May 15, 2014
What's Inside
MAP-21 and GROW AMERICA Act
May 16 is Bike to Work Day
In Memoriam: Fondriest
ACT Int'l Conference
Staff Spotlight: Altman
On the Move
May 18-24 Nat'l Public Works Week
Job Postings
Join or Renew ACT Membership
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June 10-11
Mobility Summit

Aug 2-6 
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Breaking news: Thursday, May 15 

Thanks to Chairwoman Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member Vitter (R-LA), and all of the members for unanimously clearing HR 2322, the Reauthorization of MAP-21 Act. With just a few weeks left before the Highway Trust Fund goes broke, the action taken today to advance reauthorization could not be timelier. See the complete ACT Policy Statement here.

 

Transportation Reauthorization Heating Up

Last week, the President announced the GROW AMERICA Act (Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America). The GROW AMERICA Act is a four-year, $302 billion bill that authorizes highway, public transportation, and passenger rail programs from fiscal years 2015 through 2018. The proposed legislation includes a variety of programmatic changes and policies that ACT supports, including the creation of several performance-based competitive programs.

 

Meanwhile, Congressional action on the reauthorization of MAP-21 has also begun. The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee kicked off reauthorization this week. The legislation continues to fund existing programs authorized by MAP-21 at current levels plus inflation. The proposal only makes a handful of small policy changes. The most relevant policy changes are:

  • Creation of a $400 million program comprised of projects of regional and national significance.
  • Creation of an America Transportation competitive grant program that rewards MPOs and states that exceed performance measures.
  • Creation of a formula program dedicated to freight movement.  
  • Removal of the research title, including university transportation centers, out of the Highway Trust Fund. 

Progress on a transportation bill will largely depend on finding the $100 billion to fund this six-year proposal. To that end, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing last week on how to bridge the gap between what gas taxes bring in versus what is needed to fund the program. The Department of Transportation has warned Congress that the trust fund will go bankrupt by the end of July, prompting the need for some action before then.

 

Next week, ACT will send a special policy alert containing additional information on both of these bills, the status of the House bill, as well information on upcoming webinars to provide additional information and how you can help ACT achieve some of its legislative goals. If you have any questions, contact Jason Pavluchuk at [email protected].

 
Friday May 16 is Bike to Work Day

Many ACT members are on-the-run this week organizing local Bike to Work Day (BTWD) events - some of which have been going on all week, while others are happening tomorrow on the "official" day: May 16. BTWD is an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate the important and growing role pedal power plays in today's transportation mix.

 

From promoting local bike-sharing services and programs to facilitating conversations about infrastructure and safety, BTWD is really about more than only bicycle 'commuting'. It's about tuning in to the mobility preferences and needs of people trying to figure out the best way to get from point A to point B in their local community or across an entire region.

 

Please email a short summary of your organization's, company's, or jurisdiction's Bike to Work Day program results to Mark Wright at [email protected] later this month (put BTWD in the subject line). We'll highlight a few stories in a future issue of ACT Connections.

 
In Memoriam: Cynthia Fondriest 

Cynthia Fondriest, former ACT secretary and several-term Board member,

Cynthia Fondriest,
former ACT Board member 
(Photo by Daniel Peck, Peck Studios, Inc.)

passed away peacefully last weekend after a short illness. Fondriest chaired ACT's International Conferences in 1989, 1999 and 2009, and served as president of the Chesapeake Chapter for 12 years. She also chaired the TMA Advisory Committee and the Employer Outreach Committee as part of the Commuter Connections program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

 

Fondriest began her career in commuter transportation management with the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and the City of Alexandria. In 1987, she founded  Strategic Transportation Initiatives, which provided transportation management, marketing, and strategic planning to corporations, developers, and government agencies throughout the U.S.

 

Funeral services will be held at St. Christopher's Church in Springfield, Va., on Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at Joe Theismann's Restaurant at 1800 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Burial will be in Detroit.

 
Plan Now to Attend the 2014 ACT International Conference in San Francisco
Save $100 with Early Registration

Register today for the  2014 Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference. You'll save $100 off admission to this premier learning event for TDM professionals.

 

Take full advantage of this opportunity to Discover Innovative Transportation Solutions in beautiful San Francisco, Calif. 

 

Look forward to:

  • Workshops, roundtables, and panel discussions targeted to your professional development needs.
  • Sharing knowledge and best practices with more than 400 colleagues from around the world.
  • Meeting with suppliers at the single-largest forum focused on the TDM industry.

Learn more about the 2014 ACT International Conference and register today.

 

 
Staff Spotlight: Meet Tina Altman
ACT Member Services
Coordinator Tina Altman
ACT Member Services Coordinator Tina Altman is responsible for providing member services, including membership renewals, database management and answering general member inquiries.

A native of Woodbury, N.J., Tina visited her family's vacation home in Virginia every summer before moving to the state permanently in 1987. She graduated from Spotsylvania High School and attended ECPI school in Fredericksburg.

 

Tina has three loves: the beach, animals of all kinds, and her husband - not necessarily in that order. "I would adopt all kinds of animals, but my husband won't let me, so for now, I have four cats," Tina said.

 

She also loved driving a school bus for 13 years, serving youngsters from pre-k up to 12. She is a supporter of special education/autism awareness. Her biggest outside interest, however, is drunk-driving prevention.

 

"I am a member of MADD in honor of my brother, whose life was taken by a drunk driver who was also texting," she explained. "I give as much support as possible and share MADD's message to try and pass new laws."

 

A self-described "people person," Tina said she really enjoys helping and interacting with ACT members. You can reach her at [email protected].

 
Update on ACT Leadership Academy

The Leadership Academy class of 2014 will meet in Washington, D.C., during the Innovations in Mobility Summit. Led by ACT Immediate Past President Brian Shaw, CAPP, this year's class includes eight participants: Brendan Casey (Arlington Transportation Partners), Kiki Dohman (Salem Keizer Transit District), Keara Mehlert (Arlington Transportation Partners), Julia Wean (128 Business Council), Lucy Tice (UCLA Events & Transportation), Celeste Gilman (University of Washington Transportation Services), Alex Depompolo (A Better City TMA), and Jennifer Hass (Community Transit). Their final meeting and graduation will take place in August during the International Conference.

 

Interested in Leadership Academy for 2015? Application materials will be announced in the fall. Details here.

 
On the Move
Brian Shaw

Brian Shaw, CAPP, is the new director of parking and transportation services

Bridgette Brady

at Stanford University in California. Previously, he was director of business services at University of Pennsylvania.

  

Bridgette Brady, CAPP, was recently named director of transportation services at Cornell University. Most recently, she was director of transportation at Washington State University.  

 
May 18-24 is National Public Works Week

Next week is National Public Works Week. Observed each year during the third full week of May, National Public Works Week spotlights the importance of public works in community life and recognizes the often-unsung public works professionals who design, construct, maintain, and/or operate public works projects or activities in communities throughout North America. We thank public works professionals who assist and support transportation demand management. Visit the website of the American Public Works Association (APWA), the organization that sponsors the event. You'll find more information and a free downloadable poster  featuring this year's theme: "Building for Today, Planning for Tomorrow" on the APWA website. 

 

 
Job Postings
Looking for a new job in TDM? New jobs have been posted to ACT's job board

Assistant Director for Sustainable Transportation Systems 

In support of Parking and Transportation Services' mission of supporting the university by maximizing campus access, the Assistant Director for Sustainable Transportation Systems develops strategies and processes for his/her division. The Sustainable Transportation Systems division provides a broad range of transportation-related services, including but not limited to: transportation demand management programs and services, transit services, fleet operations and compliance, garage operations, and driver training.

 

Assistant Director for Customer Service, Marketing, and Outreach, University of Colorado

In support of Parking and Transportation Services' mission of supporting the university by maximizing campus access, the Assistant Director for Customer Service, Marketing, and Outreach works in a collaborative team environment to provide overall guidance on customer service orientation and initiatives; perform outreach to constituent groups on behalf of PTS; and create, maintain, manage and track effectiveness of social media, electronic and print publications.  

  

City Manager -- Boston, Chicago or Los Angeles Area, TransitScreen

Searching for a job? Have a passion for urban planning, multimodal transportation and sustainable growth? Apply for a job with TransitScreen. We are currently accepting applications for City Managers in Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

  

Assistant Director of Parking Operations, University of Colorado 

Nestled under the breathtaking Flatiron Mountains in Boulder, CO, the University of Colorado - Parking and Transportation Services department is part of an active campus community interwoven within its larger local community. Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) creatively weaves together all transportation options to meet the needs of a dynamic campus community. PTS is currently accepting resumes for our Assistant Director of Parking Operations position, which is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operations of the Field Maintenance, Enforcement, and Traffic and Events sections of the Parking and Transportation Services department. 

 

Transportation Coordinator Position at Champlain College, Burlington, VT

Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, the Transportation Coordinator will implement the which includes manage the parking system, coordinate the on-campus shuttle system, manage transportation budget, identify and respond to transportation-related issues, conceptualize strategy to produce and deliver marketing and outreach for internal and external audiences, facilitate the Champlain College Transportation Committee, oversee city and state annual regulatory reporting requirements,  serve as the primary contact person for outside agencies, participate in local, regional, and national transportation planning and development efforts.  

  

Have an opening you want to advertise on ACT's website and have included in future issues of Connections? There is no charge for this service for members. Send job announcements to TJ Cantwell at [email protected].
 
Join ACT or Renew Your Membership
If you are not already a member of ACT and want to join, or if you need to renew your membership to take advantage of all the opportunities ahead, click here. Contact TJ Cantwell, ACT's membership director, at [email protected] or call 571.699.3064 for more information.
 
Got News?

Help us spread the word about the people, places and things that are happening in the TDM world. Do you have any news or events that you would like included in a future issue of ACT Connections? Send them to Mark Wright, interim executive director, at [email protected].
 
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