ACT is currently accepting speaking proposals for the 2014 ACT International Conference, which will take place August 2-6 in San Francisco--this is where hundreds of transportation demand management (TDM) professionals share innovative ideas, learn from top experts, network with colleagues, and build legislative support through intensive training workshops, top-notch professional development sessions, networking events, and off-site activities.

If you've ever thought about sharing your expertise, and helping shape the future of the industry by giving a presentation at the largest gathering of TDM professionals in the world, now is the time to submit your proposal!

Experienced and articulate professionals are invited to submit proposals for speaker presentations that will illustrate case studies, illuminate important issues, demonstrate how-to knowledge, and increase the professionalism of attendees. Possible topic areas include, but not limited to: vanpooling, carpooling, shuttles, telework, sustainable development, university, research, employer, cycling, pedestrian, public policy, and innovation in TDM.

Proposals are due March 25, 2014; there is no limit to the number you may submit.

Visit here for more information and to submit. We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco this August!

President Obama and House Ways & Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) each released proposals for stabilizing the U.S. Highway Trust Fund. Without Congressional action, the Highway Trust Fund will become insolvent sometime this summer. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) expires at the end of the fiscal year and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says Congress needs to find $100 billion to reauthorize MAP-21 for six years. Simply extending MAP-21 one year would cost $19 billion.

President Obama announced that included in his FY 2015 budget will be a provision that would use savings from corporate tax reform as a way to pay for a $301 billion transportation bill for the next four years. The President's proposal includes a number of policy provisions (more information will be in next week's ACT Connections newsletter) and if approved, would drastically increase transportation spending during the next four years.

Separately, Camp released a tax reform proposal that would also use funding from tax reform to shift $126.1 billion to the Highway Trust Fund, keeping it solvent through 2022. Funding isn't the only thing these two proposals have in common, however: They are both considered dead on arrival. However, this year or next, Congress may decide to peel out corporate tax reform from broader reform legislation as a way of beginning the tax reform process and paying for a transportation bill.

ACT Executive Director Henry Wallmeyer commented:

"The Association for Commuter Transportation is encouraged by the proposals outlined today. Finding funding to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund must be a priority. ACT is working with House and Senate leaders to improve policies from MAP-21 that will increase the value of transportation funding and ensure that each transportation dollar spent achieves the highest rate of return."

Tuesday, the President sent his FY 2015 budget to Congress. It included an outline of a four-year, $302.3 billion transportation bill to be funded by closing corporate tax loopholes. In general, the proposal would increase spending on core highway and transit programs, create new programs, and direct a little more than $19 billion to Amtrak over four years. New programs created include a $500 million highway innovation program, $2.5 billion freight mobility program, and a highway fix-it first formula program. There are large increases in the transit formula programs, especially the bus program. The proposal also greatly increases the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.

A handful of new federal funding opportunities have been announced:

• President Obama announced a notice of availability for FY 2014 TIGER Grants. Information can be found here. Applications are due April 28, 2014.

• The FHWA is looking to "Advance Transportation Planning through Innovation and Research" through its Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The FHWA's research program funds innovation in areas that include planning capacity building, congestion management, safety planning, public involvement, environmental justice, visualization in planning, freight planning, planning and environmental linkages, and pedestrian and bicycle planning and design. Visit FedBizOpps.gov for more information and to apply; the solicitation number is DTFH6114R00019. The BAA closes April 23, 2014.

• FHWA also recently announced the availability of $30 million in funding through the Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration program, a new grant initiative established in MAP-21 as part of the Technology and Innovation Deployment program. Under the AID Demonstration program, funds are available to implement an innovation in any aspect of highway transportation including planning, financing, operation, structures, materials, pavements, environment, and construction on any project eligible for federal funding. The full amount of each award will not exceed $1 million, and FHWA is accepting applications on a rolling basis from State departments of transportation. For more information read the program outline.

• The federal Department of Transportation (DOT) is hosting a Data Innovation Challenge. DOT is seeking innovative tools to help Americans see and understand the transportation system they use every day. Specifically, DOT is looking for web-based tools, data visualizations, mobile apps, and innovative uses of technology that access publicly available data. The winner or winners will be invited to DOT headquarters to take part in a special ceremony with Secretary Foxx and other senior officials. Deadline is 5:00 p.m. ET on April 30, 2014.

The City of Burlington is seeking to develop a management plan for its parking assets in the downtown core, both publicly and privately held. The transportation resources and choices of the community would inform this plan. The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), on behalf of the Burlington Business Association (BBA), is soliciting interest from teams of professionals to recommend comprehensive parking management strategies that are flexible, that are responsive to current and future market demand, that are based on knowledge and understanding of downtown Burlington's parking inventory, and that begin to form a community-wide transportation strategy. Access the RFP here.

U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA6) and David Joyce (R-OH14) introduced the Safe Streets Act (H.R. 2468) last June. To date, an additional 25 representatives (including eight Republicans) have joined them in supporting the bill. Last month, Senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced companion legislation (S. 2004).

The Safe Streets Act requires states and metropolitan planning organizations to adopt comprehensive transportation policies to ensure the needs of all users are considered in federally-funded new and substantially rebuilt roads. Legislative background can be found here; the bills have identical language.

ACT recently signed onto an organizational letter of support for the legislation and encourages ACT members to join. You can add your organization's name by filling out this form by Monday, March 24. 

 ACT is finalizing its reauthorization proposals. The ACT reauthorization committee met March 6 and the Public Policy Council will consider the proposal on a conference call next Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST. If you have questions or would like to participate on the call, contact Jason Pavluchuk at pavluchuk@actweb.org. 

The two-day Innovation in Mobility Public Policy Summit will bring forward-thinking transportation professionals together in Washington, D.C., to discuss new developments in shared-use mobility and foster further collaboration between governments and private sector mobility providers. Building on the successful Shared Use Mobility Summit in San Francisco last October, this event will feature panel discussions and presentations by influential mobility leaders in the public sector along with experts in the fields of carsharing, one-way carsharing, peer-to-peer (P2P) carsharing, public bikesharing, ridesharing, and technology, all sharing their experiences in bringing new transportation options to local communities. 

Any professional interested in the future of sustainable mobility, including mobility providers, policymakers, governmental agencies, non-profits, affiliated industries, technologists, academics, media, and stakeholders on the current state of the practice should attend this important event.

ACT members can schedule meetings with their representatives and/or senators on Capitol Hill by contacting Jason Pavluchuk at pavluchuk@actweb.org.

For more information and to register click here.

The recording of ACT'S Tax Penalties for Telecommuting: State Tax Policies that Prevent Both Employees and Employers from Adopting Telework webinar held March 4, 2014, is now available for free.

Telework enables employers to hire and retain workers who live anywhere -- from a few blocks to many states away. However, state tax authorities can make interstate telework arrangements difficult for both employees and employers. Nicole Belson Goluboff discussed two state tax policies that inhibit telecommuting across state lines. The first policy is the tax that states may impose on nonresident individuals who telecommute to in-state employers.  Goluboff explained how the "convenience of the employer" rule can harm workers, businesses, and states, and highlighted proposed federal legislation to eliminate the rule. The second policy is that a state may subject an out-of-state company to business activity taxes when the company's only connection to the state is that it employs a single telecommuter there. She described the leading case in this area and discussed how other states might handle similar cases. She also summarized the effects these policies can have on the growth of telework. 

This webinar was co-sponsored by Best Workplaces for Commuters at the National Center for Transit Research, and the Telework and Alternative Work Arrangements Council of ACT.  

"Your daily back-and-forth to work can have a serious impact on your overall wellness. Here's what you need to know-and how to make the most of it." Check out this Time article on how your daily commute may be taking its toll on your body here.

To have access to effective public transit, every step of the user's trip must be accessible, efficient, safe, and comfortable. The transit system must eliminate barriers--real or perceived--to make it a viable or preferred alternative. The goal of the Design Guidelines for Transit Supportive Communities is to foster reliable, efficient, convenient, and accessible transit from the customer's front door to the bus.

This one-hour webinar featured Bryce Word, special projects manager with Pace Suburban Bus Services, and Thomas Radak, senior project manager with Pace Strategic Services, along with a panel of Pace professionals who assisted in the Q&A.

Pace is a suburban Chicago transit provider serving tens of thousands of daily riders with fixed bus routes, vanpools, and its Dial-a-Ride programs. Pace covers 3,500 square miles and is one of the largest bus services in North America. Its fresh approach to public transportation gives the agency a national reputation as an industry leader.

The Transit Supportive Guidelines for the Chicagoland Region webinar presented principles and standards that may be implemented by municipalities, designers, engineers, and many others. Ultimately, it is Pace's vision to provide a higher level of bus service to places that actively remove barriers to transit as a viable transportation choice.

To access this free archived webinar, visit here.