H.B. No. 5218 amends the Transportation Code to establish specific route designations for the issuance of permits for the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles serving the Port of Brownsville, which is located near the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill specifies that the Texas Transportation Commission, with the consent of the port authority, will designate the most direct routes for these vehicles. The new language includes routes from the Gateway International Bridge and the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates to the Port of Brownsville, utilizing State Highways 48 and 4, as well as United States Highways 77 and 83. Additionally, it designates a route from the Free Trade International Bridge to the Port of Brownsville using various local roads and highways.

The bill also clarifies that these provisions are applicable only to the designated routes for the Port of Brownsville and sets an effective date of September 1, 2025. The amendments include the removal of previous language regarding route designations and the insertion of specific routes to enhance clarity and operational efficiency for the movement of heavy vehicles in this region.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 623.219 (Transportation Code 623)