Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.

89(R) HB 3727 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

By: Patterson, Hernandez, Perez of Harris,

H.B. No. 3727

Harris Davila, Martinez Fischer, et al.

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3727:

By: Patterson

C.S.H.B. No. 3727

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade

separation projects.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 471, Transportation Code, is amended by

adding Section 471.010 to read as follows:

Sec.

471.010.

GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RAILROAD GRADE

SEPARATION PROJECTS. (a)

For the purpose of increasing public

safety, enhancing economic development, and reducing traffic, the

department shall establish and administer a program to award grants

to political subdivisions of this state to fund:

(1)

rail-roadway grade separation projects that are

located at intersections of railroads and public roadways that are

not part of the state highway system; and

(2)

rail-pedestrian grade separation projects that

are located at intersections of railroads and public pedestrian

crossings.

(b)

Each grant awarded under this section must be approved

by the commission. The commission may not approve a grant under this

section unless the commission determines that at least 10 percent

of the total project costs will be provided by a source other than

the state.

(c)

The department may fund the grant program under this

section only from money appropriated by the legislature for that

purpose and from gifts and grants, including grants from the

federal government. The department may solicit and accept gifts and

grants from any source for the purposes of this section. Money

deposited to the credit of the state highway fund may not be used to

fund a grant awarded under this section.

(d)

A political subdivision that receives a grant under this

section shall designate the department to manage contracting for,

in accordance with Subchapter A, Chapter 223, and supervision of

the planning and construction of a project for which the grant was

awarded. A political subdivision shall enter into an agreement with

the department prescribing the terms of a designation under this

subsection in accordance with applicable state or federal law. The

department, acting as the designee of a political subdivision under

this section, shall make each contract in accordance with the law

governing the making of contracts by or on behalf of the state.

(e)

The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section.

SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the Texas

Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section

471.010, Transportation Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.