MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
9:00 AM
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
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Pursuant
to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public
hearing of the Senate Committee on Transportation was held on Tuesday, December
18, 2012, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS
PRESENT:
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MEMBERS
ABSENT:
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Senator
Robert Nichols, Chair
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Senator
Chris Harris
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Senator
Kirk Watson, Vice Chair
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Senator
Florence Shapiro
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Senator
Wendy Davis
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Senator
Jeff Wentworth
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Senator
Rodney Ellis
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Senator
Tommy Williams
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Senator
Juan Hinojosa
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The
chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. The following business was
transacted:
Senator
Nichols made introductory remarks to the Committee, including the introduction
of Committee staff.
The
Committee heard invited testimony only on the following Interim Charges:
·
Examine
the anticipated impacts of the Panama Canal expansion on Texas' cargo and
shipping industry, intermodal facilities, roadways, and ports. Examine the
implementation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District and determine if
additional security districts are needed for other ports.
The
roll was called during the testimony on the preceding charge, and a quorum was
established.
- Study current state statutes and
agency rules regulating oversize and overweight vehicles. Evaluate the
public safety benefit of enforcing these regulations and effectiveness in
preventing roadway damage, including the cost of repair and maintenance to
infrastructure associated with overweight vehicles. Provide
recommendations that balance economic productivity, public safety, and
protection and maintenance of roadways. Provide recommendations on the
need for additional weights and measures training for law enforcement in
this state.
- Study the potential for toll
collection and enforcement tools to pursue toll scofflaws for Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local toll project entities.
- Examine the
need for additional natural gas fueling infrastructure to efficiently
utilize Texas' vast domestic reserves of natural gas. Also, examine the
future requirements for public and private electric vehicle charging
stations and the impact of the increased usage of alternative-fueled
vehicles. Include geographic balance in the evaluation of alternative-fuel
infrastructure. Assess the impact that increasing numbers of electric
vehicles will have on the state's electric grid.
- Monitor the
implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Transportation
& Homeland Security, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions,
and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance,
and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
- Implementation of the Sunset
Advisory Commission recommendations, statutory changes specified in
TxDOT's sunset legislation and TxDOT's modernization efforts, including
the use of public and private engineering services and the implementation
and use of business performance measures;
- Implementation of Proposition 12
funding provided by the fiscal year 2012-2013 Appropriations Act,
including an assessment of the impact of this funding on the state's Top
50 list of congested roadway segments and the funding needed to advance
each region's priorities in fiscal year 2014-2015.
All
witnesses are shown on the attached list.
There
being no further business, at 12:18 PM Senator Nichols moved that the Committee
stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
__________________________________________
Senator
Robert Nichols, Chair
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Amy
Jeter, Clerk