Tennessee § 54-3-113 - Pilot program.

§ 54-3-113. Pilot program.

This chapter shall be initially limited to a pilot program, as further provided in this section, to be conducted for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of tolling as an additional method for funding the development of highways or other transportation-related facilities. The pilot program created by this chapter shall be limited to the following: One (1) new highway project, including any bridges and other structures that may be necessary to complete the project; and One (1) major bridge project crossing a major river, together with any related highway facilities and structures needed to complete the project and give it logical termini; or Two (2) new highway projects, including any bridges and other structures that may be necessary to complete each project; or Two (2) major bridge projects crossing a major river, together with any related highway facilities and structures needed to complete each project and give it logical termini. It is the intent of the general assembly that the department shall proceed to identify and initiate the development of these pilot projects as soon as reasonably practical. No pilot project shall be developed until the department conducts one (1) or more public hearings for the specific purpose of receiving public comments concerning tolling as an alternative means of funding or financing bridges or highways within the state and until the department submits a written report, reviewing the public comments, to the chairs of the finance, ways and means committees of the senate and of the house of representatives and to the chairs of the transportation and safety committee of the senate and transportation committee of the house of representatives. No pilot project shall be developed by the department without the prior approval of the general assembly as provided in § 54-3-102(b). The department shall not develop any tollway project or toll facility project that is not within the pilot program created in this section until after the general assembly has expressly authorized the department to proceed with additional tollway projects and toll facility projects. Acts 2007, ch. 597, § 16; 2009, ch. 54, § 1; 2013, ch. 236, § 90; 2013, ch. 308, §§ 7, 25. Amendments. The 2009 amendment, in the introductory language of (b), substituted “the following” for “no more than two (2) projects, as follows”; redesignated former (b)(1) and (b)(2) as present (b)(1)(A) and (b)(1)(B), respectively; in present (b)(1)(A), substituted “One (1) new highway project” for “A new highway project”; in present (b)(1)(B), substituted “One (1) major bridge project” for “A major bridge project”; and added present (b)(2) and (b)(3). The 2013 amendment by ch. 236 substituted “the chairs of the transportation and safety committee of the senate and transportation committee of the house of representatives” for “the chairs of the transportation committees of the senate and of the house of representatives” at the end of (d)(1). The 2013 amendment by ch. 308 deleted the second sentence in (c) which read: “It is further the intent of the general assembly that, to the extent feasible, consistent with legal requirements and available funding, that the department proceed with such development with the goal that at least one (1) of the pilot projects shall be ready to proceed to contract for design and construction, or separate contracts for design and construction, as appropriate, within five (5) years after June 28, 2007.”; and, in (e), deleted the first two sentences which read: “The department shall evaluate the progress of the pilot program and shall provide a written report of the evaluation to the general assembly on or before January 1, 2009. The written report shall contain such information as required by § 54-3-102(b) .” and deleted “this report has been submitted to the general assembly and” following “until after”. Effective Dates. Acts 2009, ch. 54, § 2. April 14, 2009. Acts 2013, ch. 236, § 94. April 19, 2013. Acts 2013, ch. 308, § 46. July 1, 2013.