MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (INTERIM)
Wednesday, June 3, 1998
10:00 am
City Council Chambers, Corpus Christi, Texas
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Transportation (Interim) was held on Wednesday, June 3, 1998
at the City Council Chambers in Corpus Christi, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator Troy Fraser
Senator David Cain Senator Drew Nixon
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator Carlos Truan
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:15 am. The
following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Carlos Truan
Also in attendance were the following:
Representative Gene Seaman
Representative Judy Hawley
Representative Jaime Capelo
The Chair recognized the Honorable Richard Borchard, County
Judge of Nueces County and Chair of the Hwy. 77/281
Coalition. Judge Borchard's written comments are attached.
Judge Borchard voiced his support for the proposed I-69
Corridor and for the JFK Causeway project. Also cited was the
hardship experienced due to the lack of an interstate highway
in the area. Judge Borchard referred to the history of South
Texas not getting its fair share of transportation funding.
He described how the Hwy. 77/281 Coalition has helped to
organize area support for more transportation funding.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized the Honorable Representative Gene Seaman
to read a letter on behalf of Senator Truan. Senator Truan
was not able to attend the morning part of the hearing because
of a death in the family. Senator Truan expressed support for
the I-69 (NAFTA Highway) and the JFK Causeway projects, as
well as the need to work toward a more intermodal
transportation infrastructure. The Port of Corpus Christi is
an important element of this goal. Senator Truan also cited
Corpus Christi's partnership with Laredo and the benefits that
will be achieved through the partnership relating to
itnermodal, international trade.
The Chair recognized the Honorable Mayor Lloyd Neal. Mr. Neal
stated two basic problems to be addressed in the future:
education and transportation. The Corpus area has made great
gains in education, but has been left out of transportation
funding. The area needs help getting the JFK Causeway
project moved to "priority one." The traffic volume is too
low, according to TxDot funding formulas, but he thinks the
project rates "priority one" status because of safety
considerations alone. Mr. Neal suggested that the committee
think of a way to educate local officials and the public about
project funding, the different pots of money. Many locals
need help understanding how to properly manage projects to an
efficient completion.
Questions and comments from the members followed.
The Chair recognized Armando Beteta, Consul of Mexico. Mr
Beteta stated that free trade has been beneficial to Mexico,
and actually aided Mexico's 1994 economic recovery.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Mr. Glenn Guillory, Aransas County
Commissioner. Mr Guillory made his statement on behalf of
County Judge Toni Harden. He said their process with TxDot
has worked well in general. However, he is concerned about
rural areas being "outgunned" in the process by urban
lobbyists. Also, he voiced his concern over the areas
evacuation routes, overweight vehicles, and the problem of
having to re-do expensive and time-consuming environmental
studies that have "sat on the shelf too long".
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Mr. Joe McComb, Nueces County
Commissioner. Mr. McComb stated that the JFK project needs to
move forward even though it doesn't meet TxDot's 12-month
traffic standards. For 4-5 months it does meet them, and
those months are in hurricane season Mr. McComb is in the
trucking business, and says that before there is any
consideration of raising the gas tax, there needs to be
assurance that the money goes towards roads instead of other
state functions. Mr. McComb referred to the JFK Causeway and
the fact the causeway can be built cheaper if it were built at
a lower height than the $37 million plan. He went on to say
that only as an extreme last resort could he support funding
the Causeway with tolls. Tolls only work when there's a free
alternative route, and this bridge won't have a real
alterative.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized the Honorable Helen Walker, Victoria
County Jude, and I-69 Board member as well as past president
of the County Judges and Commissioners Association. Ms.
Walker's written testimony is attached.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized the Honorable Gary Middleton, Mayor of
Victoria. On the topic of alternative modes of
transportation, Mr. Middleton referred to the fact that
Victoria did a transit feasibility study in 1996-97 and
decided to go ahead and implement. However, now that the
city is a direct recipient of federal funds, they are subject
to federal rules and they are more arduous than state rules.
Mr. Middleton also spoke on railroads in Victoria and noted
that of the 64 grade crossings there is only one underpass.
Since the UP merger, train traffic has doubled in the area.
The trains from the south have to come through Victoria to get
to Houston and this has become a problem. Mr. Middleton also
cited the difficulty of adhering to UP/SP requirements
relating to openings and closures of grade crossings.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Mr. Muhammad Ulkarim, Corpus Christi
MPO. Mr. Ulkarim stressed the region is becoming more
important and that we must look at short, medium and
long-term planning. JFK,
I-69, and several exchanges are immediate needs.
Question and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Ms. Lauren Walthour representing Robstown
Economic Development Corporation, and the RADC Citizens of
Nueces. Ms Walthour testified to the many trains that pass
through Robstown each day with virtually no economic benefit
to the area, and she estimates that the numbers will rise soon
to one train every thirty to forty minutes.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Mr. Pat Veteto representing the Greater
Corpus Christi Business Alliance as well as Chair of the
Transportation Committee. Mr. Veteto expressed concern with
the diversion of money from Hwy Fund 6 to non-transportation
related state functions. This diversion is harming the state.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Ms. Lisa Cortinas representing the Gulf
Coast Regional Planning Commission. Ms. Cortinas informed the
committee Victoria is in the application process for an urban
system and at this time has no public transit. Ms. Cortinas
said their current budget is less than $500k. When asked by
Senator Gallegos how much they really needed? she didn't have
an exact number but said their fleet needed to be replaced..
The Chair recognized Ms. Marie Speer from Corpus Christi. Ms.
Speer stressed the need for investing money to fix the JFK
Causeway once and for all instead of the periodic maintenance
which is too expensive.
The Chair recognized Ms. Mary Beth Nelson from Corpus Christi.
Ms. Nelson, expressed her appreciation for the visit by the
Committee. Ms. Nelson also expressed safety concerns
relating to the JFK Causeway and believes this project should
be fast tracked. She also stressed her opposition to the
suggestions made earlier by Mr. Joe McComb regarding the
reduction in the bridge height.
The Chair recognized Mr. Robert Colmenares with the US
Department of Commerce. Mr. Colmenares explained he works to
promote minority businesses, and the program is funded
through USDOC. There is a problem with the term "temporary
businesses," because TxDot doesn't conduct business with
temporary businesses.
The Chair recognized Mr. Gary Bushell with the Greater Corpus
Christi Business Alliance and the Hwy 77/281. Mr. Bushell's
written testimony is attached.
The Chair recognized Ms. Linda Watson representing the
Regional Transit Association. Ms. Watson testified the Corpus
Regional Transit Association employs a cent sales tax. RTA
not only offers bus service but, para-transit, rubber-tire
trolley and a ferry. The fares for these services bring in
$1million annually.
Questions and comments by the members followed.
The Chair recognized Mr. Rick Moldonado, with the Port of
Corpus Christi to speak on behalf of Mr. William Dodge. Mr.
Moldonado's written testimony is attached.
The Chair recognized Mr. Robert Nichols with the
Transportation Commission was in attendance to answer any
questions the members my have.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
at 4:45pm, the chair moved the Interim Committee on
Transportation stand recessed, subject to the call of the
Chair. Their being no objection, the motion carried.
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Senator Ken Armbrister, Chair Committee Clerk