Register today and be a part of this important event in Albany one week from today. With the release of the Governor Cuomo’s budget, it is essential for transit to have a visible and clear voice as we continue to make the connection for our lawmakers between investing in transit and a vibrant State economy. Make plans to attend the Public Transportation Summit at 1:00pm in Meeting Room 6, Empire State Concourse. The schedule of events is below. Bring your colleagues, show your support and together our voice will be heard!

The New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA) has called for an annual state capital investment of $100 million to meet transit infrastructure needs of upstate and suburban downstate transit systems. NYPTA Vice President Bill Carpenter testified before the New York State Legislature’s Joint Budget Hearing on Transportation that any state plan to fund transportation must include adequate funding for upstate and suburban downstate transit systems.

On January 13, 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo released his SFY 2016-17 Executive Budget. The budget contained recommended appropriations for 2016-17 for transit operating and capital aid, and also included a proposed 5-year capital funding program for Non-MTA transit systems, the first multiyear capital program proposal in many years.

The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) hopes to break ground this year on a new, $3.5 million to $4 million transit center in Troy that will front the southeast corner of the Uncle Sam Parking Garage at the intersection of 4th and Fulton streets. CDTA officials say the transit center would offer a host of customer conveniences. CDTA Executive Director Carm Basile said the plan is part of the group’s overarching mission of not only providing public transportation, but making it an appealing option.

The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Acting Administrator Therese McMillan participated in the unveiling of the reconstructed Fordham Plaza, a major intermodal public transportation hub in the heart of The Bronx. The project improves access to public transportation for thousands of New York City residents, and is another success for the Department’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the awarding of $6.6 million in funding to Farmingdale State College to establish the Infrastructure, Transportation and Security Center. The Center will take an academic focus on strengthening security at regional infrastructure and transit systems and train students in related fields of study.

A detailed spreadsheet that shows more than $2 billion in unused, decade-old congressional earmarks allows state departments of transportation to begin estimating how much money they can receive when the Federal Highway Administration completes its preparations for states to draw those funds. The FHWA will calculate how much states and territorial DOTs may tap in earmarks that would qualify as of the end of the last federal fiscal year, Sept. 30, 2015, but it could be several more weeks before it has completed the process and makes the details available.

University of Washington researchers are doing experiments in which they collect the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals sent from passengers’ cell phones and other mobile devices to create a clearer picture of transit use. In addition to determining where and when people get on and off the bus, the new approach could one day be used to figure out what percent of riders are regular commuters or use transit infrequently, and if they’re transferring to other buses.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, February 2 :: Concourse Meeting Room 6

7:30am | Breakfast
8:00am | Briefing, Review of Talking Points
8:30am-12:30pm | Legislative Appointments
1:00-2:30pm | Public Transit Summit and Pro-Transit Display

Click here to download the registration brochure.

Become a Sponsor!

Do you work with New York State’s public transit agencies, or serve as a subcontractor to equipment manufacturers, parts suppliers or contractors? If so, your company is a key contributor to New York State’s economy. Click here for information on sponsoring Transit Awareness Day. 

The Board-Savvy CEO

February 10, 2016 at 2:00 PM EST
This PTLI event is open to all public transit professionals.
Register now.

The long-term success of public transportation authorities in terms of financial and political stability, operational performance, and system growth heavily depends on the strong leadership of a rock-solid board-CEO strategic governing team. And experience has taught that CEOs who are truly “board-savvy” must take the lead in building such partnerships. Webinar presenter Doug Eadie will draw on his newest book, The Board-Savvy CEO, in providing participants with detailed, practical and thoroughly tested guidance for becoming truly board-savvy CEOs. Doug will describe the key characteristics of board-savvy CEOs and will explore the primary partnership-building roles of the board-savvy CEO, including: Chief Board Developer; Chief Governing Process Designer; and Chief Governing Relationship Manager. Doug will pay special attention to the role of the board-savvy CEO in turning board members into satisfied owners of their governing work.

Register here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We invite you to share your expertise on Transit, Technology & Smarter Communities at the New York State Public Transit Fall Conference & Expo, October 24-26, 2016 in Albany, NY.

Times have changed and so has the expectations of our riders and greater communities. Smart communities use information technology and data to be more efficient. They improve delivery of services, quality of life and the environment. They support innovation, champion the citizen and utilize existing infrastructure in creative ways to meet demand.

Please consider submitting a presentation proposal today related to our theme. Proposals that tie to the conference theme will be given priority.

Presentations should benefit attendees knowledge of the industry, professional growth, personal goals, or directly support a positive outcome for their organization. Presentations must be focused on a well-defined single topic, and provide participants with timely, solution oriented information they can bring back to their transit agency to support the work they do.

To submit a proposal, complete the attached Call for Proposals form and return it to the New York Public Transit Association no later than March 16^th.

Thank you for your interest in providing our 2016 Transit, Technology & Smarter Communities Fall Conference & Expo attendees with quality programming. Your dedication to New York's transit industry keeps New York moving!

Sincerely,

Scott Sopczyk
Transit Training Task Force Chairman