HBA-SEP S.C.R. 6 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.C.R. 6 By: Fraser Transportation 4/27/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The U.S. military's Defense Planning Guide 1999-2003 mandates that the deployment of forces from Fort Hood, the home of the III Armored Corps, to any crisis theater must be completed within 30 days. While Interstate 35 has long served as the major deployment route for Fort Hood, the III Armored Corps have identified State Highway 195 (SH 195) as the premier southern convoy route to the strategic ports of Corpus Christi and Beaumont. However, the area along the two-lane SH 195 has experienced considerable growth in population and an increase in traffic which has resulted in a decreased level of service for and safety of its military and civilian users. In addition, projections indicate that the capacity of SH195 will be exceeded within the next 5 to 10 years. The U.S. Department of Defense has determined that the expansion of SH 195 is of strategic importance and necessary for the deployment of forces from Fort Hood. In April 1999 the Texas Department of Transportation began Phase I, a six-mile segment of the SH 195 reconstruction project which will expand SH 195 to a four-lane divided highway that extends from south of Killeen to Interstate 35. Subsequent phases of the 10-year, $100 million project need to be completed to enable the III Armored Corps to deploy troops and equipment from Fort Hood to the ports in the required time frame. Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 encourages the Texas Transportation Commission to support the expansion of SH 195 to ensure its use by the III Armored Corps as the southern convoy route to Texas' ports. 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 Senate Concurrent Resolution 6 encourages the Texas Transportation Commission (commission) to support the expansion of State Highway 195 to ensure its use by the III Armored Corps as the southern convoy route to Texas' ports.