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Calendar
June 10-11
Mobility Summit
Aug 2-6
ACT Int'l Conference
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ACT Patrons
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Save Transit Benefit Parity
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At press time, the House Ways & Means Committee was tentatively looking to mark-up a package of individual tax extenders today. As the legislative language stands now, the parking and transit benefits would remain frozen at $130 (transit/vanpool)/$250 (parking). The language would also eliminate the bike benefit.
ACT members and those associated with ACT members are asked to immediately contact their Members of Congress--particularly House Ways & Means Committee majority members--and ask them to take action on HR 2288.
Below is a list of targeted members as well as their staff who handle these issues. Their constituents are negatively affected by the lack of parity.
The basic message we would like ACT members to leave is:
It is our understanding that the House Ways & Means Committee is looking to mark-up legislation to extend a series of personal tax issues. We urge you to weigh in with committee staff and leadership and ask them to include bi-partisan legislation from HR 2288 and create revenue-neutral parity at $220/month. Please weigh in today.
TOP-PRIORITY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:
- Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN): Mike.Stober@mail.house.gov. The Northstar commuter rail line runs along his district and monthly fares exceed $200/month. Many major employers in the region offer the transit benefit.
- Congressman Peter Roskam (IL): Mike.Dankler@mail.house.gov. Represents suburban Chicago. Many of his constituents would be affected.
- Congressman David Reichert (WA): Zachary.Rudisill@mail.house.gov. Represents suburban Seattle.
- Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA): Dante.Cutrona@mail.house.gov. Represents suburban Philadelphia.
- Congressman Mike Kelly (PA): Lori.Prater@mail.house.gov. Represents large district in Western Pennsylvania; vanpoolers into Pittsburgh pay in excess of $200/month.
- Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS): Colin.Brainard@mail.house.gov. Represents a large district in Kansas; significant number of vanpoolers into federal facilities, including Department of Justice and military.
Additionally, we encourage members to make their voice heard at www.commuterbenefitsworkforus.com.
For more information, contact ACT Government Relations Specialist Jason Pavluchuk at pavluchuk@actweb.org or 202.285.6414.
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| Countdown to ACT Conference Registration Deadlines |
 Put San Francisco and attending the 2014 Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference at the top of your plans for the summer. This August 2-6 will find you at the Grand Hyatt in Union Square surrounded by the vibrant sights of the City by the Bay, connecting with passionate transportation professionals from around the world.
Exciting plans by the Host Committee kick off the conference with experiential educational tours, giving you the opportunity to engage in real-world TDM solutions and their effects on the local community right from the start.
Along with the many interactive sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables, you are encouraged to participate in ACT's Sustainability Council, Telework/AWA Council, TMA Council, University Council, and Vanpool Council meetings, which offer dynamic opportunities to dive deep into specialized issues.
ACT's International Conference attracts the best and the brightest commuter transportation minds and top partners from throughout the TDM industry every year. This is the one conference you cannot afford to miss.
Stretch your professional development dollars when you register and book your stay early. Save $100 when you register by July 11. Book your stay at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco by July 1 to get the ACT Conference rate on your hotel room.
See you in San Francisco!
Learn more about the 2014 ACT International Conference and register today.
"Trapeze views ACT as one of the foremost TDM conferences
in North America. The venues are high quality, the sessions well-run
and informative, the attendees are passionate and friendly.
It's always a great pleasure to visit with our customers
and showcase our latest innovations in rideshare software."
-Dan Bower, RidePro Product Manager, Trapeze Group
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Staff Spotlight: Meet TJ Cantwell
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ACT Membership Director TJ Cantwell
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ACT Membership Director TJ Cantwell is responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive membership development programs, including the recruitment of new members and the retention of current members.
TJ grew up in Wheaton, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Virginia and his masters in public policy at American University.
In his spare time (which is pretty tight) TJ enjoys watching movies and television (his favorite shows are Elementary, The Big Bang Theory, and Modern Family). "My wife and three children keep me pretty busy the rest of the time," he says.
What is his favorite thing about working with ACT so far? The members, of course! "The members I have met at ACT have all been great people who truly want to help each other and the industry," TJ says. "It is a great group of people."
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| Bicycle Commuting Gets Boost from Local Events | |
ACT members have been busy this month showing how two-wheeled pedal-power adds to their local mobility choices. This issue of Connections features two members' Bike Month programs - one in the East and another on the West Coast.
Pennsylvania: Greater Valley Forge TMA (GVF)
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GVF Transportation Bike to Work Day participants
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Thanks to Chrissy Mittura, GVF's marketing and outreach coordinator, for this info:
- GVF celebrated its 3rd Annual Bike to Work Day on May 21. The event was in conjunction with Communities in Motion's National Bike to Work Challenge, which began May 1 and runs until September 30; this is the sixth year of the challenge.
- The bike-to-work day began with two groups leaving from the Spring Mill Train Station and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park, one of which was led by County Commission Vice Chair Leslie Richards. Cyclists included employees from Montgomery County (Pennsylvania), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Traffic Planning Design, Montgomery County District Attorney's "Wheels for Justice" bike team, and many others.
- Cyclists were encouraged to register through their National Bike to Work Challenge, which puts local residents among cyclists from across the country in a fun, competitive manner. By 2015 Montgomery County, Penn., will add another 11 miles of trails in Pennypack Park, connections to Chester Valley Trail and additions to trails in Pottstown.
Here are links to more details, video and photos:
California: UCLA Bike Week
UCLA's Bike Week brought lots of people out for its annual Bike to Campus Week activities. Thanks to Charles Carter, senior communications analyst at UCLA Events & Transportation, for these highlights and links:
- Three days of morning pit stops at different campus locations on the Tuesday/ Wednesday/ Thursday of Bike to Campus Week got participants revved up.
- Bike mechanics from the campus bike shop were on hand to perform free maintenance checks and make minor adjustments.
- A T-shirt design contest reached 3,554 people on Facebook with 3,300 clicks and 537 total likes, comments, and shares. Of the nine entries, organizers chose four finalists that users voted on, garnering a total of 321 votes ("likes"); the winning design received 136 of those votes - plus the event's blog post received 278 page views.
- The event gathered 198 pledges to ride to campus (those people received free T-shirts with the winning design).
- The "pledge to ride" Facebook post reached 1,930 people organically and received 330 clicks and 46 total likes, comments, and shares.
- The "pledge to ride" Facebook application received 472 views.
- The Bike Week tweets reached more than 30,300 people.
Check out these links for photos and media coverage:
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| Sustainable Development Webinar Podcast | |
A recording of today's Strengthening the TDM to LEED Connection: Opportunities for Growth webinar, hosted by CUTR in collaboration with ACT's Sustainable Development Council, will be posted at www.bestworkplaces.org next week. The webinar featured council co-chairs Justin Schor and Peggy Schwartz, along with Nicholas Ramfos of the TDM Institute (TDMI).
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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 cantwell@parking.org.
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| 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 cantwell@actweb.org or call 571.699.3064 for more information. |
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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 wright@actweb.org. |
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ACT Patrons
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