The House Committee on Transportation interim report to the 88th Legislature covers economic impacts of Texas-Mexico border migration, transportation planning, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, road use revenue parity, supply chain issues, and seaport infrastructure. For more information see the full report here.
Spotlight on Recommendations
Charge 1. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature, including HB 2219, HB 3514, and HB 3927.
- The Legislature should continue to monitor the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure the Texas Mobility Fund is used responsibly.
- The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles should expeditiously implement all remaining rulemaking required for legislation from the 87th Legislative Session.
- The Legislature should continue to monitor the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles so that it has all the tools necessary to combat temporary tag fraud as it evolves.
- The Legislature should continue close oversight of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board to ensure that the body is adequately representing the general public.
- The Legislature should invest to modernize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to have the agility to adapt to emerging technologies.
Charge 2. Review the impact that trade across the Texas-Mexico border has on the Texas economy. Consider the impact of the recent increase in border migration on transnational trade, including its effects on the communities along the border, points of entry, and access by Texas businesses to supplies, labor, materials, and markets in Mexico. (Joint charge with Committee on International Relations & Economic Development)
- The Legislature should continue to work with its state agencies to stay educated on the impacts of migration on international trade while ensuring international trade infrastructure is not impeded by the ebbs and flows of migration.
Charge 3. Study current and future transportation needs and consider improvements to ensure that Texas is adequately planning for the state’s population growth forecasts. Evaluate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on transportation projects and investment decisions.
- The Legislature should convene a committee similar to the 2030 Committee of 2008 and 2010 to assess the state’s transportation infrastructure and mobility needs through 2045. Similarly to the 2030 Committee, the 2045 Committee should develop an analysis of the current state of the Texas transportation system, determining the household costs of underinvesting in the system, and identifying potential revenue options to fund transportation improvements.
- The Legislature should appropriate funding into the Texas Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund to be used as a strategic funding mechanism to assist the rail industry in seizing IIJA rail grant funds for improvements to the state’s rail infrastructure.
Charge 4. Study the impacts that increased federal funding, formula changes, and new programs authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will have on state transportation projects. Evaluate strategies to ensure Texas communities can maximize receipt of federal grant funds.
- The Legislature should encourage TxDOT to expand its outreach to smaller and rural communities and provide them with information to apply for IIJA discretionary grant opportunities. Many smaller and rural communities do not have the resources to focus on these opportunities.
- The Legislature should continue to monitor TxDOT’s efforts to seize federal funding opportunities under the IIJA, including applying for discretionary grants that benefit state infrastructure.
- The Legislature should encourage TxDOT to have additional infrastructure projects ready for construction in order to seize any extra redistributed IIJA formula funds that may come available.
- The Legislature should continue to monitor TxDOT’s efforts to prepare the state with strategic electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Charge 5. Study the impact of the increasing sale and use of electric and alternatively fueled vehicles on revenue predictions for the state highway fund. Recommend a road use revenue equalization methodology to create fairness and parity between gasoline, electric and alternatively fueled vehicles.
- The Legislature should adopt a $200 flat fee for battery electric vehicles
Charge 6. Study policies impacting truck transportation, a key link in the supply chain, including utilizing state property and right-of-way for natural gas fueling stations and truck parking, the potential shortage of drivers and sellers of commercial trucks, the shortage of truck parking options to accommodate hours of service regulations, and ways to reduce border crossing wait times. Examine regulatory and statutory impediments to connected vehicle and autonomous technologies aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of trucking in Texas.
- The Legislature should work with the Texas Department of Public Safety to improve the process to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
- The Legislature should invest in expanding commercial driver’s license schools around the state, including but not limited to the Texas State Technical College Professional Driving Academy.
- The Legislature should promote and encourage workforce partnership programs between Texas employers and educators, such as community colleges and TSTC, by maintaining currently existing grant programs and further incentivizing commercial driver training programs.
- TxDOT should continue to find ways to educate transportation leaders and lawmakers on the importance of finding solutions to many of the trucking challenges addressed in this report and the repercussions if Texas does not fully address them.
Charge 7. Examine the ability of the state’s seaports to promote the public purposes of state economic growth, diversification, and commerce through development of port-owned properties within their boundaries. Review the investments needed for Texas ports to remain competitive in handling increased cargo volumes and ensuring a resilient supply chain.
- The Legislature should appropriate $750 million to the Ship Channel Improvement Revolving Fund for the deepening and widening of the authorized ship channels.
- The Legislature should appropriate $1 billion for the purpose of investing in projects in the Port Capital Improvement Report.