House Committee on Transportation 
         75th Legislature 
         March 25, 1998 
         1:30 p.m.  
         Texas A&M University 
         Bush Library Conference Center, Auditorium B 
         College Station, Texas  
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on February 25, 1998, the House  
         Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing and was  
         called to order by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander  
         at 1:33 p.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows:   
          
         Present:  Representatives Alexander; Finnell; Hawley; Pickett  
                   (4). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Siebert; Edwards; Hartnett; Hill;  
                   Uher (5). 
          
         Representatives Gary Walker and Dr. Bill Roman were introduced  
         by the chairman. 
          
         The chair recognized Dr. Herbert Richardson, Director of the  
         Texas Transportation Institute, for opening remarks and a  
         presentation. 
          
         The chair recognized the following individuals to testify on  
         the committee's interim study charge regarding speed limits  
         and highway safety: 
          
         Carlos Lopez, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation; 
         J. Mark Wallace, representing the Andrews Independent School  
         District; 
         James Haynes, representing the Plains Independent School  
         District; 
         Maxie Watts, representing the Wink-Loving Independent School  
         District; 
         Deborah Goertz, representing the Texas Department of Public  
         Safety; 
         Colonel Dudley Thomas, representing the Texas Department of  
         Public Safety; 
         Major E.C. "Joey" Sherman, representing the Texas Department  
         of Public Safety; 
         Major Burton Christian, representing the Texas Department of  
         Public Safety; 
         Colonel (retired) Bob Frisby, representing himself, and 
         Carolyn Myner, representing the Chalk Bluff Association Comm. 
          
         Testimony was taken. 
          
         Charles Seale, representing the Texas Department of Public  
         Safety, was present, but did not testify. 
  
         The chair recognized the following individuals to testify on  
         the committee' interim study charge regarding oversize and  
         overweight trucks and the North American Free Trade Agreement   
         (NAFTA): 
          
         Major Lester Mills, representing the Texas Department of  
         Public Safety; 
         Lawrance Smith, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation; 
         Dan Middleton, representing the Texas Transportation Institute  
         (TTI); 
         Robert Wilson, representing the Texas Department of  
         Transportation; 
         Rick Chron, representing himself and the Texas Towing  
         Association. 
          
         Testimony was taken. 
          
         The chair recognized Major Burton Christian, representing the  
         Texas Department of Public Safety, to clarify a question from  
         earlier testimony. 
          
         The chair announced the committee's next public hearing will  
         be a joint public hearing with the Senate Interim Committee on  
         Transportation to be held Tuesday, April 7, 1998, at 10:30  
         a.m. at Union Station in Dallas, TX. 
          
         At 3:53 p.m. on motion of the chair and without objection, the  
         committee adjourned. 
          
         _______________________                       
         ____________________________ 
         Rep. Clyde Alexander, Chair                       Tom  
         Tagliabue, Committee Clerk