President's Column 

The WTS Minnesota Board of Directors is seeking members interested in serving on the chapter board in 2011. Participating on the WTS Minnesota Board is an excellent way to get to know the organization, meet new people, and sharpen your leadership skills...all while building your professional network! In addition to the President, the following positions comprise the elected Board of Directors:

• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Programs Director
• Membership Director
• Scholarships & Recognitions Director
• Marketing Director

Directors are voting Board members and are expected to attend monthly board meetings, participate in national conference calls, and carry out monthly tasks as required. We are also in need of members to assist in the following positions:

• Programs Committee - help develop program ideas and take an active role in planning 1-2 programs a year
• Membership Committee - assist with initiatives to better serve members and increase membership
• Scholarships & Recognitions Committee - assist in the annual scholarship and recognition awards processes

Committee members are not formal Board members, but are asked to support the Director. Members serving in these positions are not required to attend monthly board meetings, but are invited and encouraged to attend.

If you are interested in serving WTS Minnesota in any of the above capacities, please contact Kristin Thompson at kristin.thompson@metc.state.mn.us or 612-349-7782. Feel free to contact Kristin or any other Board member listed on the sidebar if you have questions about the duties involved or the level of commitment.

A formal ballot for Director positions will be sent out to the entire membership in the coming weeks. The new 2011 Board will be announced at our Holiday Party on December 9.

Christina Miller
 

On September 30th, WTS members and friends joined University of Minnesota students for our annual Student Program on the U of M campus. Jill Hentges, Community Outreach Coordinator for Metro Transit, provided insight into the successes and challenges of the public participation process for the new I-35W and 46th Street Station, located at freeway level of I-35W at 46th Street in South Minneapolis.

Metro Transit's Jill Hentges shared her expertise with WTS

Hentges explained how the outreach process unfolded and detailed the challenges of the process. Twelve community stakeholders, including representatives from neighborhood associations, council members, at- large members, and Metro Transit staff were assembled to form a focus group, called the Transit User Group. The group met monthly to discuss the station name, environmental concerns, station safety, station users, and other aspects of how the new station would be used. Hentges explained that because the building's initial design had already been decided prior to Metro Tran sit soliciting community feedback, the outreach process faced additional challenges from the beginning. Some of the challenges included a lack of community trust, discontent in the lack of participation in the design process, and stakeholders' disappointment in their perceived lack of influence and level of engagement.

  

The Transit User Group developed the following recommendations, several of which influenced the completed station:  

• Begin future public participation processes earlier
• Prioritize development of the Lake Street station, as many transfers are made at this location
• Use high-efficiency lighting and geothermal heating at the station
• Install real-time signage, safety call buttons, monitored cameras, and bike amenities

The focus group did not gravitate toward any particular name for the station, so Metro Transit selected a name based on the street location.

Hentges noted some important lessons learned from the process:

• Start the public participation process earlier
• Define a clear scope for outreach
• Revisit goals throughout the entire process
• Acknowledge the past, rather than avoid it
• Have a dedicated outreach staff during and after the public participation process

A grand opening event will be held on December 5th, with full weekday service to the station beginning the following Monday. For more information, please visit Metro Transit's project page.

Service to the station begins December 5th

Title:  Senior Transportation Planner
Company/Agency:  Metropolitan Council - Metropolitan Transportation Services
WTS Member Since:  2004

What do you do in your position on a daily basis, and what do you enjoy most about your job?  As staff to the Twin Cities' metropolitan [transportation] planning organization, all of my daily professional activities revolve around coordinating long-range transportation planning in the region. A typical day might include participating as a member on a technical committee for a corridor study, observing a policy committee meeting for a corridor study, reviewing or helping prepare draft environmental documentation for a proposed project, managing federal grants, or participating in some Counties Transit Improvement Board-sponsored activity. I also manage Council-led initiatives like the Regional Transitway Guidelines and am looking forward to participating on the project management team for the Arterial Transitway Corridors Study being led by Metro Transit. My favorite parts of the job are getting to know all kinds of really great people working on transportation issues in the region--my industry colleagues are definitely my favorite part of my job.

Fill in the blank:  Outside of work, you'd most likely find me...  Hanging out with my husband, son, or close friends. A couple of years ago you'd find me at a lot more WTS and other events/happy hours, or concerts, or reading books, or studying languages ... but I've found that little ones have a tendency to keep me closer to home a lot these days. It's a change from my "old life" but also good, fun, and funny (3-year olds say the silliest things!).

How did you learn about WTS and why did you decide to join?  I learned about WTS through my dear, former mentor at SRF Consulting Group, Beth Bartz. I moved to the Twin Cities back in 2004 after working as a transportation planning consultant in Madison, Wisconsin, didn't know a soul here, and was looking for a way to get to know people. Beth suggested I volunteer for the WTS MN fundraising committee and help coordinate the annual silent auction at the Holiday Party. I heard good things about WTS back in WI ... now six years later, I can't imagine having done it differently.

How have you been involved with WTS over the years?  Fundraising Committee - organizing several silent auctions, including the auction for the 25th anniversary gala, and helping to lead the scholarship endowment effort; Secretary; Coordinator for the five-year strategic plan
 
What has being a WTS member meant for you?  Friendly faces. A network I can call on without reservations. Mentoring & sharing experiences (how do you do this job successfully through each phase of life?). Meaningful continuing education ... WTS MN hosts great programs on issues I care about personally and professionally.

Anything else to share with your WTS colleagues?  Two things: I want to extend a big THANK YOU to my WTS Sisters and past Fundraising/Endowment committees for helping out over the years, whether on completing committee work or by reassuring me it's ok to renegotiate deadlines and helping me learn how to do that. Also, remember we're on the home stretch for the scholarship endowment with less than $7,000 left to go to secure these important awards in perpetuity ... please give anything you can and it will be matched by WTS MN in 2010!