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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 154

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
join the citizens of El Paso in celebrating the 100th anniversary 
of Union Depot; and
	WHEREAS, When the Union Depot passenger station was 
completed in 1906, El Paso was home to six major railroads; it was 
the first passenger train station to be built in the United States 
for international railway traffic; and
	WHEREAS, Some 22 trains arrived and departed daily, and 
with adjacent hotels, bars, and restaurants, the area was a hub 
of activity; railroad traffic peaked during World War II with 30 
trains arriving and departing daily; and
	WHEREAS, By the 1960s, railroad traffic had declined as 
travel by airplane and automobile became more convenient; El Paso 
Union Passenger Depot Company ceased its operations at the depot 
in 1974 and soon abandoned the property; and
	WHEREAS, The City of El Paso purchased Union Depot in 1974 
and moved its Sun Metro Transit operations into the building; the 
city obtained funding through federal, state, and local grants 
and began renovating the depot in 1982; the restoration included 
tile floors, Italian marble pillars, and arched ceilings, in 
keeping with the original Victorian design; and
	WHEREAS, Union Depot is listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places and is recognized by the Texas Historical 
Commission; although Amtrak is the only railroad that remains at 
the depot, the building stands today much as it did in 1906, with 
the original bell tower reigning over El Paso downtown area with 
all its majesty; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the 
historical gem in El Paso that is Union Depot on the occasion of 
its 100th anniversary; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 
memento of this special occasion.
                                                                       Shapleigh




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on May 8, 2006.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate