Texas Border Business
AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Transportation Commission (TxDOT) approved administrative rules that allow for the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority to issue permits for overweight and oversize commercial vehicles to access the newly created Hidalgo County Overweight Corridor under HB 474.
During the 83rd Legislative Session, Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr. authored and passed HB 474, a law that allows for the expedited movement of goods in oversize/overweight commercial vehicles to drive a designated route that is designed to handle weight limits that until now would be forced to split into multiple vehicles, costing the producers and ultimately the consumer more.
“With the completion of the rule making process established under HB 474, Hidalgo County will soon be ready to accommodate an influx of commercial vehicles with destinations in Texas and throughout the Midwest and Eastern U.S.” The corridor will allow our local international trade businesses to grow, hire more employees, and build more infrastructure by creating efficiencies in the system,” said Rep. Munoz.
Funds collected from these permits will be used to maintain any incremental wear and tear along the designated overweight corridor.
Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, who sponsored the legislation in the Senate, stated “We appreciate Representative Munoz’s leadership on this issue and the positive benefits for Hidalgo County. HB 474 is a perfect example of what happens when stakeholders in the business community work together to effectively develop a solution to a problem.”
“The adoption of rules today marked another key step in completing a key piece of infrastructure needed to promote trade and attract jobs and investments,” stated Munoz. “It has taken numerous partnerships to get it done, and I would like to acknowledge Senator Hinojosa’s tenacity and key role in the development of the legislation and passage of HB 474.”
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