The commission has power to fund, lease, declare, and operate projects under this chapter, and in one case must maintain a project without tolls once the bond-related conditions are met.
Sec. 284.008. POWERS OF COMMISSION. (a) The commission may: (1) provide for and contribute toward the acquisition, construction, improvement, operation, maintenance, or pooling of a project under this chapter and under terms to which the commission and the local government corporation or county agree that are consistent with the rights of bondholders or a person operating the project under a lease or other contract; (2) lease a project under terms: (A) to which the county or local government corporation acting under this chapter and the commission agree; and (B) that are consistent with the bond instrument; and (3) declare any part of a project under this chapter to be a part of the state highway system and operate any part of a project as part of the state highway system, to the extent that property and contract rights in the project and bonds are not affected unfavorably. (b) Sections 222.031 and 284.003 do not limit the commission's authority to: (1) operate or maintain a project under this chapter; or (2) contribute to the cost of acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, operation, or pooling of a project as provided by Subsection (a). (c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a project becomes a part of the state highway system and the commission shall maintain the project without tolls when: (1) all of the bonds and interest on the bonds that are payable from or secured by revenues of the project have been paid by the issuer of the bonds or another person with the consent or approval of the issuer; or (2) a sufficient amount for the payment of all bonds and the interest on the bonds to maturity has been set aside by the issuer of the bonds or another person with the consent or approval of the issuer in a trust fund held for the benefit of the bondholders. (d) A county may request that the commission adopt an order stating that a project will not become part of the state highway system under Subsection (c). If the commission adopts the order: (1) Section 362.051 does not apply to the project; (2) the project must be maintained by the county; and (3) the project will not become part of the state highway system unless the county transfers the project under Section 284.011. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 281 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 2.49, eff. June 14, 2005. Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 264 (S.B. 792), Sec. 8.04, eff. June 11, 2007.