During the nominations
hearing, Ned Holmes of Houston and Fred Underwood of
Lubbock at times looked like deer caught in
headlights, as senators grilled them about their
views on controversies that have been swirling for
months around the agency's management and
operations.
In the end, assured by
the two men that they support more openness and will
get answers to lingering questions about tolls and
financing, the committee voted unanimously to
approve their appointments. Both need to be
confirmed by the full Senate.
"I think we've created a
monster" in the Texas Department of Transportation,
state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, citing the
agency's rush to approve toll roads and private
financing packages that stirred continuing
controversy.
"I think we're headed in
a totally wrong direction," Eltife said. "I'm not so
sure we haven't already signed away the farm."
Holmes and Underwood
said they could not predict how they will vote on
issues because they have just started understanding
the complexities of Texas transportation.
At one point, though,
Underwood expressed frustration about being unable
to get answers to some of his questions.
"I'm hoping the two of
you will bring us a fresh approach to this," Eltife
said, adding later, "Just because they started this
five years ago and it's almost under contract is not
the right answer" to questions.
The commission has five
members, all appointed by the governor.
Eltife blamed the
Legislature for much of the problem facing the
transportation agency, saying that refusal to
approve an increase in the state's gas tax to pay
for road-building programs resulted in the agency
having to resort to controversial alternatives.
"We're either going to
provide transportation systems, or we're going to
live with an incredibly impaired system," Holmes
said.
Sen. Kirk Watson,
D-Austin, quizzed the two nominees on whether they
support more transparency in the operation of the
regional boards that set tolls and make toll-road
decisions.
Both indicated they do.
Watson also asked where
they stand on a past agency practice of requiring
local communities to make financial contributions if
they wanted roads built immediately — "a hammer
instead of an incentive," he called it.
Other senators
criticized that practice as unfair to rural counties
and those that cannot afford to pay, even if they
desperately need new highways.
"I don't think it should
be used that way," Underwood said.
