Single City or County Initiated Process

If a single city or county initiates the process for establishing restricted truck lanes, the process proceeds as follows:
  1. The city or county submits a description of the proposed restriction to the local TxDOT district.
  2. The district conducts a traffic study to evaluate the probable effect.
  3. The city or county holds a public hearing. The notification of the public hearing must include a complete description of proposed restriction, including location, route numbers, and beginning and ending points of the restriction. A city council or commissioner's court meeting that allows the public to comment is acceptable.
  4. The city or county submits to the district a formal proposal, which must include:
    • six copies of the proposed ordinance
    • documentation of a traffic study conducted in compliance with
      Section 545.0651
      of the Texas Transportation Code
    • two original plan views of the roadway
    • signature of approval by an authorized city or county official
    • a transcript of any public comments received.
  5. The district engineer sends the Traffic Operations Division (TRF) director the formal proposal from the city or county with the traffic study used to evaluate the impact.
  6. The district (through TRF) provides the General Counsel Division (GCD) with a formal notice for publication in the Texas Register, which includes:
    • a complete description of the proposed restriction
    • notification of the 30-day public comment period
    • instruction to send comments to TRF.
  7. GCD handles publication in the Texas Register.
  8. TRF receives comments resulting from the notice in the Texas Register. Based on the comments, the TRF director and the district engineer decide if and where a hearing will be held.
  9. TRF forwards the proposal package to the executive director for approval or disapproval.
  10. The executive director sends an approval or disapproval letter to the city or county with a copy to the district engineer and GCD.
  11. The city or county passes an ordinance or order.
  12. The district funds and erects the signs.
The executive director may suspend or rescind approval based on any of the following factors:
  • changes in pavement conditions
  • changes in traffic conditions
  • geometric changes in roadway configuration
  • construction or maintenance activities
  • emergency or incident management.
Contiguous Cities or Counties Initiated Process
If contiguous cities or counties jointly initiate the process for establishing restricted truck lanes, the process proceeds as follows:
  1. The cities or counties jointly submit a description of the proposed restriction to the local TxDOT district.
  2. The district conducts a traffic study to evaluate the probable effect.
  3. Each city or county holds a public hearing. Notification of the public hearing must include a complete description of the proposed restriction, including location, route numbers, and beginning and ending points of the restriction. A city council or commissioner's court meeting that allows the public to comment is acceptable.
  4. Each city or county submits to the district a formal proposal, which must include:
    • six copies of the proposed ordinance
    • documentation of a traffic study conducted in compliance with
      Section 545.0651
      of the Texas Transportation Code
    • two original plan views of the roadway
    • signature of approval by an authorized city or county official
    • a transcript of any public comments received.
  5. The district (through TRF) provides the General Counsel Division (GCD) with a formal notice for publication in the
    Texas Register
    , which includes:
    • the date, time and location of the public hearings
    • a complete description of the proposed restriction
    • notification of the 30-day public comment period
    • instruction to send comments to the district.
  6. GCD handles publication in the
    Texas Register
    .
  7. The district holds at least one public hearing at the local district office or other suitable location. Notification of the public hearing must appear in the
    Texas Register
     at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.
  8. The district receives the comments resulting from the notice in the
    Texas Register
    . Based on the comments, the TRF director and the district engineer decide if and where another hearing will be held.
  9. The district engineer sends to the TRF director:
    • the formal proposal from each city or county
    • the traffic study used to evaluate the impact
    • the transcript of public hearing held at the district office
    • the written public comments received from the
      Texas Register
      .
  10. TRF forwards the proposal package to the executive director for approval or disapproval.
  11. The executive director sends an approval or disapproval letter to each city or county with a copy to the district engineer and GCD.
  12. The cities or counties pass ordinances or orders.
  13. The district funds and installs signs.
The executive director may suspend or rescind approval based on any of the following factors:
  • changes in pavement conditions
  • changes in traffic conditions
  • geometric changes in roadway configuration
  • construction or maintenance activities
  • emergency or incident management.