MINUTES OF THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Sixty-seventh Session
March 17, 1993
The Assembly Committee on Transportation was called to order by Chairman Larry L. Spitler, at 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, 1993, in Room 331 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Larry L. Spitler, Chairman
Mr. Val Z. Garner, Vice Chairman
Mr. Bernie Anderson
Mrs. Vonne Chowning
Mr. Tom Collins, Jr
Mr. Louis A. Toomin
Mr. William D. Gregory
Mr. Lynn Hettrick
Mr. James W. McGaughey
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
None
GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT:
None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Kerry Carroll-Davis, Senior Research Analyst, Legislative
Counsel Bureau
OTHERS PRESENT:
Bruce Glover, Asst. Chief, Driver's License Division,
Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety
Pam Drum, Environmental Education Coordinator, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Pat Manning, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety
Jan Capaldi, Asst. to Director, Department of Motor Vehicles Public Safety
SENATE BILL NO. 105: Repeals general provisions which set forth conditions for licensing person under 18 year of age to drive vehicle used as school bus or for transporting persons for compensation.
Bruce Glover, Assistant Chief, Driver's License Division, Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, stated legislation was adopted in 1989 that would allow administration of the Commercial Motor Vehicles Driver's License Act of 1986 passed by Congress. Mr. Glover stated the Act of 1986 required by definition bus drivers obtain commercial driver's licenses and be 21 years of age. However, the legislation adopting the federal regulations in 1989 failed to delete the existing Nevada legislation which said bus driver's must be at least 18 years of age. He stated S.B. 105 was merely a clean-up bill and respectfully requested approval of the bill for deletion of the statute.
Mr. Glover, in answering a question from Mr. Anderson, stated rural counties expressed concern with the initial Act of 1986; however, since passage of the bill, there had been no problems. An anticipated available work force should not render a need to use 18 year olds.
Mr. Collins clarified the requirement of a commercial driver's license for all bus drivers.
MR. HETTRICK MOVED TO DO PASS S.B. 105.
MR. TOOMIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED. (MR. ANDERSON VOTED NO)
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7 Directs Department of Transporta- tion to perform certain functions relating to alternative methods of transportation for Lake Tahoe Basin.
Pam Drum, Environmental Education Coordinator, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency stated SCR 7 had the support of TRPA. TRPA felt transportation and transit needs were priorities of not just TRPA, but other planning organizations, local governments and communities who expressed the need was great. A long-term quality plan had identified cost in terms of meeting transit needs between $175 and $200 million. She stated TRPA had a good working relationship with the Nevada Department of Transportation in coordinating transportation planning activities. Mrs. Drum also worked closely with Cal-Trans and elaborated on other coalitions TRPA was associated with. Mrs. Drum embarked on the positive awareness of transit needs received through conferences and workshops. She stated a bill pending in the California Legislature would provide funding for studying a railway transit corridor along Highway 50. Mrs. Drum also stated the City of Lake Tahoe was in the process of obtaining a firm to acquire rights-of-way along Highway 50 through So. Lake Tahoe.
Chairman Spitler acknowledged no fiscal note was involved.
Mrs. Drum, answering a question from Mr. Collins stated part of the initiation of the transit system was the environmental issue as well as traffic congestion and quality of life issues.
Mr. Garner commented TRPA was concerned with destruction by development and placed a moratorium on development; however, TRPA was supportive of placing a light rail system at Tahoe which would seem to be more disturbing to the environment than present modes of transportation. Mrs. Drum agreed Mr. Garner had a valid observation; however, as part of the proposed rail system, they would use an existing lane of Highway 50 as a rail corridor. She agreed environmental impact statements would be prepared in conjunction with any large project.
Mr. McGaughey, agreeing with Mr. Garner's observations, maintained TRPA voiced great environmental concerns; however, supporting a railway system that would most likely cause great environmental damage seemed inconsistent. Mrs. Drum responded widespread use of a railway project would be many years away. She stated TRPA, in focusing on in the nearer future, a small mode of "people moving" transportation, such as a bus transit system along the busy Highway 50 corridor. She stated a TRPA principle was not to sacrifice one environmental threshold for the sake of another.
Laura Ames, League to Save Lake Tahoe, phoned a message in support of S.C.R. 7 (Exhibit C).
Chairman Spitler stated written testimony had been received from Steve Tashara, Tahoe Transportation Coalition, supporting S.C.R. 7 (Exhibit D). Mr. Tashara also submitted a letter of support on behalf of the Rail and Advanced Transit Technology (Exhibit E).
MR. TOOMIN MOVED TO ADOPT S.C.R. 7.
MR. GARNER SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
With no further business, Chairman Spitler adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Carolyn J. Harry
Committee Secretary
??
Assembly Committee on Transportation
March 17, 1993
Page 1