[tabi] transportation information mailing list
- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:17:44 -0500
Hi all,
I recently received the information below on an email distribution list
regarding transportation issues, at all levels from local to Tallahassee up
through federal:
"Hi Chip,
If you and / or TABI members wish to receive information and updates from Jo Ann
Hutchinson on local, regional and federal transportation issues, please contact
her and ask to be placed on her email list.
Her connections, information and networking on transportation issues are the
best."
From: joannhutchinson@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:joannhutchinson@xxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Joann
Hutchinson
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 9:34 AM
Subject: Fast Mail: The Newsletter of the Community Transportation Industry
February 16, 2010
About Fast Mail
Fast Mail is a regular compilation of the latest news and updates from the
Community
Transportation industry that delivers timely information, resources, and
announcements
to our members, colleagues and friends. Please keep us posted on your latest
news
and developments by emailing your content to
fastmail@xxxxxxxx
.
The Capitol Limited
News on federal transportation policy and developments from the Nation's Capitol
Senate Finance Committee Releases First Version of Jobs Legislation; More
Changes Expected
: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and his panel's senior
Republican,
Chuck Grassley (Iowa), recently offered a job-creation proposal designed to
garner
enough GOP votes to overcome an anticipated filibuster. The measure's
transportation
provisions align with a draft bill floated on Tuesday by Senate Majority Leader
Harry
Reid (D-Nev.), with the nation's highway trust fund getting a financial reprieve
that would last through the end of 2010, at a cost of $19.5 billion.
Meanwhile, much work remains to be done by the Senate in drafting a final Jobs
bill.
The Community Transportation Association supports the continuation of investment
in public and community transit that provides flexibility for transit operators
to
utilize investment for both capital and operating assistance. For more
information
on our efforts to support federal transit operating assistance, please visit
http://www.operatingassistance.org/
.
Obama Administration Plans for Transportation Infrastructure Bank
: The infrastructure bank -- called a National Infrastructure Innovation and
Finance
Fund -- would be used to expand existing federal transportation investments by
providing
direct federal funding and seed money for large-scale capital project grants
that
"provide a significant economic benefit to the nation or a region." Obama
requested
$4 billion to launch the bank, $2.6 billion of which would be handed out in
grants
or loans during fiscal 2011. Roughly $270 million would be used for
administrative,
planning and project analysis costs, with the remaining carried over to the next
year.
EPA Launches New Offices of Sustainable Communities
: If you're thinking about starting some sort of smart transportation, smart
water
or any other project focused on improving the sustainability profile of your
community,
you might be able to borrow some resources from the Environment Protection
Agency's
new Office of Sustainable Communities. The focus of the new organization is to
help
cities and other local neighborhoods or economic regions take an integrated
approach
to transportation and housing decisions with the ultimate aim of protecting the
environment,
promoting equitable development and helping address the needs of climate change.
Transit, Labor Make Joint Push for Federal Operating Assistance
: More voices are calling on Congress to increase federal support for transit
agencies
that continue to grapple with fare hikes and service cuts. The Community
Transportation
Association of America, which represents small transit agencies across the
country,
and the Amalgamated Transit Union recently announced a new national coalition
called
The Alliance for Transit Operating Assistance, focused on this cause.
Department of Labor Announces Health Care & Training Grants
: The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $225 million in health
care
and high growth training grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009. The grants will allow community colleges, community-based
organizations,
state workforce agencies and other public entities to deliver training that
leads
to employment in a range of health care fields and other growing industries.
With
today's announcement, organizations in all 50 states have received a share of
nearly
$750 million in competitive grant funding made available through the Department
of
Labor.
PBS Airs Beyond the Motor City
:
Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City
examines how Detroit, a symbol of America's diminishing status in the world,
may
come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America.
America 2050 Conducts Community Sourcing Competition
: America 2050 is planning a Community Sourcing Competition to visualize the
future
of America's communities and transportation systems. A "Slidecast" of its
concept
is provided below with audio narration.
Commentary: Regional Transit Key to Economic Future
: "We represent two of southeastern Wisconsin's largest institutions and provide
critical services to thousands of local residents on a daily basis. We
understand
that a fully-funded transit infrastructure impacts our clients, customers,
business,
and the economic climate in southeastern Wisconsin. We have hundreds of
employees
that use buses to get to work every day, however that number continues to
decrease
as the bus system disintegrates. Continued cuts to the system impair our
employees'
ability to get to work and our clients' and customers' ability to get critical
services
and products."
Commentary: States Need to Consider New Approaches to Budgeting
: "Swimming in red ink, deficits rolling in as far as the eye can see, what are
America's
state governments to do? The "realists," notes government reform expert Ted
Kolderie,
'tell us the only options are to cut and to tax.' Their clear message, he
suggests:
'With more we can do more; with less we have to do less. We don't do
different.'"
The Community Transportation Flyer
Updates from community and public transportation systems from across the country
Vancouver, Canada Launches Streetcar for Olympic Games
: Bombardier Transportation and the City of Vancouver, Canada are co-sponsors of
the 1.8-kilometre Olympic Line where Bombardier is operating two Bombardier
Flexity
streetcars. Free service will be provided 18 hours a day, seven days a week,
between
Jan. 21 and March 21, 2010. The vehicles, on loan from the Brussels (Belgium)
Transport
Company STIB (Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles), feature easy
access
for all passengers, wide doors, large windows, and a beautifully-finished
interior.
Duluth (Minn.) Transit Authority Sets New Ridership Marks
: Duluth, Minn., Transit Authority ridership for 2009 surpassed the 3 million
rider
mark for the second consecutive time since 2002. Ridership for 2009, which was
down
1.4 percent from 2008, totaled almost 3.2 million. DTA ridership has steadily
improved
over the past few years and is up 21.8 percent since 2005. DTA ridership gains
parallel
the national trend. Americans are using public transportation due to volatile
gas
prices and inflation. Even though fuel prices have subsided since last fall's
high,
DTA ridership continues to be strong.
Beverly Foundation Announces 2010 STAR Search/Awards Program
: The Beverly Foundation has announced that its 2010 STAR Search/STAR Awards
Program
will begin Feb. 8 and end Feb. 26. Substantial awards will be given to at least
10
organizations that provide transportation services to older adults. Guidelines
and
applications for the 2010 STAR Search/STAR Awards Program can be found at
www.beverlyfoundation.org
. Some of the winning organizations in the 2009 STAR Search were Cheer, Inc.,
Del.;
St Johns Council on Aging, Fla.; Special Transit, Inc., Colo.; and Western
Community
Action, Inc., Minn.
Princeton (N.J.) To Expand Shuttle Service
: Princeton, N.J., may have a new shuttle route linking key areas within the
next
three to four months. The route is a result of the Princeton Partnership, a
collaboration
of businesses, institutions, governments and community NGOs established by the
non-partisan
volunteer organization Princeton Future. Princeton University hired a consulting
firm in the winter of 2009 to determine how to best integrate the transit
systems.
The consultation led to a trial run of a holiday weekend shuttle, which was
described
as "hugely successful."
Trailblazer Transit (Minn.) Predicts Ridership Record
: Ridership for Trailblazer Transit, a public transportation service for McLeod
and
Sibley counties, continues to increase. Gary Ludwig, Trailblazer director, told
the
system's Joint Powers Board Friday that final statistics are not complete yet,
but
he expects rides to top 150,000 for 2009. Along with the increase in ridership,
Trailblazer
has been coping with plans for a new facility, staffing shortages and the
implementation
of new dispatching software, which is replacing the "pencil-and-paper"
dispatching
the system currently uses.
Alberta, Canada Invests in Public Transit
: Money will begin to flow this year to boost public transit projects as part of
the Alberta government's climate change initiatives -- however, other provincial
environmental programs will be cut. The government says it's still committed to
Green
TRIP (Transit Incentives Program), announced with great fanfare in July 2008
alongside
another $2 billion in carbon capture and storage (CCS) funding. Although Green
TRIP
didn't see any funding in the 2009-10 budget year, the province says it will
begin
accepting applications this year. About $70 million will be allocated in the
2010-11
budget year, and $200 million in each of the two following years.
Editorial: Buffalo's NFTA Rethinking Fares and Routes
: "During these difficult financial times, the Niagara Frontier Transportation
Authority
deserves credit for taking a moment to consider ways to simplify life for bus
and
train commuters. The NFTA may eliminate transfer fees and its traditional zone
surcharges,
smoothing the ride for both operator and travelers. There is cause for relief in
the possibility that confusion could end over who should pay $1.75 for one zone
or
$2.05 for two zones on the bus, and when and where each passenger embarked and
disembarked."
Sutter Hill Transit Center (Calif.) Opens
: The Amador Regional Transit System has opened a new facility in Sutter Creek,
Calif.
The Sutter Hill Transit Center will serve as the hub for all shuttles, including
a new express service route between Sutter Creek and Jackson. The center
features
a large parking area for use by commuters who utilize the transit system,
Americans with Disabilities Act
compliant rest room facilities, bike lockers, and a large covered space filled
with
benches where riders can sit while waiting for connections.
Peoria (Ill.) Extends Life of Former Chicago Buses
: Of the 10 Chicago Transit Authority buses CityLink purchased more than a year
ago,
all but two are routinely, if not daily, used for service. After spending close
to
$9,000 for all the buses, CityLink pumped another $2,000 into the eight buses
used
on routes. That cost covered new shocks and other minor repairs on the TMC-brand
buses, a model that was retired more than 18 years ago. A year later, four of
the
buses remain in service. One is used on a daily basis, and two are for backup.
The
last is in need of a transmission. The other four are kept for special events or
when needed for other reasons.
New Jersey COST Seeks Solutions to Transit Funding Crisis
(PDF): The New Jersey Council on Special Transportation (NJ COST), a statewide
advocacy
association that for over 25 years has provided information and support for
community-based
transit services, has announced that New Jersey's transportation services for
senior
citizens, persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged are
facing
a financial crisis. Most of New Jersey's designated 21-county coordinated
systems
heavily rely on transportation funding from the Casino Revenue's "Senior
Citizens
and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program." However, with the
poor
economy, the Atlantic City casinos are not maintaining the revenue levels of
recent
years. The 21 County transportation systems will lose nearly $4 million for
services
starting January 2009. Even worse, another loss is projected for 2010, and will
continue
if no action is taken.
Coastal Carolina University (S.C.) Launches Smart Ride Program for Students
: The Smart Ride program was modeled after Charleston, S.C.'s The Citadel, where
incoming cadets are given a discount card that they can use for free rides any
time,
with no questions asked. To publicize the program to students, SGA workers are
handing
out Smart Ride cards with names and numbers of the cab companies and their
rates.
Student riders will have to show a student ID to get the special rates. A few of
the cab companies are offering a flat rate of $25 to the airport as well as a 25
percent discount on student trips. The rest of the companies offer students a 20
percent discount.
Wichita Falls Transit (Texas) Conducts Ride Free Week
: The Wichita Falls Transit Division and Metropolitan Planning Organization
invited
citizens throughout the area to experience Falls Ride for free during Ride Free
Week.
This opportunity to enjoy the comfort, convenience and affordability of public
transportation
was held Feb. 8-12 for the duration of all bus route schedules. Participants
were
able to ride on the city's new fleet of state-of-the-art buses designed with the
latest technology and comfort for public transportation users.
ORCA Card Improves Transit Options for Community Transit (Wash.) Passengers
: Community Transit of Everett, Wash., has began to use ORCA (One Regional Card
for
All) to eliminate the need for paper transfers and passes. "By eliminating paper
transfers and paper passes, the agencies will save printing and handling costs,"
Martin Munguia, spokesman for Community Transit said. "ORCA will allow more
efficient
fare reconciliation amongst agencies, meaning we will get the correct amount of
fare
due each agency, rather than a guess."
Vanderbilt University Plays Key Role in Transit Improvement Effort
: A new nonprofit corporation has been created to promote public transportation
in
Middle Tennessee, with Vanderbilt University as the primary sponsor. Vanderbilt
has
committed $100,000 per year for the next three years to help fund the Transit
Alliance
of Middle Tennessee. The corporation will work to galvanize community support
for
transit development, provide information on the benefits of transit, develop
regional
agreement on strategies for funding transit and advocate for dedicated funding
for
regional and local transit.
Plans Advance for Ann Arbor (Mich.) Transit Center
: Slated to open in 2012, the Fuller Intermodal Transit Center will include a
four-level
parking lot with over 900 spaces. The center will also feature a busing transit
space,
interior bus waiting room and bicycle storage area for commuters.
New Brunswick (N.J.) Plans for New Transit Village
: Millions of dollars in proposed work to Route 1 in North Brunswick, N.J. could
be considered later this month by the city council. The work, which would cost
more
than $7.8 million, would be paid for by developers Prestige and TOD Associates,
which
also paid for the $100,000 study that recommended the improvements.
Cleveland RTA Considers New BRT Line
: Cleveland RTA is considering a new bus/rapid transit line for southeastern
Cuyahoga
County. It's an intriguing idea that supporters say could spur residential and
commercial
development. The line would use articulated buses and coordinated traffic
signals.
Passengers in both directions would travel to work, school and home.
Indianapolis Releases Plans for $1 Billion Transit Investment
: After a year of study, the transit committee, which includes representatives
from
business and industry throughout Central Indiana, is proposing a transit
investment
plan that includes light rail and commuter trains, greatly increased bus
service,
bike paths and walkways and special toll lanes on specific interstate roads
allowing
motorists to avoid traffic jams.
Birmingham (Ala.) Mayor Announces Plans for Transit Revitalization
: Mayor William Bell announced Tuesday a three-point solution to jump-start
rehabilitation
of Birmingham's ailing transit system. Bell said he is committed to finding
funds
to keep the system running for the next three months. Before the announcement,
the
system was on the verge of being shut down on Feb. 28 due to a lack of funds.
Transit
officials had previously asked the city for $9 million in additional funding to
stay
afloat.
Community Leaders Plead for Public Transportation in Laurel (Miss.)
: Abigail Dean, case manager for the Laurel Salvation Army, appeared before the
City
Council, asking them to consider adding a public transportation system locally.
As
a social worker for the Salvation Army, Dean said she has seen firsthand the
need
for public transportation. "People can't get to their doctors," she said.
"People
are losing their jobs because they couldn't get to it. They have appointments or
need to go to interviews for their job search."
Wetaskiwin (Alberta, Canada) Community Transportation Study Moves Forward
: A study is underway on the sustainability of the Wetaskiwin Community
Transportation
Society. The study is focused on the local busing system, which offers
transportation
to disabled and special needs people, as well as seniors, for a nominal fee.
Around the Depot
New products and documents and upcoming events and training from Community
Transportation
Association's staff
Share, Brag or Complain About One-Call Services in your Community, State or
Region
! We want to know how one-call services function in different communities and
the
variety of ways communities and regions have established one-call services.
Please
share your experience and knowledge by clicking on the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YHF9NML
The Commuter Tax Benefit: A Federal Incentive for Vanpool Riders and Their
Employers
: Join vanpool providers and experts on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, from 2:00-3:15
p.m.
EST, for "The Commuter Tax Benefit: A Federal Incentive for Vanpool Riders and
Their
Employers." This webinar is one in a series on developing and implementing
sustainable
vanpool initiatives. The webinars, funded by the Community Transportation
Association's
Joblinks Transportation Center, are free to all who are interested. Joblinks is
supported
by funding from the U.S. DOT Federal Transit Administration and the U.S. DOL
Employment
and Training Administration.
New Intensive Training Session, Microsoft Office Skills for Transit Personnel,
Added to EXPO 2010
: A new Intensive Training Session for EXPO 2010, "Microsoft Office Skills for
Transit
Personnel," has been added to the CTAA EXPO Registration site. This full-day
workshop
will cover basic skills in Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook. Note:
Participants
in this session must bring their own laptop computers. Lessons will be based on
the
2007 version of Microsoft Office, taught from a Windows perspective. For more
information
please contact Eileen Boswell at
boswell@xxxxxxxx
.
3 Trainings, 2 Days, 1 Site (March 17-18)
: The Community Transportation Association and its partners invite you to take
advantage
of a unique training event this spring. On March 17 and 18, you have the
opportunity
to attend one of three valuable courses, being offered concurrently at the same
location:
Certified Safety and Security Manager (offered here for the first time!)
Coordinated Mobility: A Unified Transportation Management Solution
Transportation Solutions: Linking People with Their Community
The venue for these trainings is the historic Renaissance Providence Hill in
downtown
Providence, Rhode Island. To learn more and register, visit
www.ctaa.org/training
.
d EXPO 2010 Website & Registration Now Open!
Our full EXPO 2010 website is now available, including live registration. There
you can find full details, schedules and other important information to plan
your
EXPO experience. Addition, you can also follow us on Facebook at Ctaa Expo.
www.ctaa.org/expo
.
d 2010 Buyers Guide Coming Soon: Community Transportation
magazine's annual Buyers Guide to products and services available from
suppliers,
manufacturers and contractors will be published in February 2010. This highly
usable
and informative reference document includes important contact information and
descriptions
of companies and firms throughout the community and public transportation
industry.
Manufacturers, suppliers and contractors: to ensure your entity is listed (or
correctly
updated) in the 2010 Buyers Guide, contact Rich Sampson at
sampson@xxxxxxxx
.
The Information Station
Our latest additions to
www.ctaa.org
Analysis: CTAA's Analysis of the President's Budget for Transportation
: This year's federal transportation budget is a greater than usual challenge,
for
three reasons. One is the lack of an authorization (SAFETEA-LU expired last
year,
and is being sustained through a series of short-term extensions). The second is
an expressed desire from this Administration for maintaining the federal motor
fuels
tax (which has been the source of nearly all federal transit funding since the
1980s)
at the current rate of 18.4 cents per gallon, which is where it's stood since
1991.
The third budget challenge is the President's expressed desire to freeze most
discretionary
domestic spending at current levels.
The Association's Statement on President Obama's Proposed FY 2011 Budget
: "We view this announcement and budget proposal as part of the process begun in
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and appropriation process last year,"
said CTAA Executive Director Dale J. Marsico, CCTM. "We appreciate the
consideration
given to our members' priorities and the priorities of the American people --
especially
those who rely on public transportation as their link to all aspects of American
life."
Analysis: RAIL Magazine's Analysis of President Obama's High Speed Rail
Initiative
: The following is RAIL
Magazine's unique analysis of the projects selected by the Obama
Administration,
including descriptions of new elements of each corridor, how each investment
fits
within their recent trends and developments, and how the projects are positioned
in the larger scope of a intermodal and dynamic national transportation network.
You can also listen to the Association's rail expert, Richard Sampson,
discuss President Obama's initiative on WAMU
(Real Audio and Windows Media).
Rural Vanpooling: Highlights from Three Communities Webinar Playback
: Rural communities are often challenged to provide workers with shared-ride
commuting
options and an increasing number of communities are looking to vanpools.
Vanpooling
offers a flexible and cost-effective solution for these smaller, more widely
dispersed
communities, and is an option that benefits commuters and businesses alike.
Watch
and listen to the full Webinar playback and download the supporting documents.
CTAPnet Peer Network
: The CTAP Peer Network, CTAPnet, is an online community of community
transportation
practitioners and experts. This revitalized Peer Network enables you to ask
questions
of transportation providers working in the field as well as engage in
conversations
with other transit professionals. It provides distance learning events on the
latest
topics of interest to community transportation. Visit
http://ctapnet.org
.
Transportation Toolkit for the Business Community
: The Transportation Toolkit for the Business Community gives businesses the
information
they need now to assist their employees in achieving a timely, cost-efficient
commute
that promotes productivity and job satisfaction. The Toolkit provides your
business
with strategies and resources that meet employee commuting needs while advancing
your business goals. Included below are flyers, fact sheets, resources and
examples
of transportation initiatives undertaken by employers nationwide. Each approach
is
to straightforward launch and simple to manage.
--
Jo Ann Hutchinson
UWR Coordination Ambassador-Region 4
National Resource Center for Human
Service Transportation Coordination
Community Transportation Association
of America
Email:
hutchinson@xxxxxxxx
Web:
www.ctaa.org/nrc/region4
Web:
www.nrctransportation.org
Phone: 1.800.891.0590, Ext. 730
Fax: 1.850.627-7664
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.
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