Expert Testimony

Texas Senate

2012-2013

Senate Transportation Committee

  • Dr. Katherine F. Turnbull reported on the findings of the Texas Department of Transportation’s Panama Canal Stakeholder Working Group and a TTI research project assessing opportunities associated with the Panama Canal expansion and examining potential impacts on Texas ports and landside infrastructure including roadways, railroads, and intermodal facilities.  Her oral remarks were reflective of the written statement: Turnbull testimony text.

Additional Resources:

2010-2011

Joint Committee Meeting of the Senate Finance Committee and the
Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee

  • Testimony on state population projections and the effect on vehicle miles traveled, projected fuel efficiencies, impact on fuel tax revenues, and construction commodity prices by Dr. David Ellis. — May 26, 2010 — Ellis testimony audio [MP3] | Ellis testimony textTags: transportation funding, demographics, projected revenues, fuel tax, VMT fees, transportation costs, fuel efficiency

Joint Senate Transportation & Homeland Security and House Transportation Committee Meeting

  • Rafael Aldrete presented information requested by the Committees that addressed TTI’s research dealing with Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZs) — February 1, 2010 — Aldrete testimony audio [MP3] | Aldrete testimony textTags: TRIZ, transportation reinvestment zones, local option, transportation finance, public-private partnerships, P3

Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee

  • Dr. Joe Zietsman responded to the Committee’s request for information related to Interim Charge 1 on environmental challenges — May 3, 2010 — Zietsman testimony audio [MP3] | Zietsman testimony textTags: land use, air quality, emissions reduction
  • Dr. Katie Turnbull responded to the Committee’s request for information related to Interim Charge 9 on travel demand management in congested areas — June 8, 2010 — Turnbull testimony audio [MP3] | Turnbull testimony textTags: commuting, travel demand management, TDM, public transit, telework, flex time, alternative work arrangements, vanpool, carpool, telecomutting

Senate International Relations & Trade Committee

  • Dr. Steve Roop and Mr. Jim Kruse’s testimony on the role of marine freight transportation in the economic development of the State of Texas. — November 22, 2010 — Roop/Kruse Testimony textTags: marine, freight, international, trade, intermodal, NAFTA, multimodal, ports
  • Dr. Steve Roop responded to the Committee’s request for a presentation on border crossing improvements and the proposed freight shuttle system — May 4, 2010 — Roop testimony audio [MP3] | Roop testimony textTags: freight, freight shuttle, private sector, intermodal freight, automated controls, secure transport, border transport, automated inspection, supply chain
The House Chamber in the Texas Capitol

The House Chamber is the largest room in the Capitol, epitomizing the grand scale that is Texas.

Texas House of Representatives

2012-2013

House International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee

  • On April 1, 2013, Rafael Aldrete, Director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research in El Paso, presented testimony on H.B. 1777,  before the House International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.  Dr. Aldrete’s written remarks. Video of testimony (.ram file) presented by Dr. Aldrete (begins at 1 hour and 57 minutes into the recording of the meeting).  It followed the comments of State Rep. Joe Moody when he laid out H.B. 1777 (beginning at 1 hour and 52 minutes into the recording).   The bill relates to a study regarding the effects on international trade of wait times at points of entry between the United States and the United Mexican States.
  • On March 22, 2013, Dr. Steve Roop provided testimony to the House International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on the Freight Shuttle.  The Committee convened the public hearing in the El Paso City Hall.  No audio or video of the testimony is available. Dr. Roop’s presentation

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

  • On February 12, 2013, Dr. David Ellis, TTI Research Scientist and Manager of the TTI Infrastructure Investment Analysis Program, provided testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles VI, VII, and VIII.  He responded to a request to address the current status of Texas transportation infrastructure, specifically as it relates to highways; projected Texas transportation needs; and potential future transportation funding solutions.  Oral remarks were reflective of the written statement: Dr. Ellis’ Testimony.  Video of testimony (.ram file) presented by Dr. Ellis (begins at 1 hour and 27 minutes into the recording of the afternoon session that began at 1:30 p.m.).

House Interim Committee on Manufacturing

  • On November 14, 2012, Dr. Bill Stockton, TTI Executive Associate Director, provided testimony to the House Interim Committee, on the significance of transportation to the Texas manufacturing sector.  The interim committee met in Houston, Texas, in the offices of the Greater Houston Partnership.  No audio or video of the testimony is available.  Summary written Stockton remarks. Tags: freight movement, testimony before the Texas House, expert testimony.

Joint Hearing of the House Transportation Subcommittee on Transportation Funding & House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article VI, VII and VIII

Establishing Mobility Investment Priorities Under TxDOT Rider 42

  • Dr. Tim Lomax, TTI Senior Research Engineer and Regents Fellow, described for the two committees on July 9, 2012, the efforts underway responding to the Legislature’s mandate for relief in the State’s top 50 congested corridors and prioritization of $300 million set aside for that relief.  Oral remarks were reflective of the written statement: Dr. Lomax’s Testimony .  Video of Dr. Lomax’s testimony (begins at 1 hour and 16 minutes into the recording). Additional information on the status of the efforts for establishing mobility investment priorities under TxDOT Budget Rider 42 can be found in the article “TTI Has Major Role in State Congestion Relief Proposals.”  Leave a Comment

House Transportation Committee

  • Dr. David Ellis, TTI Research Scientist, provided an overview to the Committee on March 22, 2012, about the findings of the 2030 Committee appointed by the Transportation Commission Chair.  He concentrated the remarks on efforts in 2010-2011 that culminated in ”2030 Committee:  It’s About Time:  Investing in Transportation to Keep Texas Economically Competitive” released in March 2011.  That report, and the previous one identifying Texas Transportation Needs released in February 2009, can be found at:  http://texas2030committee.tamu.edu. — Video of Ellis testimony (begins 1 hour and 5 minutes into the recording)
  • Dr. Bill Stockton, TTI’s Executive Associate Director, described for the Committee on March 22, 2012, the efforts underway responding to the Legislature’s mandate for relief in the State’s top 50 congested corridors and prioritization of $300 million set aside for that relief.  Additional information on the status of the efforts for establishing mobility investment priorities under TxDOT Budget Rider 42 can be found in the article “TTI Has Major Role in State Congestion Relief Proposals.”  — Stockton PowerPoint presentation — Video of Stockton testimony (begins 1 hour and 31 minutes into the recording)

2010-2011

 House Transportation Committee

  • Dr. Joel Cooper, a TTI Assistant Research Scientist specializing in distracted driving research, provided resource information to the Committee as it dealt with several bills dealing with texting while driving — March 16, 2011 — Cooper testimony text
  • Dr. Joel Cooper, a TTI Assistant Research Scientist specializing in distracted driving research, responded to questions of the Committee as it considered several bills dealing with texting while driving (including CSHB 243, CSHB 37, and HB 287) — March 9, 2011 — Cooper testimony introduction audio [MP3] | Cooper testimony audio [MP3]

House Select Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

  • A presentation about the use of ignition interlock devices, and how they are used to address the problem of driving while intoxicated by Dr. Melissa Walden — March 22, 2011 — Walden testimony text | Walden testimony audio [MP3]

House Select Committee on Transportation Funding

  • A presentation on the effect of congestion on consumer commodities and costs to households by Dr. David Ellis and Dr. Tim Lomax — October 26, 2010 — Ellis/Lomax testimony textTags: transportation, funding, congestion, commodities, consumer, VMT, projected expense, projected revenues, mobility
  • Information on Congestion Trends in Texas based on the 2009 Urban Mobility Report, with testimony by Dr. Bill Stockton, Executive Associate Executive Director; Dr. Tim Lomax, Research Engineer; and Dr. David Ellis, Research Scientist — April 7, 2010 — Lomax testimony audio [MP3] | Lomax testimony textTags: congestion, 2030 Report, impact of congestion, freight, reliable transportation, solutions, mobility, transportation costs, projected revenues, projected costs

House Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Subcommittee on Planning and Accountability

  • Information on the Role of Texas A&M Transportation Institute in transportation planning in the state by Dr. Dennis L. Christiansen, Executive Director — April 27, 2010 — Christiansen testimony audio [MP3] | Christiansen testimony textTags: research, problem solvers, roadside safety, mobility, traffic data, congestion, environment, teen drivers, workforce development, research centers, technology transfer

House Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Subcommittee on Funding

  • A presentation on the effect of congestion on consumer commodities and costs to households by Dr. David Ellis and Dr. Tim Lomax — October 13, 2010 — Ellis/Lomax testimony textTags: transportation, funding, congestion, commodities, consumer, VMT, projected expense, projected revenues, mobility
  • A presentation on vehicle mileage fees in Texas by Ginger Goodin and Richard Baker — October 13, 2010 — Goodin/Baker testimony textTags: VMT, VMT fees, transportation funding, gas tax, fuel tax, fuel efficiency, user fee, technology options, pilot studies, road pricing, road user fees, mileage-based fees
  • A presentation on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Fees by Ginger Goodin, Senior Research Engineer — May 25, 2010 — Goodin testimony audio [MP3] | Goodin testimony textTags: VMT, VMT fees, transportation funding, gas tax, fuel tax, fuel efficiency, user fee, technology options, pilot studies, road pricing, road user fees, mileage-based fees
  • A presentation on the Transportation Revenue Estimator and Needs Determination System (TRENDS) computer model program by Dr. David Ellis — May 25, 2010 — Ellis testimony audio [MP3] | Ellis testimony textTags: TRENDS, computer model, model projections, transportation revenues, maintenance, fuel consumption, vehicle registration fee, demographics, population, Fund 6, fuel efficiency, gas tax, VMT, projected expenses, projected revenues, indexing, local options

House Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Traffic Improvement

  • Information on Traffic Signal Operational Improvements by Dr. Chris Poe — May 26, 2010 — Poe testimony audio [MP3] | Poe testimony textTags: traffic signals, traffic operations, safety, mobility, research, signal timing, signal operations, effectiveness, technology

Joint Meeting of the House Transportation and House Agriculture and Livestock Committees

  • Information on rural and agricultural freight transportation and the proposed freight shuttle system by Dr. Stephen S. Roop, Assistant Director — April 28, 2010 — Roop testimony audio [MP3] | Roop testimony textTags: multimodal, freight, goods movement, energy efficiency, freight rail, freight shuttle, public private partnership, P3, agriculture transportation, intermodal freight, automated controls, secure transport, border transport, automated inspection, supply chain

Briefings for Texas Transportation Commission

Briefings for Legislative Staff

  • Ginger Goodin and Trey Baker’s briefing on TTI’s exploratory study on vehicle mileage fees in Texas.
    December 8, 2010
    Goodin/Baker briefing text
  • Dr. David Ellis briefs legislative staff on the basic structure of highway funding.
    December 8, 2010
    Ellis briefing text