SECTION 25.41. Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Commission--The Texas Transportation Commission.

(2) Department--The Texas Department of Transportation.

(3) Exclusive lane--A lane of a highway or segment of a highway on the state highway system the use of which is restricted to one or more specific classifications of motor vehicle.

(4) Executive director--The executive director of the department, or a designee not below the level of district engineer, division director, or office director.

(5) High occupancy vehicle (HOV)--A bus or other motorized passenger vehicle occupied by a specified minimum number of passengers.

(6) High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane--One or more lanes of a highway or an entire highway where designated high occupancy vehicles are given at all times, or at regularly scheduled times, a priority or preference over some or all other vehicles moving in the general stream of highway traffic.

(7) High occupancy toll (HOT) lane--An HOV lane that may be used by vehicles carrying fewer than the specified minimum number of passengers, or other eligible vehicles, that pay a toll for the right to do so.

(8) HOV Authority--A transit authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 451, 452, or 453; a regional mobility authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 361 or 370; a municipality; a transportation corporation; or a coordinated county transportation authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 460.

(9) Level of Service C--A measure of highway congestion as defined by the latest edition of the Highway Capacity Manual published by the United States Transportation Research Board.

(10) Low-emission vehicle--A vehicle that has been certified by regulations of the federal Environmental Protection Agency to meet the Tier II Bin 1 or Bin 2 emission level established for that make and model year.

(11) Seriously degraded--When a lane or lanes fail to achieve at least a level of Service C for 90% of the time over a consecutive 90-day period during weekday peak travel periods.

(12) Toll entity--A regional tollway authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 366; a transit authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 451, 452, or 453; a regional mobility authority created under Transportation Code, Chapter 361 or 370; a county acting under Transportation Code, Chapter 284; or a transportation corporation.

(13) Toll lane--A lane or lanes of the state highway system, including an HOV lane, on which a toll has been authorized by order of the commission under Transportation Code, Chapter 224, Subchapter F.

(14) Transportation corporation--A corporation created by the commission under §§15.80 - 15.93 of this title (relating to Transportation Corporations).

Source Note: The provisions of this §25.41 adopted to be effective September 19, 2002, 27 TexReg 8778; amended to be effective May 20, 2004, 29 TexReg 4930; amended to be effective March 16, 2006, 31 TexReg 1729