MINUTES 
          
                   SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION 
                          Wednesday, February 18, 1998 
                                     9:00 am 
                          U of H Hilton, Houston, Texas 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on  
         Transportation was held on Wednesday, February 18, 1998 at the   
         University  of Houston Hilton Hotel, Houston, Texas at 9:00  
         am.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister              Senator Bill Ratliff 
         Senator David Cain                      Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Drew Nixon 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:25 am.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The Chair recognized Alan C. Clark from the Houston -Galveston  
         Transportation Policy Council  to  testify  before the  
         committee on the need for greater state transportation  
         investments.  Mr. Clark  also provided written copies of  his  
         testimony.  
          
          Comments and questions by the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Jim Royer from the Greater Houston  
         Partnership to testify before the committee on transportation  
         funding needs in the Houston area.   
          
         Comments and questions by the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized the Mr. Roger Nylin, Mayor of the the  
         City of El Lago.  Mr Nylin testified before the committee on   
         the City of El Lago's support for Houston Metro.  
          
         Comments and questions by the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized the Honorable Judge Robert Eckels, Harris  
  
         County Judge to testify before the committee.  
         Comments and questions by the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Ray Zobel to testify before the  
         committee on the need for transportation for senior citizens. 
          
         Comments and questions by the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized Dr. Lalita Sen to testify before the  
         committee on the need and concern for transportation for  
         senior citizens. 
          
         Comments from the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Jerry L. Martin, Director of the Rail  
         Division for the Texas Railroad Commission.   
          
         Questions and comments from the members followed.  
          
         Mr. A.M.  Rivera , Director, of the Clover Acquisition  
         Corporation, Cloverfield Airport, submitted written testimony  
         regarding S.B. 950 and the need for viable funding sources for  
         modes of transportation.  
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Holcombe, Chairman of the Houston  
         METRO and Mr. Robert G. MacLennan, General Manager of the  
         Houston METRO to testify before the committee on Interim  
         Charge #3.  
          
         Questions from the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized  the Mayor of Houston,  Mr. Lee Brown to  
         testify before the committee regarding  interim charges one  
         through three.  
          
         Comments and questions from the members followed.  
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Steve Simmons, Deputy District  
         Engineer of the Houston area for the Texas Department of  
         Transportation and Mr. Robert Cuellar, the Interim Executive  
         Director for the Texas Department of Transportation to testify  
         before the committee.   
          
         Questions and comments from the members followed.  
          
         There being no further business, at 3:00 pm Senator Cain moved  
         that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
  
         Kelly Gilbert, Clerk