Senate Committee TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON TRANSPORTATION POLICY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

                                                                                          February 19, 2007

Austin, Texas - Senator John Carona, Chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, today announced a special hearing to take public testimony on transportation policy.

"We have initiated some sweeping changes in transportation policy over the last four years," said Carona. "The state has aggressively pursued a new toll policy, rapidly expanded the use of public-private partnerships for transportation infrastructure, and accelerated the process of developing the Trans Texas Corridor. In the process, we clearly have not fully heard or taken into consideration the views of the public. Before we go any further, the policy makers need to hear from the people."

The hearing will be held March 1, 2007, in the Extension Auditorium of the State Capitol in Austin. The hearing will begin at 8:30 AM and is expected to go until 6:00 PM. To give as many people as possible the opportunity to testify, each witness will be limited to three minutes of oral testimony. There is no limit on the amount of written testimony a witness may submit.

"Except for a few expert witnesses, the hearing is dedicated to listening to public concerns," said Carona. "Anyone at all who wants to testify can submit a quick witness form in advance of the hearing, or at the hearing."

The committee will hear from Dennis Enright, a principal at the NW Financial Group in Jersey City, New Jersey who is recognized as an expert in public-private transportation partnerships, and will also give the Texas Transportation Commission an opportunity to testify.

Witness forms are available from the committee office at (512) 463-0067, on the committee website at http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/commit/c640/c640.htm, by fax via (512) 463-2840 or by email from john.webb_sc@senate.state.tx.us. A reproducible form accompanies this release.

Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $.75 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $6.00); accessible parking is available with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are available throughout the complex.

Members of the committee are Senator Carona (Chair), Senator Kirk Watson (Vice Chair), Senators Kim Brimer, Rodney Ellis, Robert Nichols, Florence Shapiro, Eliot Shapleigh, Jeff Wentworth, and Tommy Williams. The Committee generally considers legislation related to transportation, homeland security, and other issues as assigned by the Lieutenant Governor.