SENATE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:    Transportation 

TIME & DATE:  9:00 AM, Tuesday, December 18, 2012 

PLACE:        E1.016 (Hearing Room) 
CHAIR:        Senator Robert Nichols 

The Senate Transportation Committee will hear 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.

· 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.