Transportation Seminar: Transportation Workforce Development – Are We Ready?
A Transportation Seminar titled "Transportation Workforce Development – Are We Ready?" will be held Dec. 1, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 422 of the IACC building on the North Dakota State University campus. Workforce Development is a popular term these days, particularly given the changing demographics as ‘baby-boomers’ enter retirement. Much attention is being given to understanding the transportation workforce needs as well as attracting and preparing the next generations of transportation personnel. Join us to hear about and participate in discussions regarding educating, attracting, and retaining workforce within the transportation industry.
SURTC Updates and Adds New Training Topics
SURTC has updated its list of training topics and added a few new topics.
New training topics include:
- Giving Effective Presentations
- How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Writing
- Planning for Technology in Small Urban & Rural Areas
- The Changing Face of America: Diversity and Its Implications for Transit
- Transit and Elected Officials
The complete list of training topics with updated descriptions is available on the SURTC website.
SURTC develops and provides training for transit operators as needs are identified. If you would like to host a training session, please email ndsu.ugpti@ndsu.edu.
Transit and Small Urban Sprawl
The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center has released a report pertaining to transit issues resulting from small urban sprawl. Sprawl has traditionally been studied from a large metropolitan area perspective, but small urban areas throughout the country have been affected as well. The report, entitled Transit and Small Urban Sprawl, highlights steps small urban transit providers are currently taking to integrate transit service into sprawling communities, and helps determine what can be done to improve relationships with local governments during the land development planning process.
Questions related to the report or the research as a whole should be directed to Del Peterson who can be reached by email at del.peterson@ndsu.edu.
Transportation Survey for People with Disabilities in North Dakota
The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, with the support of the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium, is conducting a research project on the transportation needs of people with disabilities in North Dakota. The goal is to find out about existing and needed transportation for people with disabilities in the state. Results from the study can be used by public and private transportation providers and human service agencies to review their existing transportation services, identify gaps and needs, and plan improvements. If you live in North Dakota and have a disability, you are invited to take the survey.
Click here to take the survey.
Solutions Summit: Public Transportation Workforce Development
The Small Urban and Rural Transit Center recently held a public transportation workforce development summit in Fargo, ND. Participants included current transit professionals from all around the country, representatives from higher educational institutions, and current undergraduate and graduate students. Breakout sessions focused on internships, higher education, and workforce retention.
Transportation Seminar: Developing a Long-Range Transportation Plan
A Transportation Seminar on developing long-range transportation plans will be held Oct. 20, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. in Room 422 of the IACC building on the North Dakota State University campus. The seminar will discuss the role of long-range transportation plans, the planning process, and their role in ensuring the efficient and effective expenditure of public dollars.
Seminar on How to Conduct a Review of a Peer-Reviewed Journal Article
A Transportation Seminar titled "How to Conduct a Review of a Peer-Reviewed Journal Article" will be held Oct. 13, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Room 422 of the IACC building on the North Dakota State University campus. In this seminar, attendees will be presented with an overview of the peer review process, the role and responsibility of peer reviewers, as well as tips and considerations to ensure that reviews are done well.
Tool for Rural Transit Agency Peer Comparison Developed
The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center recently released a report that classifies rural and small urban transit agencies. Using data from the Rural National Transit Database, each subrecipient of Section 5311 funding that reported adequate information was classified by type of service, vehicle-miles, vehicle hours, and fleet size. Rural and small urban transit agencies can use this information to compare their to performance with that of their peers. Findings from the report, entitled Classifying Rural and Small Urban Transit Agencies, can also be used for other advanced analysis.
Questions on the report and its use in peer comparison should be directed to David Ripplinger, author of the report, who can be reached by phone at 701-231-5265 or by email at david.ripplinger@ndsu.edu.
Rural Transit Technology Course to be Presented in Wisconsin and New York
SURTC in partnership with the National Transit Institute is presenting the course Implementing Rural Transit Technology October 28-29 in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, and December 1-2 in Schenectady, NY.
The course presents a structured approach for planning, implementing, and evaluating rural transit projects to help ensure that agency needs and expectations are met.
Senate Votes to Extend Transportation Funding
The U.S. Senate has voted to extend funding for surface transportation programs until the end of October. The bill would maintain most agency spending at current levels. The House passed a three-month extension of the transportation funding last week. Read more about the story in an article in Logistics Management.