Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commercial Transportation Notices topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill requiring mailed notice for new commercial bus terminals after dust-up over Houston relocation
Summary
Senate panel reported House Bill 39 66 to the full Senate after debate about a Greyhound terminal moved into a residential Houston neighborhood; Greyhound testified in opposition, saying the mail-notice requirement would hinder emergency relocations and operational flexibility.
The Senate Committee on Transportation reported House Bill 39 66 to the full Senate after a contested vote, advancing a bill that would require commercial bus operators to mail written notice to residents within 1 mile of a proposed new stop or terminal.
Senator Carol Alvarado, sponsor of the bill, said the measure responds to a December 2023 relocation of a commercial bus terminal into a residential neighborhood in Houston’s East End. She told the committee the terminal was moved “smack in the middle of a neighborhood,” and said residents saw “a sharp rise in crime, including thefts, assaults, and trespassing” after the move. Alvarado said the bill would not block terminals from locating in neighborhoods but would require operators to “send a written notice by mail to residents living within 1 mile of a proposed bus stop.”
Rodney Serber, chief operating officer at Greyhound Lines, testified in opposition and urged the committee to vote the bill down. “At first glance, the bill may seem intended to increase transparency, but in practice, it would create significant unintended consequences,” Serber said. He told senators the mail-notice requirement would force companies to mail thousands of notices in many locations and would impose a 90-day delay on relocations triggered by unforeseen events such as hurricanes, flooding or lease terminations. “That's not just inefficient, it's a barrier to safety and basic mobility in emergencies,” Serber said.
Senators questioned operational specifics, including how many households would receive mailings and whether 90 days is reasonable for forced moves. Serber said operators sometimes must relocate quickly and that a 90-day timeline could be infeasible for short-notice lease terminations.
The committee recorded a roll-call vote on the bill: Nichols — Aye; West — Aye; Bettencourt — Nay; Hagenboo — Nay; Hinojosa — Aye; Johnson — Aye; King — Aye. The motion to report House Bill 39 66 to the Senate passed 5–2 and the bill was advanced to the full Senate. Committee minutes show the bill will appear on the contested local calendar.
