HBA-CMT H.C.R. 193 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 193
By: Krusee
Transportation
4/27/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

For several years, Williamson County and the City of Round Rock have
collaborated with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to acquire
the Missouri-Kansas Texas Railroad Company right-ofway (MKT right-of-way)
for the western alignment of State Highway 130.  Now that an eastern
alignment has been selected as the preferred route, these entities are
requesting that TxDOT release the right-of-way for the western alignment to
Williamson County and the City of Round Rock  so that they may develop
their own local road projects to meet the mobility needs of this rapidly
growing area. 

The total population estimates released by the Texas State Data Center show
a 72 percent increase in the population for Williamson County between 1990
and 2000.  The City of Round Rock showed a 103 percent increase in this
same period.  This growth is challenging the capacity of the current
transportation infrastructure to meet the mobility needs of the area.   

In October 2000, the Commissioners Court of Williamson County and the City
Council of Round Rock each passed a resolution requesting that TxDOT
release the former MKT right-of-way that lies along the western alignment
of State Highway 130 to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock.
House Concurrent Resolution 193 directs TxDOT to release the MKT
right-of-way to Williamson County and the City of Round Rock to use for
other transportation infrastructure projects. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this resolution
does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Concurrent Resolution 193 directs the Texas Department of
Transportation to release Parcel 4, the land originally obtained as the
right-of-way for the western alignment of State Highway 130, to Williamson
County and the City of Round Rock to use for other transportation
infrastructure projects.