  In this paper, we make a comprehensive determination of the Hubble constant
$H_0$ by using two parameters - the B-V color and the rate of decline $\Delta
m_{15}$ - to simultaneously standardize the luminosities of all nearby
Cepheid-calibrated type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and those of a larger, more
distant sample of 29 SNe Ia. Each group is treated in as similar a manner as
possible in order to avoid systematic effects. A simultaneous $\chi ^2$
minimization yields a standardized absolute luminosity of the
Cepheid-calibrated supernovae as well as the Hubble constant obtained from the
more distant sample. We find $H_0 = 62 km/s Mpc^{-1}$ and a standardized
absolute magnitude of -19.46. The sensitivity of $H_0$ to a metallicity
dependence of the Cepheid-determined distances is investigated. The total
uncertainty $\delta H_0$, dominated by uncertainties in the primary Cepheid
distance indicator, is estimated to be 5 km/s Mpc^{-1}.
