(Austin)--Improving Texas' transportation system will the focus of Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander's March 9 public hearing in El Paso. The hearing will run from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce's Lockhart Room, 10 Civic Center Dr.

"Even with so many of us on the Information Highway, we must continue to improve our real highways we travel every day," Comptroller Rylander said. "Texans drive more than 16 million vehicles over 367 million miles every day. We want to find ways to improve the quality of our statewide transportation services, while maximizing the state's financial resource investment.

"This hearing will help us find ideas to improve the state's transportation system," Comptroller Rylander said. "I encourage folks to come out, listen to our experts, and give us feedback on the issues they think are critical to improving the state's transportation system."

The hearing is part of the Comptroller's Performance Review of the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as an effort to seek recommendations for Comptroller Rylander's e-Texas citizen commission. The commission is charged with developing recommendations to help Texas state government meet the challenges of the Internet age.

Comptroller Rylander will lead the hearing. Topics to be discussed include transportation financing problems and transportation service delivery.

Those who cannot attend the hearing can make suggestions on improving transportation at : www.e-texas.org.