JULY 16, 2017 -- The Highway 36A Coalition is celebrating the passage of two key pieces of legislation that will be crucial to assisting groups like the coalition in promoting transportation solutions for Texas.
The Board of Directors for the organization approved resolutions supporting the legislation and requested legislative support.
One is
HB 2557, which amends the TexasTransportation Code to broaden the purpose and definitions in the code to enable rural rail districts to enter into public private partnerships to promote rail projects, including a new proposed rail shuttle technology and other rail links. Those rail projects could play a key role in linking Port Freeport more directly with the proposed free-flowing transportation corridor envisioned by the coalition.
The second,
SB 28, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, also amends the Texas Transportation Code to define
"port access improvement projects" and allow such projects to receive funding from the Texas Mobility Fund, among other things. The legislation is designed to boost infrastructure development at Texas ports and enable them to more effectively compete in attracting freight business from the newly expanded Panama Canal. Creighton served as chairman of the Senate Select Interim Committee on Texas Ports.
"These two pieces of legislation were vital in enabling our coalition to realize our vision of an effective transportation corridor," said Coalition Chairman Andy Meyers, who also serves as Fort Bend County commissioner. "We thank our legislators for their vision and support of transportation solutions."
The Highway 36A Coalition is a collection of citizens and concerned government officials with a common purpose of improving the quality of life throughout the 36A Corridor.
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