An authority may set rules for utility facilities on turnpike projects, and utility owners/operators must move or remove facilities when the authority requires it.
Sec. 366.171. PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITIES. (a) An authority may adopt rules for the installation, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation, and removal of a public utility facility in, on, along, over, or under a turnpike project. (b) If an authority determines it is necessary that a public utility facility located in, on, along, over, or under a turnpike project be relocated in the turnpike project, removed from the turnpike project, or carried along or across the turnpike project by grade separation, the owner or operator of the utility facility shall relocate or remove the facility in accordance with the requirements of the authority and in a manner that does not impede the design, financing, construction, operation, or maintenance of the turnpike project. The authority, as a part of the cost of the turnpike project or the cost of operating the turnpike project, shall pay the cost of the relocation, removal, or grade separation, including the cost of: (1) installation of the facility in a new location; (2) damages incurred by the utility to its facilities and services; (3) interests in real property and other rights acquired to accomplish the relocation or removal; and (4) maintenance of grade separation structures. (c) The authority may reduce the total costs to be paid by the authority under Subsection (b) by 10 percent for each 30-day period or portion of a 30-day period by which the relocation exceeds the limit specified by the authority. If an owner or operator of a public utility facility does not timely remove or relocate as required under Subsection (b), the authority may do so at the expense of the public utility. If the authority determines that a delay in relocation is the result of circumstances beyond the control of the utility, full costs shall be paid by the authority. (d) Subchapter C, Chapter 181, Utilities Code, applies to the erection, construction, maintenance, and operation of lines and poles owned by an electric utility, as that term is defined by Section 181.041, Utilities Code, over, under, across, on, and along a turnpike project or system constructed by an authority. An authority has the powers and duties delegated to the commissioners court by that subchapter, and an authority has exclusive jurisdiction and control of utilities located in its rights-of-way. (e) Subchapter B, Chapter 181, Utilities Code, applies to the laying and maintenance of facilities used for conducting gas by a gas utility, as that term is defined by Section 181.021, Utilities Code, through, under, along, across, and over a turnpike project or system constructed by an authority except as otherwise provided by this section. An authority has the power and duties delegated to the commissioners court by that subchapter and an authority has exclusive jurisdiction and control of utilities located in its right-of-way. (f) The laws of this state applicable to the use of public roads, streets, and waters by a telephone and telegraph corporation apply to the erection, construction, maintenance, location, and operation of a line, pole, or other fixture by a telephone and telegraph corporation over, under, across, on, and along a turnpike project or system constructed by an authority under this chapter. (g) In this section "public utility facility" means a track, pipe, main, conduit, cable, wire, tower, pole, or other item of plant or equipment or an appliance of a public utility or other person. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1171, Sec. 7.24, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 18.51, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.