[fcb-l] Fw: Fast Mail: The Newsletter of the Community Transportation Industry

[Florida Council]

CTAA

        

 
       
      March 1, 2011 

      About Fast Mail
      Fast Mail is a regular compilation from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) 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 at ctaa.org. 
      Sponsor
        

      RouteMatch Software is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with seven additional offices across the U.S. and comprises a team of software engineers, Internet technologists, computer scientists, management information experts, database management professionals, and transportation consultants. RouteMatch is dedicated to the success of its clients and has been established around a philosophy of building state-of-the-art technology and professional services, while providing unparalleled customer support and maintenance. 
      Around the Depot
      New products and documents and upcoming events and training from Community Transportation Association's staff
        a.. We Want to Hear from Your Riders!: Are you or your organization in frequent contact with your riders? Do you have some loyal passengers who could serve as passionate advocates for transit riders everywhere? If so, we'd like to hear from you. In our upcoming edition of our DigitalCT magazine, we'll be focusing on policy issues, trends and ideas that will shape future transportation legislation and policies for years to come. And we cannot do so without the perspective of those for whom community and public transportation service is most crucial: the riders. If your organization has some potential rider advocates who would be easy to communicate with, please contact DigitalCT Editor Rich Sampson at sampson at ctaa.org to ensure your passengers have a voice in guiding the future of the very services that benefit them. 
        a.. Legislative Alert: Transit Funding: To help our readers better understand what's happening here in Washington -- and what they can do -- we've put together this Video Legislative Alert and collection of resources and background materials, including a video briefing from Executive Director Dale J. Marsico, CCTM and Communications Director Scott Bogren. Also included are resources on the Obama Administration's FY 2012 Transportation Budget, a statement from national organizations on maintaining transit investment, contacting your member of Congress, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Field Hearings, and information on the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution. 
        a.. CTAA Staff Briefs Senate on Rural Transportation: CTAA staff briefed the staff of the U.S. Senate's Banking Committee on rural transportation. The briefing focused on issues and trends crucial to rural transit providers and riders, including the state of rural America and rural transportation, connectivity, economic development and job growth, at-risk populations, medical transportation, program streamlining, local share flexibility and farebox revenue. The full briefing materials are available for download below. 
          a.. A Platform for Rural Transportation (PDF)(62 KB) 
          b.. Rural Transit Supporting Materials (PDF)(4.18 MB) 
          c.. Medicaid's Medical Transportation Assurance (PDF) 
        a.. Registration Open for EXPO 2011 in Indianapolis: Twenty five years after it was launched as the foremost gathering of community transportation professionals, the Community Transportation EXPO returns to Indianapolis, Ind., for its silver anniversary. EXPO returns to its original home to celebrate twenty five years through a series of outstanding workshops, training sessions, social events and, of course, the National Community Transportation Roadeo competition. All this takes place in Indianapolis, June 5-9, 2011. 
        a.. The Partnership for Mobility Management Conference: June 6-7, 2011 in Indianapolis: The Partnership for Mobility Management, an association of several national transportation organizations and the Federal Transit Administration, is planning a conference for those working in the new and exciting field of mobility management. This is your opportunity to be an active partner in planning the first national conference designed exclusively for mobility managers like you. The conference will be held June 6-7, 2011 in Indianapolis as a special CTAA EXPO event. Please email or call Sheryl Gross-Glaser, the Director of the Partnership for Mobility Management, at grossglaser at ctaa.org or 202-386-1669, to let us know what you would like at this conference. 
      Sponsor
         
      StarTrans buses proudly markets 32 models of MFSAB, Multifunction School Activity Bus, Transit & Paratransit buses, Shuttle, Hybrid, Child Care, Church Buses, Charter Coaches and Tour Buses. Available with kneeling options, offering low floor entry buses. Capacities from seven up to 39 passengers with various wheelchair placements and seating options. Among these models is the Classic American Trolley bus and Specialty Buses. 
      The Capitol Limited
      News on federal transportation policy and developments from the Nation's Capital
        a.. FTA Sets Position on "Buy America" Waivers
        Source: NRC Capitol Clips
        Many of the community-based programs that partner with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grantees to provide coordinated transportation services use small (by transit standards) vehicles, often purchased "off-the-lot" from dealers. Quite a few of the minivans, vans, and other small transit vehicles are produced, at least in part, in Canada, Mexico, or overseas. When FTA funds are involved, it becomes important to assure compliance with FTA's specific and unique "Buy America" requirements. FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff put into writing a statement of principles that had been in force ever since states and transit agencies began purchasing vehicles with "stimulus" funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but which FTA applies to all vehicle acquisitions involving FTA grant funds, regardless of programs. 
        a.. 10th Annual EPA National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
        Source: Environmental Protection Agency
        The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to announce that the application period for the 10th annual National Award for Smart Growth Achievement is now open. Through this award, EPA recognizes and supports communities that have successfully used smart growth principles to improve communities environmentally, socially, and economically. Open to public- and private-sector entities, winners will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in December 2011. 
      Sponsor
        

      NOVUS. Easy. Web-based. The Key to Success
      From call taking to scheduling to dispatching, Web-based NOVUS is an easy-to-use solution designed to help you manage the unique needs of your demand response transportation organization. 

      NOVUS for Demand Response: 

        a.. Intuitive, Web-based and easy to use system 
        b.. Scalable for any size transit organization 
        c.. Accommodate unique transportation and business models 
        d.. Provides secure access to remote offices, organizations and employees 
        e.. Accurate and meaningful statistics every time 
        f.. Coordinated service capabilities provide a tightly integrated end-to-end solution 
        g.. Powerful, yet simplistic automated scheduling tools 
        h.. Affordable extensions: Mobile computing, AVL, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Online trip booking,
        Call-out Reminders 
      For more information, visit www.trapezegroup.com/novus 
      The Community Transportation Flyer
      Updates from community and public transportation systems from across the country
        a.. Transit in Homer (Alaska) Closer to Reality
        Source: Homer Tribune
        A dream brought forth by a group of enterprising Southern Kenai Peninsula stakeholders could soon be a reality: a public transportation system unlike any other currently driving roads anywhere in the state. Alaska Independent Living Center's Joyanne Geisler has worked on this for more than a decade, and with the help of the larger Kenai Peninsula CARTS program and others in town, renewed efforts the past two years. The taxi companies have taken part in the discussions and planning, and will provide a major portion of the plan. 
        a.. Go West Bus Service (Ill.) Expands Operations
        Source: McDonough Voice
        Go West bus service will be extended toward the northern boundary of Macomb beginning next week. Director Gary Ziegler told members of the McDonough County Public Transportation Committee last week that service would be added, beginning Feb. 21, to River Run, River Ridge, and other areas in that section of the city. The transit chief said city routes in January averaged about 824 riders per day. Ziegler said ridership is up about 17 percent from a year ago. 
        a.. Valley Metro's (Ariz.) Unique Indoor Facility Aids in Assisting Passengers
        Source: Valley Metro
        The new Valley Metro Mobility Center is a state-of-the-art, multi-functional facility. The center will be used to administer a new in-person ADA certification process, as well as provide travel training and access to alternative transportation programs. It features a local transit environment, which includes a full-size bus and shelter set against a backdrop of photo murals depicting various transportation modes. 
        a.. Tennessee Vanpool Program to Expand
        Source: The Tennessean
        The TMA Group provides 81 vans across nine Middle Tennessee counties, and every day more than 950 people participate, according to Debbie Henry, executive director. In the coming years she expects the program to grow enormously and will use a federal grant to meet the need. The grant money, funneled through state and county government, will pay for 20 new vans each year for the next three years, Henry said. Those vans are in addition to TMA Group's vehicle replacement program, which means that in three years TMA will nearly double its capacity. 
        a.. Kirkland Transit Center (Wash.) Opens
        Source: Kirkland Reporter
        Sound Transit marked a major milestone as it dedicated the new Kirkland Transit Center on Friday. The transit center, located at Third Street and Park Lane, opened for service on Saturday, Feb. 26. Just a few blocks from the heart of downtown Kirkland, the new transit center will improve local and express bus service to some of the city's key destinations -- the pool and fields of Peter Kirk Park, the Kirkland Performance Center, and the recently expanded Kirkland Library -- and serve as an important regional hub for Sound Transit and King County Metro Transit bus connections. 
        a.. Metrolinx (Ontario) Saves Municipalities Money on Accessible Transit Vehicles
        Source: Metrolinx
        Metrolinx has purchased 27 new accessible eight-meter buses through joint procurement partnerships between 11 municipalities, the first collaboration of its kind for specialized vehicles in Ontario. Municipalities and their non-profit specialized transit service providers who participated in the joint bus order are saving approximately $400,000 on the order that is valued at $3.5 million. 
        a.. TARC (Ky.) Increases Service Frequency for Commuters
        Source: Wave 3
        TARC buses are now arriving every 15 minutes on two major routes covering Dixie and Preston Highways and along Bardstown Rd. and Broadway in Downtown Louisville. The new service is available weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and TARC's executive director J. Barry Barker made the announcement at a press conference Tuesday morning at TARC headquarters in the old Union Station on Broadway. J. Barry Barker said the new 15-minute arrival service on route #18 covering Dixie and Preston Highways and on route #23 covering Broadway and Bardstown Rd., will allow TARC to attract new riders and address overcrowding on the two routes which make up 20 percent of TARC's ridership. 
        a.. Reno Regional Transportation Commission (Nev.) Seeking Bids for Virginia Street BRT Route
        Source: Reno Gazette-Journal
        Six new Rapid Transit bus stations that transportation officials hope will boost ridership will be built on South Virginia Street this summer. The Regional Transportation Commission has approved seeking bids for the $2.6 million estimated project. Stations are more like large shelters than buildings. The shelters will be the length of the new Rapid transit buses and will have raised platforms, making it easier and faster for patrons to board. 
        a.. Atascadero (Calif.) Finalizes Transit Center Plans
        Source: San Luis Obispo Tribune
        Construction could begin this summer on a grant-funded downtown Atascadero transit center on the east side of City Hall along Capistrano Avenue. The design goal is to create a functional center that doesn't require a lot of space in the project, according to the city. That means it wouldn't be a station, but rather an outdoor project with red-tile roof sidewalk shelters, a small tree-lined plaza with benches and bus loading stalls on the street. Restrooms aren't included. 
      The Porter's Station
      Organizations and agencies in a wide range of disciplines and issue areas provide resources, events and technical assistance to help communities of all kinds improve mobility options. Here you'll find the latest announcements by these entities to provide you help along the way
        a.. Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America
        Source: USDA Economic Research Service
        The Atlas assembles statistics on four broad categories of socioeconomic factors: 
          a.. People-Demographic data from the American Community Survey, including age, race and ethnicity, migration and immigration, education, household size and family composition 
          b.. Jobs-Economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other sources, including information on employment trends, unemployment, industrial composition, and household income 
          c.. Agriculture-Indicators from the latest Census of Agriculture, including number and size of farms, operator characteristics, off-farm income, and government payments 
          d.. County classifications-the rural-urban continuum, economic dependence, persistent poverty, population loss, and other ERS county codes 
        The Atlas supports the analysis and interpretation of these indicators by allowing the user to work interactively with the full array of ERS county typologies and other ERS data products. 
        a.. Rural Access to Intercity Transportation Has Declined
        Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics
        As many as 3.5 million rural residents lost access to scheduled intercity transportation between 2005 and 2010, dropping the percent of rural residents with access to intercity air, bus, ferry, or rail transportation to 89 percent, according to a new report from the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Five years ago, BTS calculated that 93 percent of rural residents had access to intercity transportation. BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that 8.9 million rural residents lacked access to intercity transportation in 2010, up from 5.4 million in 2005. Of the 71.7 million rural residents retaining access in 2010, 3.7 million lost access to more than one intercity transportation mode during those five years. 
        a.. Intelligent Transportation Systems for Rural and Non-Emergency Medical Service Webinar -- Tues., March 3
        Source: RouteMatch Software
        Looking to reduce vehicle miles traveled? Wanting to provide additional service with your existing fleet? Needing to reduce paperwork and confusion? Focusing on paratransit and demand-response transportation, this webinar will provide a comprehensive look at the various advanced systems and technologies available to organizations seeking more efficient scheduling, informed dispatching, instantaneous billing, and powerful reporting. We will also discuss tools available to assist mobility managers in coordinated systems and improve interaction in broker-provider relationships. 
        a.. Rural Communities Get Smart About Public Transit Through Vanpools
        Source: NRDC Switchboard
        Rural areas desperately need public transit, and federal funding can help these communities develop solutions that work for their widespread populations. Towns like Bremerton have got it right, bringing down the cost of living for residents, creating jobs, and curbing global warming pollution. One of the coolest things about Bremerton, just across the Puget Sound from Seattle, is vanpooling -- a great transit solution for semirural areas with regular commuters. Vans can be pretty fuel-efficient (especially after new standards being drafted by DOT and EPA, as described by my colleague Luke Tonachel), and of course, carry more people than a car. 
        a.. Trapeze Announces Annual Technical User Conference
        Source: Trapeze Group
        Trapeze recently announced plans for their annual technical user conference in April 2011. Being held in Boca Raton, Fla. from April 17-20, 2011 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, the annual Trapeze User Conference brings together product experts and transportation professionals to share best practices and gain a 360 degree perspective on transportation issues and solutions. Along with the full day intensive tracks for Demand Response, Fixed Route and ITS, School, Medical and Rideshare are all learning tracks available for users of all experience levels. Registration is now open. For further information on the 2011 user conference visit www.trapezegroup.com/2011uc. 
      The Whistle Stop
      Timely and insightful commentary, analysis and opinions regarding important trends, topics and developments in community and public transportation at the national, state, regional and local levels
        a.. Getting Around When You're Just Getting By: The Travel Behavior and Transportation Expenditures of Low-Income Adults (PDF)
        Source: Mineta Transportation Institute
        "How much do people with limited resources pay for cars, public transit, and other means of travel? How does their transportation behavior change during periods of falling employment and rising fuel prices? This research uses in-depth interviews with 73 adults to examine how rising transportation costs affect low-income families. The interviews examine four general areas of interest: travel behavior and transportation spending patterns; the costs and benefits of alternative modes of travel; cost management strategies; and opinions about the effects of changing transportation prices on travel behavior." 
        a.. Transportation for Elderly Persons a Road Block for Caregivers
        Source: Suite 101
        "Transportation for an elderly family member can be a stressful issue for the new home caregiver. Not only do many elderly persons rely on mobility aids to get around, but certain diseases such as dementia can make traveling a safety concern. What kinds of things do inexperienced caregivers need to know regarding transporting a parent or other elderly person? What caregiver tips for transportation of an elderly person make the job safer and easier?" 
        a.. Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in California (PDF)
        Source: Public Policy Institute of California
        "On balance, California has started with the right approach by attempting to integrate its emission-reduction policies. However, recent experiences within the state and elsewhere have revealed numerous challenges-some quite formidable. On the plus side, more local governments are undertaking climate change activities, and many local planners see significant potential for reducing VMT, especially in localities that have experience in implementing these strategies and in more populous areas of the state. Also, planners are beginning to recognize the importance of using multiple approaches. And transit ridership in California is increasing, with recent transit investments appropriately directed toward higher-density areas." 
        a.. Streetfilms: Success Stories in Transit-Oriented Development >From New Jersey
        Source: Tri-State Transportation Campaign
        "In Streetfilms' latest video, Tri-State's Kate Slevin and NJ Future's Pete Kasabach explain some of the factors behind the success of transit-oriented development in northern New Jersey. The film is the first in a multi-part series called 'Moving Beyond the Automobile.' The result is an active street life, many billions of dollars in residential and commercial investment around transit, and neighborhoods where as few as 40 percent of households own a car." 
        a.. Demand for Housing Near Transit
        Source: Seattle Transit Blog
        "If we take for granted the fact that there has been a continual increase in demand for housing in walkable, transit-accessible areas in the past ten years, it should be the case that these difference in prices have become magnified in the time since these studies were conducted. It does seem that housing near transit has increased in value during a time of falling housing prices in Denver, and they have fallen far less in the Phoenix area where the bottom has fallen completely out of the housing market. If you are interested in more detailed data, the best source is the Center for Neighborhood Technology, which has a nice database and some interactive tools where you can compare access to transit to home prices and rents among others." 
      The Information Station
      Resources at www.ctaa.org
        a.. Tappy Grams: February 2011
        Tappy Grams is an electronic newsletter published by the Community Transportation Association of America that describes new and timely publications on transportation-related information. Preparation and dissemination of this newsletter is an activity of the National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination, and is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. None of the opinions, analysis or conclusions herein reflects any statement or policy of the U.S. Government. 
        a.. The Insurance Store at CTAA
        The Insurance Store at CTAA is our way of helping with the complicated insurance situation. Developed in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., our Store has the ability to match products in the insurance world with the individual needs of our members. Whether you're a governmental agency, a nonprofit corporation or a small business, the insurance Store can be your one-stop resource on all insurance needs and services. 
        a.. The Competitive Edge: Making Community and Public Transit the Best Alternative for Medical Transportation
        Today there is never-before-seen complexity in the non-emergency medical transportation field. Limited funding combined with growing patient loads has states seeking intermediaries that can control costs through competition. Community and public transportation providers must become efficient, safe, cost-effective and accountable to maintain these important medical transportation services. The Community Transportation Association, in response to requests from its members, is introducing a new initiative -- the Competitive Edge -- which will give community and public transit providers the tools, resources and benefits they need to make them central players in this new medical transportation environment. 
       The Transportation to Work 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. Explore the toolkit's flyers, fact sheets, resources and examples of transportation initiatives undertaken by employers nationwide. Each approach is straightforward to launch and simple to manage. 
        a.. 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. 
      Follow Us
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              a.. Transit News: You can follow our news feeds on our home page, CT Magazine's home page or on Twitter @CTMag1. 


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              e.. EXPO: Get updates from the foremost gathering of community transportation professionals, the Community Transportation EXPO or on Twitter @CTAAEXPO. 


              f.. Community Transportation Assistance Program (CTAP): Get the latest news from CTAA's Community Transportation Assistance Program or on Twitter @CTAPnews. 


              g.. Senior Mobility: Get updates from our Senior Mobility home page or on Twitter @SeniorTransInfo. 
           
      Contact
      Richard Sampson
      Communications Specialist
      Community Transportation and RAIL Magazines
      800.891.0590 x729
      202.415.9666 
     


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