As it currently stands, lawmakers need to go through a rigorous process in order to reduce speed limits in their areas.
However, a couple of bills are working their ways through the Texas House and Senate that would make it easier for lawmakers to do just that, without the meticulous checks and balances.
Senate Bill 1663 would allow lawmakers to reduce the speeds in residential areas to 20 mph, without having to go through the costly, and time-consuming, studies that would normally have to be executed.
As it stands, in order to reduce traffic speeds, counties have to conduct traffic studies, enforcement investigations, and other tasks before taking any action.
A similar bill, HB 2224, is currently making its way through the house.
Jay Blazek Crossley, who oversees the Texas-based nonprofit Farm & City and is in favor of the bills, told Axios, “It's literally life and death. On our streets where we live, the idea that we design them to be dangerous for children and all of us is just unacceptable."
However, Rachel Hale, who represents the Texas Eagle Forum during a recent hearing on the Senate bill, said the legislation is "harmful to families" because it's too broad.
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