Regional Mobility Authority
Encyclopedia
A Regional Mobility Authority is an independent local government transportation agency in the U.S. state of Texas
.
first authorized the creation of Regional Mobility Authorities in 2001 with passage of Senate Bill 342. A subsequent constitutional amendment was approved by Texas voters on November 6, 2001.
A Regional Mobility Authority is authorized to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and expand a wide range of transportation facilities and services. Potential projects include highways (tolled or untolled), ferries, airports, bikeways, and intermodal hubs. Projects can be financed using a wide range of methods, including the sale of tax-exempt revenue bond
s, private equity
, public grants, government loans, and revenue generated from existing transportation facilities. A Regional Mobility Authority can acquire or condemn
property for projects, enter into public private partnerships, and set rates for the use of transportation facilities.
. The Governor of Texas appoints the Chairman of the Board. The Commissioner's Court of each county appoints a minimum of two board members. Board members serve two year terms. Board members cannot be elected officials and must reside within the county they represent. Board members cannot work for the Texas Department of Transportation
or any government entity within the geographic boundaries of the Mobility Authority. The Board of Directors is authorized to perform the functions provided under statute by hiring employees and/or contracting with government agencies or private sector companies.
and Senator Todd Staples
sponsored HJR 79, which placed Proposition 9 on the November 2005 ballot. Proposition 9 would have amended the Texas constitution to allow six-year staggered terms for Regional Mobility Authority board members. Anti-toll groups, such as the Austin Toll Party, opposed Proposition 9, arguing that such terms should not exceed the terms of the elected officials who appoint the board members.
On November 8, 2005, Texas voters rejected Proposition 9 by a 53.4% margin. In the election's aftermath, a toll road industry website described the defeat of Proposition 9 this way: "in Texas the tollers are behaving arrogantly and with extraordinary political ineptitude."
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Authorization and Powers
Under Chapter 370 of the Texas Statutes, a Regional Mobility Authority can be formed by one or more counties. The Texas LegislatureTexas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
first authorized the creation of Regional Mobility Authorities in 2001 with passage of Senate Bill 342. A subsequent constitutional amendment was approved by Texas voters on November 6, 2001.
A Regional Mobility Authority is authorized to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and expand a wide range of transportation facilities and services. Potential projects include highways (tolled or untolled), ferries, airports, bikeways, and intermodal hubs. Projects can be financed using a wide range of methods, including the sale of tax-exempt revenue bond
Revenue bond
A revenue bond is a special type of municipal bond distinguished by its guarantee of repayment solely from revenues generated by a specified revenue-generating entity associated with the purpose of the bonds, rather than from a tax...
s, private equity
Private equity
Private equity, in finance, is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange....
, public grants, government loans, and revenue generated from existing transportation facilities. A Regional Mobility Authority can acquire or condemn
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
property for projects, enter into public private partnerships, and set rates for the use of transportation facilities.
Administration
The administration of a Regional Mobility Authority is overseen by a Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. The Governor of Texas appoints the Chairman of the Board. The Commissioner's Court of each county appoints a minimum of two board members. Board members serve two year terms. Board members cannot be elected officials and must reside within the county they represent. Board members cannot work for the Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
or any government entity within the geographic boundaries of the Mobility Authority. The Board of Directors is authorized to perform the functions provided under statute by hiring employees and/or contracting with government agencies or private sector companies.
Controversy
In July 2005, Texas district court Judge Darlene Byrne ruled that the legislation allowing six-year terms for Regional Mobility Authority board members was unconstitutional. Article XVI, Section 30(a) of the Texas state constitution states, "The duration of all offices not fixed by this Constitution shall never exceed two years." In reaction to this decision, Representative Mike KruseeMike Krusee
Michael J. “Mike” Krusee is the departing Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 52, based about Round Rock in Williamson County...
and Senator Todd Staples
Todd Staples
Douglas Todd Staples is the current Republican Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture. Prior to his election in 2006 as Agriculture Commissioner, he had been a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature and formerly served on the city council in Palestine, Texas.Staples was...
sponsored HJR 79, which placed Proposition 9 on the November 2005 ballot. Proposition 9 would have amended the Texas constitution to allow six-year staggered terms for Regional Mobility Authority board members. Anti-toll groups, such as the Austin Toll Party, opposed Proposition 9, arguing that such terms should not exceed the terms of the elected officials who appoint the board members.
On November 8, 2005, Texas voters rejected Proposition 9 by a 53.4% margin. In the election's aftermath, a toll road industry website described the defeat of Proposition 9 this way: "in Texas the tollers are behaving arrogantly and with extraordinary political ineptitude."
Regional Mobility Authorities
- Central Texas Regional Mobility AuthorityCentral Texas Regional Mobility AuthorityThe Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a Regional Mobility Authority in the US state of Texas. CTRMA was created in 2003 by Travis and Williamson counties after authorization by the Texas Transportation Commission in October, 2002. It was the first Regional Mobility Authority created...
- Alamo Regional Mobility Authority
- North East Texas Regional Mobility AuthorityNorth East Texas Regional Mobility AuthorityThe North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority is a Regional Mobility Authority covering several counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The NET RMA was created by the Texas Transportation Commission in 2004, originally containing the counties of Smith and Gregg...
- Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority
- Grayson County Regional Mobility Authority
- Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority