Texas Transportation Code - TRANSP § 454.005. Lease of System

(a) In lieu of operating a mass transportation system, the governing body of a municipality or a board of trustees managing the system, with the approval of the municipality's governing body by resolution, may enter into a lease or other contractual arrangement for the operation of the system by a privately owned and operated corporation.

(b) The guaranteed or contingent payment of rentals, computed on revenue or gross or net profits or determined by any other method of compensation the governing body or board of trustees determines to be reasonable, may be the consideration for a lease or other contract under this section.

(c) The municipality must give public notice and make a request for the submission of bids in the manner required by law for the taking of bids for a public construction contract before entering into a lease or other contract under this section. The municipality shall accept the best bid submitted, considering the rentals to be paid and the experience and financial responsibility of the corporations submitting the bids.