Senate committee advances bill to create state authority for subterranean transit oversight

Leader Johnson introduced Senate Bill 2205, saying the measure would "create the Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority, which would be governed by an 11 member board responsible for administering the authorities' duties under the act." The sponsor described a membership that includes one gubernatorial appointee, three appointments each from the leaders of the Senate and House, and certain cabinet officials serving ex officio. He said the authority would come into existence on execution of a qualifying state lease or by July 31, and would be subject to sunset review by this committee and the House Government Operations Committee two years after its creation.

Senator Oliver and other members pressed the sponsor on local control, appointment authority, and who would be responsible for remediation if a private tunneling company abandoned a partially completed project. Leader Johnson replied that similar single-project authorities exist as precedent, that the proposed authority is not required for the Nashville airport-to-downtown tunnel and that, if a private operator abandoned a project, contractual and statutory responsibilities would require remediation. The sponsor also said discussions with fiscal review indicate the initial fiscal note may be revised and that any one-time costs are expected to be non-recurring because the project should be revenue-generating.

The clerk conducted a roll call and the committee recorded seven ayes and two noes; Chairman Jackson announced the committee gave SB 2205 a positive recommendation and that the bill will travel to the State and Local Committee.