Section 11: Disposition Without Consideration of Right of Way Interests No Longer Needed
Anchor: #i1004430Overview
In certain situations, the statute provides for a quitclaim deed, correction deed or other instrument to an appropriate party without consideration. TxDOT has the option to follow the procedures in Initial Procedures for all Dispositions and applicable procedures in Sale of Right of Way (Fee Simple) No Longer Needed for State Highway Purpose to a GE under the Statutory Priority.
Anchor: #i1004440Disposition to Honor a Reversionary Clause
If an instrument conveying title to right of way contains a reversionary clause, the state can quitclaim or release its interest in the right of way. ROW Division Headquarters is available to provide guidance regarding determining if language in documents is a reversionary clause.
A $300 service fee is required for ROW Division Headquarters to prepare a minute order and process an instrument quitclaiming or releasing the state’s title to honor a reversionary clause. A GE would not pay a service fee.
Anchor: #i1004455Disposition to Correct an Error or Ambiguity
When there is an error or ambiguity in a conveyance document to the state, the Commission may recommend that the Governor execute a quitclaim deed, correction deed, or other appropriate instrument to correct the error or ambiguity. No service fee is required.
Examples of errors or ambiguities are:
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- incomplete or incorrect property description Anchor: #DQUPBCWY
- acquisition of land or an interest in land not intended to be acquired and not needed for a state highway purpose.
TxDOT submission requirements and the ROW Division Headquarters procedure are similar to those in Sale of Right of Way (Fee Simple) No Longer Needed for State Highway Purpose to a GE under the Statutory Priority. However, there may not be an appraisal or survey unless there was an incomplete or incorrect property description in the conveyance document to the state.
Anchor: #i1014770Quitclaim of Right of Way
The statute includes certain situations requiring the state to quitclaim any interest in land that may have accrued from the state’s use of the land. It may also be necessary to remove the land from the State Highway system.
Some of these situations are:
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- there is no record title in the name of the state or a GE Anchor: #XPCABVNV
- record title is in the name of a GE and the state has been using the right of way as part of the system Anchor: #TYBSUEVN
- record title is in the county’s name but the right of way is now within city limits. If the city needs the right of way for local road purposes, the city and county pass resolutions requesting the removal from the system and the transfer of jurisdiction and maintenance to the city. The right of way can be quitclaimed to the city.
When a highway or highway segment is recommended for removal from the highway system, TxDOT will submit the required information to ROW Division Headquarters.
TxDOT’s written recommendation to ROW Division Headquarters, with a copy to the Transportation Planning and Programming Division (TPP), must include:
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- TxDOT’s statement advising that the right of way is not needed for a state highway purpose and recommending the removal from the system Anchor: #TFRIBKLL
- if the grantee will be a GE, then a resolution will be needed from the GE requesting that the right of way be removed from the system and quitclaimed or released to the GE Anchor: #PUDEOQST
- an appropriate legal description of the right of way to be removed from the system and a survey plat Anchor: #NKYLDRDK
- a letter-size area location map with north arrow.
ROW Division Headquarters will:
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- review TxDOT’s request and obtain concurrence from TPP Anchor: #XWSWLUHH
- notify TxDOT that the request has been approved Anchor: #IYQWEWEM
- prepare and submit a minute order for the Commission to consider the removal from the system and quitclaim or release of the right of way Anchor: #QPMHDWCQ
- route the instrument for signatures Anchor: #MCQPLREK
- send the fully executed instrument to the TxDOT contact for recording and for delivery to the grantee Anchor: #HFDOSMQH
- modify right of way map(s) to reflect the transaction.
TxDOT will furnish the original recorded instrument to the grantee and update its records and modify right of way map(s) to make note of the transaction.