Committee advances bill to create statewide oversight for subterranean transportation projects

Leader Johnson presented an amended framework to govern planning, permitting and construction of subterranean transportation systems (tunnels for electric or autonomous vehicles). The amendment splits responsibilities between a governor's infrastructure coordination council and a separate Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Coordination Authority that would hear appeals from local permitting decisions, utility conflicts and failures to act within statutory timelines.

The sponsor said the amendment narrows and clarifies jurisdiction: local governments can approve subsurface use, condition leases to protect property interests, or deny when interference would be material; operators may appeal to the new authority. He told the committee the revised fiscal note removed an earlier $5,000,000 annual cost, and instead projected positive revenue of more than $1,000,000 per year with state implementation expenses of about $500,000 in year one and $887,000 in later years. Senator Yarbrough pressed the sponsor on indemnification, remediation for abandoned projects, insurance or bond requirements, and whether operators would retain exclusive initial emergency-response authority inside tunnels. The sponsor said indemnification and remediation language is in lease agreements executed by the executive branch in current projects and that the proposal requires operator coordination with the state fire marshal and local emergency responders.

Members asked for clearer statutory requirements for bonding, remediation and emergency access; the sponsor agreed to continue discussions as the bill proceeds to the Finance Committee. The committee adopted the amendment and advanced the bill to Finance.