<ARTICLE>                     5                      
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000                           
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         21,717
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  77,989
<ALLOWANCES>                                   3,812
<INVENTORY>                                    0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               133,519
<PP&E>                                         176,984
<DEPRECIATION>                                 41,467
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 353,755
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          68,886
<BONDS>                                        182,558
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       167
<OTHER-SE>                                     83,762
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   353,755
<SALES>                                        0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               411,695
<CGS>                                          0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  335,653
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               29,486
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             13,368
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                16,085
<INCOME-TAX>                                   6,641
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            9,444
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                1,193
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   8,251
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .48