(a) For a purpose described by § 463.056(a)(1) and as necessary or useful in the construction, repair, maintenance, or operation of the public transportation system, an authority may:
(1) use a public way, including an alley; and
(2) directly, or indirectly by another person, relocate or reroute the property of another person or alter the construction of the property of another person.
(b) For an act authorized by Subsection (a)(2), an authority may contract with the owner of the property to allow the owner to make the relocation, rerouting, or alteration by the owner’s own means or through a contractor of the owner. The contract may provide for reimbursement of the owner for costs or payment to the contractor.

Terms Used In Texas Transportation Code 463.058

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) An authority may acquire by eminent domain any interest in real property, including a fee simple interest, except the right of eminent domain may not be exercised:
(1) in a municipality without the approval of each proposed acquisition by the governing body of the municipality or in an unincorporated area without the approval of each proposed acquisition by the commissioners court of the county in which the property to be condemned is located; or
(2) in a manner that would:
(A) unduly impair the existing neighborhood character of property surrounding, or adjacent to, the property to be condemned;
(B) unduly interfere with interstate commerce; or
(C) authorize the authority to run an authority vehicle on a railroad track that is used to transport property.
(d) If an authority, through the exercise of a power under this chapter, makes necessary the relocation or rerouting of, or alteration of the construction of, a road, alley, overpass, underpass, railroad track, bridge, or associated property, an electric, telegraph, telephone, or television cable line, conduit, or associated property, or a water, sewer, gas, or other pipeline, or associated property, the relocation or rerouting or alteration of the construction must be accomplished at the sole cost and expense of the authority, and damages that are incurred by an owner of the property must be paid by the authority.
(e) An authority may not begin an activity authorized under Subsection (a) to alter or damage property of others, including this state or a political subdivision of this state, without having first received the written permission of the owner.
(f) In this subsection, “telecommunications provider” has the meaning assigned by § 51.002, Utilities Code. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an authority may not relocate the property of a telecommunications provider on behalf of the provider without the provider’s permission.
(g) Subsections (e) and (f) do not apply if the power of eminent domain is exercised.