1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 196 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 recognize the Reverend Richard E. Tankerson, who is retiring 1-5 from his position as chairman of the VIA Metropolitan Transit 1-6 Board of Trustees after five and one-half years of loyal service; 1-7 and 1-8 WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson provided outstanding leadership to 1-9 VIA, an agency that provides public transportation services to 1-10 Bexar County; under his insightful guidance, VIA's services and 1-11 amenities to customers greatly improved, and the agency rebounded 1-12 to sound fiscal shape; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson became chairman of the board in 1-14 June of 1995, and during his term, he executed a five-year plan 1-15 of action that eliminated an annual $18 million deficit and 1-16 provided much needed direction and structure to the agency; and 1-17 WHEREAS, During his tenure, construction was completed 1-18 on the Ingram Transit Center and the South Texas Medical Center 1-19 Transfer Center; VIA's inventory of Park and Ride facilities 1-20 increased with the addition of the Ellis Alley Park and Ride 1-21 downtown, and the VIA Metro Center and Streetcar Station were 1-22 erected; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The VIA fleet was upgraded with the purchasing 2-2 of new revenue vehicles to replace aging buses, and in 2-3 September of 1999, the first of VIA's new low-floor, 40-foot 2-4 buses appeared on the streets of San Antonio; the buses have 2-5 ramps for wheelchair access, clean diesel engines to reduce 2-6 emissions, and improved safety-oriented braking and lighting 2-7 systems; and 2-8 WHEREAS, In 1996, the Classroom on Wheels education program 2-9 was launched to teach children about the benefits of mass 2-10 transportation, and VIA introduced the Ozone Season Pass for 2-11 use during state-declared Ozone Action Days; in 1997, the pilot 2-12 Bike and Ride program was initiated, and an agreement has now 2-13 been finalized to put bike racks on VIA's entire fleet by the 2-14 end of 2001; and 2-15 WHEREAS, In 1999, Mr. Tankerson received an Industry, 2-16 Innovation, and Leadership award from the Conference of Minority 2-17 Transportation Officials for the major role he played in 2-18 transforming VIA Metropolitan Transit from a state of near 2-19 bankruptcy to its present status as the number one transit 2-20 agency in Texas; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Mr. Tankerson is highly respected for his many 2-22 accomplishments as chairman of VIA and for his leadership in 2-23 the San Antonio community; he is currently the director of 2-24 the Texas Department on Aging and serves on numerous boards, 3-1 including the Downtown Advisory Board, Bexar County Opportunities 3-2 Industrialization Center, Incorporated, and the Hispanic 3-3 Chamber of Commerce; he was a longtime pastor in the African 3-4 Methodist Episcopal Church; and 3-5 WHEREAS, An exemplary and distinguished gentleman who 3-6 is noted for his engaging personality and sense of humor, 3-7 Mr. Tankerson is beloved by his friends and former colleagues 3-8 at VIA Metropolitan Transit, and his presence as chairman of 3-9 the board of trustees will be greatly missed; now, therefore, 3-10 be it 3-11 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-12 77th Legislature, hereby commend Richard E. Tankerson on his 3-13 remarkable accomplishments on behalf of VIA Metropolitan 3-14 Transit and extend to him best wishes for the future; and, 3-15 be it further 3-16 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-17 him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. 3-18 Van de Putte 3-19 ______________________________________ 3-20 President of the Senate 3-21 I hereby certify that the above 3-22 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-23 on February 6, 2001. 3-24 ______________________________________ 3-25 Secretary of the Senate 3-26 ______________________________________ 3-27 Member, Texas Senate