acquire the Missouri-Kansas Texas Railroad Company right-ofway (MKT right-of-way) for the western alignment of State Highway 130. Now that an eastern alignment has been selected as the preferred route, these entities are requesting that TxDOT release the right-of-way for the western alignment to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock so that they may develop their own local road projects to meet the mobility needs of this rapidly growing area. The total population estimates released by the Texas State Data Center show a 72 percent increase in the population for Williamson County between 1990 and 2000. The City of Round Rock showed a 103 percent increase in this same period. This growth is challenging the capacity of the current transportation infrastructure to meet the mobility needs of the area. In October 2000, the Commissioners Court of Williamson County and the City Council of Round Rock each passed a resolution requesting that TxDOT release the former MKT right-of-way that lies along the western alignment of State Highway 130 to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock. House Concurrent Resolution 193 directs TxDOT to release the MKT right-of-way to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock to use for other transportation infrastructure projects. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Concurrent Resolution 193 directs the Texas Department of Transportation to release Parcel 4, the land originally obtained as the right-of-way for the western alignment of State Highway 130, to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock to use for other transportation infrastructure projects.