PART 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER 24. TRANS-TEXAS CORRIDOR
SUBCHAPTER B. DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES
The Texas Department of Transportation (department) adopts amendments to §24.13, concerning corridor planning and development. The amendments to §24.13 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 2, 2009, issue of the Texas Register (34 TexReg 38) and will not be republished.
EXPLANATION OF ADOPTED AMENDMENTS
The Texas Transportation Commission (commission) creates corridor segment committees for proposed segments of the Trans-Texas Corridor or certain transportation facilities that may become segments of the Trans-Texas Corridor to provide input, advice, and recommendations to the commission and the department regarding the designation of a route for the segment for which the committee was created and the construction of the proposed segment of the Trans-Texas Corridor or a facility that may become all or part of the segment.
As the commission recently began to consider representation on corridor segment committees, it became apparent that some organizations that have an interest in the transportation facilities and within whose service areas the proposed corridor segments will be located do not qualify for representation on the applicable committee under current 43 TAC §24.13.
Amendments to §24.13, Corridor Planning and Development, modify subsection (c)(2)(D) to add to the entities that the commission may designate for representation on a corridor segment committee, an organization, regardless of how it is formed, that has an interest in transportation and whose service area includes a part of the proposed segment and to provide the commission with the authority to appoint to the committee additional members who reside or have businesses in the area of the proposed segment and who have an interest in transportation. These changes give the commission the flexibility to add members to a corridor segment committee that represent a wide range of entities that have special interest in transportation in the area and that will be affected by the proposed segment of the Trans-Texas Corridor or a facility that may become a part of the corridor but that under the current rules are not allowed representation on the committee. The additional members will ensure that a committee represents the interests of local and regional groups and individuals that have an interest in where a segment or facility is located and whether it will be constructed.
COMMENTS
No comments on the proposed amendments were received.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY
The amendments are adopted under Transportation Code, §201.101, which provides the commission with the authority to establish rules for the conduct of the work of the department, and more specifically, Transportation Code, §227.002, which provides the commission with the authority to adopt rules as necessary or convenient to implement and administer Transportation Code, Chapter 227.
CROSS REFERENCE TO STATUTE
Transportation Code, Chapter 227.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 27, 2009.
TRD-200900882
Bob Jackson
General Counsel
Texas Department of Transportation
Effective date: March 19, 2009
Proposal publication date: January 2, 2009
For further information, please call: (512) 463-8683