House Bill 3588, enacted by the 78th Texas Legislature in 2003 requires regional coordination of service planning to fill service gaps and eliminate overlaps in public transportation services. House Bill 3588 added Chapter 461 to the Texas Transportation Code ([1]) that requires TxDOT to:
Kari Banta
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- Identify overlaps and gaps in the provision of public transportation services, including services that could be more effectively provided by existing, privately funded transportation resources;
- Identify underused equipment owned by public transportation providers;
- Identify inefficiencies in the provision of public transportation services by any public transportation provider; and
- Encourage public transportation providers to agree on the allocation of specific services and service areas among the providers.
In response to House Bill 3588, TxDOT requires each region in the state to develop a coordinated plan for public transportation and human services transportation. TxDOT defined regions by the boundaries of the 24 councils of governments (COG) in Texas. In conjunction with this requirement, TxDOT also requires that each region establish a lead agency and designate a steering committee to guide and improve regional coordination in order to enhance service delivery, customer satisfaction, efficiency and effectiveness, and integrate systems-based and client-based approaches to transportation.[2]
[1]Texas Transportation Code 461. 2003. Retrieved August 23, 2010, from http://law.justia.com/texas/codes/tn/006.00.000461.00.html.
[2] Text adapted from Coastal Bend Regional Coordination Plan 2022