DALLAS (AP) -- A Dallas legislator today proposed allowing local-option elections for some urban counties to impose taxes and fees for road, bridge and rail projects.

Sen. John Carona chairs the Senate transportation committee.

Carona says communities need more ways to fund road projects because of increasing transportation demands and a shortage of state and federal money.

It also would allow for a "Texas new resident roadway impact fee" of up to $250 on vehicles that were previously registered out of state.

Some officials from the Dallas-Fort Worth area testified in support of the legislation.

Some state fuel tax money is diverted to other uses and not used for transportation projects.

Gov. Rick Perry and some lawmakers have said they want to stop that diversion of fuel tax money.

Carona's legislation covers the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plus Bexar (BAYR) and Travis counties. He said he's received word that El Paso and Harris counties want to join the legislation.

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The local-option transportation bill is SB855. The proposed constitutional amendment related to rail projects is SJR24.

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