TRANSIT AWARENESS DAY MAKES STATEMENT

New York public transit managers, labor and businesses made a strong statement at Transit Awareness Day on the necessity of the state providing transit funding in the proposed 2015-2016 state budget. Projected revenues for public transit outside the MTA in the preliminary budget are flat, endangering current service levels and leaving transit systems unable to meet the public demand for more. State Senators Joseph Robach (R, Rochester) and Martin Dilan (D, Brooklyn), Assemblyman James Brennan (D, Brooklyn), and New York State DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald spoke to transit supporters at the rally that opened the program, with the lawmakers pledging to work at securing the additional funding. The transit, labor and business attendees also met with their local legislators to emphasize public transit’s value to the communities they serve and to the state economy.For pictures and more, click here.

TRANSIT SYSTEM NEWS

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner doesn't want to see decreased public transportation services in Syracuse and central New York. Miner has sent a letter to Central New York Regional Transportation Authority Executive Director Frank Kobliski urging the agency to avoid cutting Centro bus services. She also called on CNYRTA to hold a public hearing and allow customers to share their thoughts on the proposed service cuts. Miner's letter comes after Kobliski testified at a state budget hearing and said if there's no change to CNYRTA's revenue stream, the agency will need to reduce services.

You can read Frank Kobliski’s testimony here.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) ridership continues to increase despite decreasing gas prices, the Board of Directors announced at their monthly meeting. System ridership for the final month of 2014 totaled 1.43 million boardings, which is 4% higher than the previous December. “CDTA continues to see increases in ridership even as we are seeing lower prices at the pump.” said David M. Stackrow CDTA Board Chairman. “Our customers see the value and convenience we provide and are opting to stay on board.” December 2014 ridership pushed CDTA’s fiscal year-to-date total to nearly 13 million boardings.

STATE NEWS

Own a racehorse in New York State and you don't have to pay the sales tax. But operate a school bus as a contractor? That's a different story. The New York School Bus Contractors Association says taxpayers are footing a $14 million bill each year as a result.. Commonly, school districts that do their own busing are exempt from the sales tax. And in the mid-1990s, lawmakers and then Gov. George Pataki also exempted transit agencies from paying the sales tax on new bus purchases in recognition of the public and environmental benefits. NYSBCA said it just wants a fair shake, relief for tax payers and the end to a bureaucratic morass.

As part of a comprehensive campaign to raise public awareness about New York State’s infrastructure needs, Rebuild NY Now kicked off a statewide tour with a press conference at the future Solar City Facility in Buffalo. A diverse coalition that included local elected officials, members of organized labor, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and private local businesses stood together to highlight the state of disrepair of the state’s infrastructure and call for a renewed commitment to infrastructure investment.

FEDERAL NEWS

President Obama’s proposed budget envisions a nearly half-trillion-dollar transportation construction spree. The six-year, $478 billion infrastructure plan would provide a 33 percent increase in funding for big, new public works projects. The nation’s transportation trust fund is set to run out of money this summer, but if this program is passed by Congress it will increase funding for transit by 75 percent and finance construction jobs across the country. But despite broad, bipartisan agreement on the need to fix thousands of aging and crumbling bridges and rail lines in cities and towns across the country, Mr. Obama’s proposal could face opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress because of the way he proposes to pay for the new construction.

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Toronto -- The Ontario government sold its last shares of General Motors stock to raise cash for highway and public transportation projects. Charles Sousa, the province’s finance minister, told the Toronto Globe and Mail that the sale is expected to raise $1.1 billion, which will go to the Trillium Trust fund and will be earmarked for transportation infrastructure improvements the province plans over the next 10 years.

TRAINING AND EVENTS

Presenter: Doug Eadie, the President & CEO of Doug Eadie & Company, a Tampa Bay-based firm that works with public and nonprofit organizations in the areas of board and CEO leadership and strategic change.

Webinar: 10 Steps to Starting a Travel Training Program

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 2:00–3:30pm EST

10 Steps to Starting a Travel Training Program will provide the steps essential to developing a successful travel training program. With rising costs of demand responsive transportation options including ADA Complementary Paratransit and medical transportation, training on how to use the fixed-route bus or rail option is in increasing demand. Starting a travel training program will assist in allowing persons with disabilities to travel on the least restrictive (and most often, least expensive) transit option, thus offering the highest level of independent mobility for people with disabilities and saving your agency/community funds allowing for additional services to be provided elsewhere.

Julie Rosekrans will provide you, your agency and/or your community a step-by-step process to starting a travel training program that will increase the choices for independent travel of those with disabilities in your community. Robyn Bernardy will provide details on many start-up projects that have been completed by MTM.

Presenters: Julie Rosekrans, ESPA Consulting and Robyn Bernardy, Medical Transportation Management
Registration Fee: $45 (Registration Deadline – February 17)

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 2:00–3:30pm EST. Register here.