Sec. 623.219. ROUTE DESIGNATION. (a) For a permit issued by a port authority located in a county that borders the United Mexican States, the commission shall, with the consent of the port authority, designate the most direct route from:

(1) the Gateway International Bridge or the Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates to the entrance of the Port of Brownsville using State Highways 48 and 4 or United States Highways 77 and 83 or using United States Highway 77 and United States Highway 83, East Loop Corridor, and State Highway 4; and

(2) the Free Trade International Bridge to:

(A) the entrance of the Port of Brownsville using Farm-to-Market Road 509, United States Highways 77 and 83, Farm-to-Market Road 511, State Highway 550, and East Loop (State Highway 32);

(B) the eastern entrance of the Port of Harlingen using Farm-to-Market Road 509, United States Highway 77 Business, and Farm-to-Market Road 1846;

(C) the western entrance of the Port of Harlingen using Farm-to-Market Roads 509 and 106;

(D) the southern entrance of the Harlingen Industrial Park using Farm-to-Market Road 509; and

(E) the southern entrance of the Harlingen Aerotropolis at Valley International Airport using Farm-to-Market Road 509.

(b) For a permit issued by a port authority located in a county that is adjacent to at least two counties with a population of 550,000 or more, the commission shall, with the consent of the port authority, designate the most direct route from:

(1) the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 523 and Moller Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using Farm-to-Market Roads 523 and 1495;

(2) the intersection of State Highway 288 and Chlorine Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using State Highway 288;

(3) the intersection of State Highway 288 and Chlorine Road to the entrance of Port Freeport using State Highways 288 and 332 and Farm-to-Market Roads 523 and 1495;

(4) the intersection of North Velasco Boulevard and South Avenue J in the city of Freeport to the entrance of Port Freeport using North Velasco Boulevard and Farm-to-Market Road 1495;

(5) 21441 Loop 419 in the city of Sweeny to the entrance of Port Freeport using Loop 419, State Highways 35 and 36, and Farm-to-Market Road 1495; and

(6) 5261 Seventh Street in Bay City to the entrance of Port Freeport using State Highway 35, Loop 419, State Highway 36, and Farm-to-Market Road 1495.

(b-1) For a permit issued by a port authority contiguous to the Gulf of Mexico or a bay or inlet opening into the gulf with a population of not more than 200,000 that is adjacent to a county described in Subsection (b), the commission shall, with the consent of the port authority, designate the most direct route from:

(1) the Matagorda County line to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using State Highway 35;

(2) the Matagorda County line to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using State Highway 60;

(3) the Matagorda County line to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using FM 521; and

(4) the Matagorda County line to the entrance of the Port of Palacios using State Highway 71.

(c) If the commission designates a route or changes the route designated under this section, the commission shall notify the port authority of the route not later than the 60th day before the date that the designation takes effect.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 624, Sec. 3, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 976, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 411 (S.B. 1641), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 61 (S.B. 1373), Sec. 1.03, eff. May 19, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 967 (H.B. 1305), Sec. 4, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 705 (H.B. 3125), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 350 (H.B. 1321), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 353 (H.B. 1741), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 177 (H.B. 4156), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1295 (H.B. 3460), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019.