Bill Text: TX SB1327 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of a district engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation to temporarily lower speed limits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-24 - Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm. [SB1327 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB1327-Comm_Sub.html
By: Seliger | S.B. No. 1327 | |
(Phillips) | ||
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relating to the authority of a district engineer for the Texas | ||
Department of Transportation to temporarily lower speed limits. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, | ||
is amended by adding Section 545.3531 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 545.3531. AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT ENGINEERS TO | ||
TEMPORARILY LOWER SPEED LIMITS. (a) In this section, "hazard" | ||
means: | ||
(1) wet or inclement weather, as defined by Section | ||
545.353; | ||
(2) construction or maintenance activity; or | ||
(3) any other hazardous condition. | ||
(b) A district engineer may temporarily lower a prima facie | ||
speed limit for a highway or part of a highway in a district if the | ||
district engineer determines that the prima facie speed limit for | ||
the highway or part of highway is unreasonable or unsafe because of | ||
a hazard. | ||
(c) A district engineer may temporarily lower a prima facie | ||
speed limit under this section without the approval of or | ||
permission from the Texas Transportation Commission. | ||
(d) A temporary speed limit established under this section: | ||
(1) is a prima facie prudent and reasonable speed | ||
limit enforceable in the same manner as other prima facie speed | ||
limits established under other provisions of this subchapter; and | ||
(2) supersedes any other established speed limit that | ||
would permit a person to operate a motor vehicle at a higher rate of | ||
speed. | ||
(e) A district engineer who temporarily lowers a speed limit | ||
shall: | ||
(1) place and maintain at the hazard site temporary | ||
speed limit signs that conform to the manual and specifications | ||
adopted under Section 544.001; | ||
(2) temporarily conceal all other signs on the highway | ||
or part of a highway affected by the hazard that give notice of a | ||
speed limit that would permit a person to operate a motor vehicle at | ||
a higher rate of speed; and | ||
(3) remove all temporary speed limit signs placed | ||
under Subdivision (1) and concealments of other signs placed under | ||
Subdivision (2) when: | ||
(A) the district engineer finds that there is no | ||
longer a hazard and all equipment is removed from the hazard site; | ||
or | ||
(B) the temporary speed limit expires under | ||
Subsection (g). | ||
(f) A temporary speed limit established under this section | ||
is effective when the district engineer, as required under | ||
Subsection (e), places temporary speed limit signs and conceals | ||
other signs that would permit a person to operate a motor vehicle at | ||
a higher rate of speed. | ||
(g) A temporary speed limit established under this section | ||
is effective until the earlier of: | ||
(1) the 30th day after the date the limit becomes | ||
effective; or | ||
(2) the next meeting of the Texas Transportation | ||
Commission. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |