The department may not run or transfer certain state highways as toll projects unless specific predesignation or reconstruction conditions are met; State Highway 255 in Webb County is separately barred.
Sec. 228.201. LIMITATION ON TOLL FACILITY DESIGNATION. (a) The department may not operate a nontolled state highway or a segment of a nontolled state highway as a toll project, and may not transfer a highway or segment to another entity for operation as a toll project, unless: (1) the commission by order designated the highway or segment as a toll project before the contract to construct the highway or segment was awarded; (2) the project was designated as a toll project in a plan or program of a metropolitan planning organization on or before September 1, 2005; (3) the highway or segment is reconstructed so that the number of nontolled lanes on the highway or segment is greater than or equal to the number in existence before the reconstruction; or (4) a facility is constructed adjacent to the highway or segment so that the number of nontolled lanes on the converted highway or segment and the adjacent facility together is greater than or equal to the number in existence on the converted highway or segment before the conversion. (b) Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 312), Sec. 74(2), eff. September 1, 2017. (c) In determining the number of nontolled lanes required to comply with Subsection (a)(3), the department: (1) may consider only a general-purpose lane that is part of the highway; and (2) may not consider a lane of a frontage road to be a nontolled lane before or after reconstruction of the highway. (d) The department may not operate any part of State Highway 255 in Webb County as a toll project. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 281 (H.B. 2702), Sec. 2.45, eff. June 14, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1186 (S.B. 1029), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 312), Sec. 37, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 312), Sec. 74(2), eff. September 1, 2017.