# Phase 164 Summary

## Outcome

Phase `164` shipped one bounded `route_transition_authority` surface on top of
the existing route-transition ladder.

## Delivered

- `route_transition_authority` is now materialized in runtime status, the
  runtime protocol note, research-question markdown renders, and topic replay
- the authority surface stays declarative: it only summarizes whether the
  committed route is authoritative across current-topic truth surfaces
- one isolated acceptance lane now proves `none`, `waiting_commitment`,
  `pending_authority`, and `authoritative` outcomes without widening into
  fresh runtime mutation

## Notes

- pending authority is now represented by a committed route whose durable ref
  still points at a non-truth surface such as `transition_history.md`
- helper mechanisms and the existing `route_transition_commitment` surface
  remain intact; the new surface only adds operator-visible authority state
