DEFINITIONS.

(a) In this title:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Transportation Commission.

(2) "Department" means the Texas Department of Transportation.

(3) "Director" means the executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.

(b) In this subtitle, "toll project" means one or more tolled lanes of a highway or an entire toll highway constructed, maintained, or operated as a part of the state highway system and any improvement, extension, or expansion to the highway, including:

(1) a facility to relieve traffic congestion and promote safety;

(2) a bridge, tunnel, overpass, underpass, interchange, entrance plaza, approach, toll booth, toll plaza, service road, ramp, or service center;

(3) an administration, storage, or other building, operations center, maintenance or other facility, equipment, or system the department considers necessary to operate the project;

(4) property rights, easements, and interests the department acquires to construct, maintain, or operate the project;

(5) a parking area or structure, rest stop, park, and any other improvement or amenity the department considers necessary, useful, or beneficial for the operation and maintenance of the project; and

(6) a nontolled facility that is appurtenant to and necessary for the efficient operation and maintenance of the project, including a connector, service road, access road, ramp, interchange, bridge, or tunnel.

(c) In this chapter, "local transportation entity" means an entity that participates in the transportation planning process, including:

(1) a regional tollway authority under Chapter 366;

(2) a rapid transportation authority under Chapter 451;

(3) a regional transportation authority under Chapter 452;

(4) a rural transit district under Chapter 458;

(5) a coordinated county transportation authority under Chapter 460; or

(6) a metropolitan planning organization under Subchapter D, Chapter 472.