Bill Caption

Relating to toll rates for certain vehicles traveling on State Highway 130.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB594, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($37,469,218) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. 

Bill Analysis

From the Author's Statement of Intent:

This legislation would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in an effort to encourage an operator of a vehicle or combination of vehicles with three or more axles to use State Highway 130, to develop a program to discount or adjust toll rates for such a vehicle or combination of vehicles traveling on Segments 1–4 of State Highway 130. The bill requires the commission and TxDOT to develop and implement the toll rate adjustment.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We oppose this legislation as it goes against free market principles and limited government. This legislation would reduce tolls for only vehicles with three or more axles in an effort to allow more vehicles to utilize State Highway 130. We oppose this legislation, as it reduces costs for some vehicles, and would potentially subsidize this program by raising costs on other types of vehicles using the same toll road. We oppose this legislation for the intended purpose of picking winners and losers, based on the type of vehicle on the road.