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FY 2016 House Transportation Appropriations Bill Released
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 Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, released the FY 2016 House Transportation & Housing bill today (April 30). The legislation contains no real surprises and keeps transportation funding levels flat for 2016, contingent upon an authorization of some type passing.
ACT is in the process of reviewing the legislation. Of note so far, however:
- $100 million was set aside for TIGER grants ($400 million less than last year). The eligible grant size was also changed to $2 million-$15 million per project down from $10 million-$200 million.
- The grant size change makes it easier for TDM projects to apply directly for TIGER grants; however, an 80 percent reduction in TIGER grants will make the program significantly more competitive. In addition, a 50 percent match is proposed to be required (down from 40 percent).
- Full Funding Grant Agreements must also have a 50 percent state/local match; this has been common practice, but the legislation proposes to make it law for 2016.
- The extra amount WMATA gets is down to $75 million (authorizations and previous years were $150 million)
Here is a link to the bill (PDF), as well as a link to the summary released by the House committee.
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Lone Star Hosting 'Mobility for Sustainable Development & LEED Certification' Seminar
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 Lone Star Chapter (soon to be renamed) will host a breakfast seminar in Houston, May 13, on Mobility for Sustainable Development & LEED Certification. See event details at: ACTLoneStar.eventbrite.com. Justin Schor of Wells + Associates will be a featured speaker, along with Fred Merrill with Sasaki Associates in Cambridge and David Leininger, CFO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. The chapter has partnered with Central Houston, Inc. (downtown management district) to hold the event in their offices, and with AIA Houston to help promote the event to the sustainable development community as a means of increasing awareness of ACT and TDM as resources for LEED developers.
The event was scheduled to coincide with the Urban Land Institute's Spring Meeting being held in downtown Houston the same week, which will attract the broader worldwide real estate development community. ACT member organization Energy Corridor District is one of our key sponsors and helped to arrange Sasaki's participation. He will provide details of the TDM elements included in the district's recently updated master plan. ECD is a rapidly expanding major activity and employment center in west Houston that is home to several major energy company complexes, including BP, ConocoPhillips, and Shell Oil, as well as a number of engineering and other companies. For Houston's suburban activity centers, ECD is recognized as the leader in TDM (and ECD staffer Kelly Rector is a 2015 Leadership Academy participant).
Register for the May 13 seminar here.
(Photo courtesy of Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau.)
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Chesapeake Chapter Offering Conference Scholarships
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 H oping to attend the ACT 2015 International Conference but need some help covering your expenses? The Chesapeake Chapter is offering scholarship assistance to members. Apply today and be part of the premier learning event for TDM professionals. Download the PDF application here.
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California Chapter Leaders Lobby Legislators
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Members from both the Northern California and Sacramento Valley ACT chapters delivered the message on Earth Day that ACTions speak louder than the words. In a state with finite resources, air quality and traffic congestion issues, and an ongoing struggle with implementing GHG reduction mandates, TDM stands alone in delivering low-cost and effective long-term remedies to these and a myriad of other state maladies.
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| | Sue Teranishi (Sacramento TMA; Sacramento Valley chapter board), Leslie Mancebo (UC Davis, Leadership Academy participant, and Sacramento Valley Chapter board), ACT Vice President Connie McGee (Enterprise Rideshare), Tom Harrington (Intuit, Northern California Chapter board) gather in front of the Governor's office in the State Capitol during the joint ACT Northern California and Sacramento Valley chapter lobby day this month. |
ACT National VP Connie McGee, Charlene McGhee (no relation because, um, they're spelled differently...), Tom Harrington (Intuit), Leslie Mancebo (current Leadership Academy "cadet"), Sue Ternanishi (Sacramento TMA), and Larry Robinson (Sacramento Valley president) met with state legislative staff (and the chief consultants for both the Assembly and Senate transportation committees) to push an agenda that included spending GHG cap-and-trade revenues in TDM program areas (the most bang for the buck in reducing GHG emissions) and advocated limiting HOV lane use by SOVs (i.e., solo hybrid drivers) and urging passage of bike safety and E-bike protective legislation.
The feedback has been very positive, but this is only the first step in developing an ongoing working relationship with decision makers who can make a difference. The take-away from all of this: In addition to its focus on Washington, D.C., ACT advocacy should include a 50-state strategy.
If you would like to organize a state lobby day for your chapter, or for members of your chapter, please contact Jason Pavluchuk (pavluchuk@actweb.org) for assistance.
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Patriot Chapter Partnered with New England Parking Council for Conference
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| | Accepting the Excellence in Transportation Award from Patriot Chapter on behalf of MassDOT (left to right): Rebecca Cyr, MassRIDES; Derek Valentine, MassDOT; Dustin Rhue, MassDOT; Gary St. Fleur, MassRIDES; Melissa Santley, MassRIDES; Adam Blye, MassRIDES. |
The Patriot Chapter's April 15 regional conference drew 60 TDM professionals representing all six New England states. Breakfast keynote speaker Stephen Devine, RIDOT's chief of intermodal planning, provided a look at how several intermodal projects completed over the last 30 years in Rhode Island have created more transportation options for commuters.
The awards luncheon recognized six TDM professionals or organizations for their work to develop and promote impactful TDM programs. A slideshow featuring the winners is linked from the chapter's page on actweb.org; or click here to view (PDF).
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Innovative State DOT Programs Help Communities Become More Livable and Transportation Systems More Sustainable
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 The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a new video to commemorate Earth Day and to showcase ways state departments of transportation are making communities more livable and transportation systems more sustainable. AASHTO's video features programs in Utah and Minnesota, and highlights how transportation agencies are protecting wildlife and plant life through programs to relocate endangered species.
The video is at the Center for Environmental Excellence website.
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Patriot Chapter President Patrick Sullivan Focusing on Growth
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Connections: Tell us about your work. We understand you wear multiple hats.
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| Patriot Chapter President
Patrick Sullivan |
Sullivan: Yes, I'm director of policy & outreach at the 128 Business Council, where I'm responsible for overseeing community outreach and transit coordination projects within the 128 Corridor. I monitor and report on regional and state transportation policy issues impacting the region, and develop transportation demand management (TDM) strategies on behalf of municipalities and private businesses in the Route 128 Corridor. I am also responsible for membership development efforts.
Connections: That's really just one of several hats you wear, right?
Sullivan: True; I serve as managing director of MassCommute, the Massachusetts Council of TMAs, and I'm president of the ACT Patriot Chapter.
Connections: What is your educational background?
Sullivan: I received a master's degree in city and regional planning from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Vermont.
Connections: What inspired you to join ACT?
Sullivan: I have been a member of ACT since 2010. As soon as I began working for a TMA, I realized that ACT was a great resource for connecting with other TDM professionals and learning more about federal transportation policy. It was my participation in Leadership Academy that prompted me to take a leadership role in the Patriot Chapter. I served as vice-president for one term and then ran for president when the president at the time stepped down.
Connections: What are your priorities as chapter president?
Sullivan: My goals are to expand chapter membership and to provide chapter members with learning and networking opportunities.
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| News of Note | |
- NACTO Bike Share Analysis: Bike share use increases exponentially with station density, according to a new NACTO analysis of U.S. bike share system data released this week. Systems that are designed with stations a five minute walk apart provide more convenient, reliable service and are used much more frequently than systems with more far-flung stations. High station density (approximately 28 stations per square mile) and even station spacing is key. Get NACTO's report here (PDF).
- CATMA Name Change: CATMA has changed its name to the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association to reflect its expanded service area in offering businesses and developers comprehensive TDM programs. More details here (PDF).
- TRB Sustainability Conference: TRB is hosting an international conference May 6-8 in Washington, D.C., offering technical discussions on sustainability concepts, tools, and practices. Details here.
- Millennials Not Who You Think They Are? Annual study by Zipcar finds Millennials are more interested in alternative forms of transportation, find car ownership a pain, and more likely to give up their cars than their smartphones, says The Washington Post.
- Twin Cities Recognition: Commuter Choice Awards applaud those who use sustainable transportation
- TDM Case Study: A recording of the April 15 webinar featuring Luum and Seattle Children's Hospital is available from IPI.
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ACT Committees Seeking Volunteers
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The ACT Board of Directors revived and/or created a number of committees during its January meeting and your participation is eagerly sought. If you have fresh ideas and a willingness to invest a little time, please consider serving on any of the following committees:
- Communications (Maureen Farrell, chair)
- Events (Katie Sihler, chair)
- Membership (Connie McGee, chair)
- Professional Development (Jim Barr, chair)
- Sponsorship (David Judd, chair)
- Strategic Planning (Luanna Huber & Rob Henry, co-chairs)
To volunteer, email your committee choice and contact information to info@actweb.org and include "Committee Participation" in the subject line.
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Got News? 
You won an award? Your organization received a grant? You solved a problem that has long vexed the TDM world? Why keep it a secret? Please add ACT to your press list and email us your news. A short paragraph is plenty; we'll follow up with you if we need more details. Just email us at info@actweb.org with "Member News" in the subject line.
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