An authority must set reasonable, nondiscriminatory fares and other charges high enough to cover transit costs and bond-related obligations, and it may use zone-based pricing. Personal identifying information collected by the authority is generally confidential, with a limited research/statistical-report disclosure exception.
Sec. 452.061. FARES AND OTHER CHARGES. (a) An authority shall impose reasonable and nondiscriminatory fares, tolls, charges, rents, and other compensation for the use of the public transportation system sufficient to produce revenue, together with tax revenue and grants received by the authority, in an amount adequate to: (1) pay all the expenses necessary to operate and maintain the public transportation system; (2) pay when due the principal of and interest on, and sinking fund and reserve fund payments agreed to be made with respect to, all bonds that are issued by the authority and payable in whole or part from the revenue; and (3) fulfill the terms of any other agreement with the holders of bonds described by Subdivision (2) or with a person acting on behalf of the bondholders. (b) It is intended by this chapter that the compensation imposed under Subsection (a) and taxes imposed by the authority not exceed the amounts necessary to produce revenue sufficient to meet the obligations of the authority under this chapter. (c) Compensation for the use of the public transportation system, including parking fees and passenger transportation fares, may be set according to a zone system or to another classification that the authority determines to be reasonable. (d) This section does not limit the state's power to regulate taxes imposed by an authority or other compensation authorized under this section. The state agrees with holders of bonds issued under this chapter, however, not to alter the power given to an authority under this section to impose taxes, fares, tolls, charges, rents, and other compensation in amounts sufficient to comply with Subsection (a), or to impair the rights and remedies of an authority bondholder, or a person acting on behalf of a bondholder, until the bonds, interest on the bonds, interest on unpaid installments of interest, costs and expenses in connection with an action or proceeding by or on behalf of a bondholder, and other obligations of the authority in connection with the bonds are discharged. (e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), personal identifying information collected by an authority is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, including a person's: (1) name, address, e-mail address, and phone number; (2) account number, password, payment transaction activity, toll or charge record, or credit, debit, or other payment card number; (3) trip data, including the time, date, origin, and destination of a trip, and demographic information collected when the person purchases a ticket or schedules a trip; and (4) other personal information, including financial information. (f) Personal identifying information described by Subsection (e)(3) may be disclosed to a governmental agency or institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, by an authority if the requestor confirms in writing that the use of the information will be strictly limited to use in research or in producing statistical reports, but only if the information is not published, redisclosed, sold, or used to contact any individual. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 48 (S.B. 405), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1129 (S.B. 57), Sec. 7, eff. June 19, 2015. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 155 (S.B. 858), Sec. 2, eff. May 28, 2021.