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SEPTEMBER 2016

(continued on page 2)

From the Chair

(continued on page 3)

2016 FPTA/CTD Annual Conference Registration is OPEN!

Join us on December 11-14, 2016 for the 2nd Annual Joint Training Conference with the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) and the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) in Jacksonville, Florida. We expect over 500 transportation professionals to join our host property, JTA, in beautiful Duval County, Florida. Our 2016 conference promises to be an interesting and enjoyable event with a substantial and diverse program. Topics are covered for everyone in the industry, whether you provide fixed route or paratransit services.

Register now at: https://fpta.memberclicks.net/annual-conference

Whether you operate a transit system, work for a private company, or are an advocate for transportation services, you know that this industry is all about partnerships. None of us can do what we do by ourselves or in a vacuum. We collaborate with community leaders for guidance and support, we seek best practices from others across the nation, and we partner together every day with our customers to provide the highest quality service possible.

The Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) is in the process of expanding our partnerships by reaching out to more transportation entities across the state. At our last meeting, the Board of Directors approved changes to our by-laws that altered the membership dues for non fixed route Community Transportation Coordinators (CTCs) to a flat fee of $500.00. In addition, a new membership category was added for 5310 and 5311 Transportation Providers.

At my transit property, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), we are also expanding our partnerships in an effort to solve the age-old transit problems like first mile/last mile and increasing transit access. We all know that getting to and from the transit stop is a huge obstacle for many people. If we could just get them to the transit stop, we can get them to ride. Well, in February 2016, PSTA launched a first-

APTA Recognizes the Jacksonville Transportation Authority as the Best Mid-

Size Transit System in North AmericaThe Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) accepted the 2016 “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) at their 2016 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles on September 13. JTA won in the mid-size category, for systems providing more than 4 million, but fewer than 20 million annual passenger trips.

“Congratulations to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for proudly representing the State of Florida and receiving the 2016 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award,” said Florida Governor Rick Scott. “Transportation projects are crucial to growing our economy and creating new jobs for Florida families.”

JTA was judged on safety, operations, maintenance, access, customer service, financial management, sustainability, workforce development, attendance and employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing, and community relations. JTA was also judged on quantitative measures including riders per hour and total passenger miles.

“They (JTA) embrace innovation and are constantly seeking efficiencies and the ultimate winner is the public and the customers that use their system,” said Florida Department

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From the Chair (cont. from page 1)

Brad Miller

From the Director

Lisa M. Bacot

Our 2016 Annual Conference feels like it is right around the corner, even with the event pushed back a bit this year. As a reminder, we will be in Jacksonville, Florida at the Hyatt Regency on December 11-14, 2016. We are again joining with the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD) to throw a combined fixed route and paratransit event focused on “Connecting the Dots: Using Innovation and Technology to Meet Demand”. The FPTA, CTD and JTA Staff is already in “high gear” choosing training sessions, confirming speakers, and making all of the appropriate arrangements to ensure the event is a success.

I’m pleased to announce that Andrew Evans, a contributing editor to National Geographic Traveler, will be speaking at the FPTA/CTD Breakfast on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Andrew is a writer, explorer and TV host for National Geographic. As National Geographic’s Digital Nomad, Evans

spent five years reporting from around the world in real time, online. To date, he has completed 30 assignments for the National

Geographic Society which have spanned all seven continents and five oceans. Andrew has broadcast live from kayak, camel-back, and helicopter, and from inside King Tut’s tomb. He was the first person ever to blog from the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and gained a worldwide following when he made his epic overland journey from National Geographic headquarters all the way to Antarctica, using public transportation—a 12,000 mile journey.

Aside from National Geographic, Andrew has published stories in Readers Digest, The Guardian, The Times (London), The Telegraph, The Economist, Business Traveler, Blackbook, and Four Seasons. As a travel expert who has visited over 100 countries, Andrew has been featured in Forbes, BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, Men’s Health, The Guardian, Gawker, Frommer’s, and The Huffington Post. He holds degrees from Brigham Young University and Oxford University and speaks French, Spanish, and Russian.

The 2016 Annual Conference is sure to be another big hit! Make sure you plan NOW to attend, to register go to: https://fpta.memberclicks.net/annual-conference. See you in December!

of-its-kind partnership with Uber to offer discounted rides to and from specific bus stops in the system (service is also offered by local provider United Taxi and wheelchair provider Care Ride). We pay half the cost of the ride, up to $3.

I’m excited to share that this service, called Direct Connect, is expanding in October to include about 20 strategically located bus stops throughout the system. Riders will be able to use Uber, United Taxi, or Care Ride to get a ride to or from the bus stop, and the subsidy is increasing to $5, so the cost to customers drops to about $1 for most rides.

Intrigued and inspired by PSTA’s new public-private service partnerships, the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged decided to introduce a new grant program aimed at increasing transit access for disadvantaged riders.

PSTA is the largest recipient in this new program, and are using the $300,000 in funding to launch another new partnership service called TD Late Shift.

TD Late Shift will increase transportation access for transportation disadvantaged citizens, especially those who go to/from work when regular bus service isn’t available. Eligible TD clients who have purchased their monthly bus pass can sign up to get 23 free overnight Uber/Taxi rides (9 pm to 6 am), and one $3 day time “urgent” trip, each month.

I'm proud of my agency team and FPTA for expanding partnerships within our local communities and across the state. I firmly believe that when different providers of service partner together to solve problems, it means a more efficient and productive future for public transportation in Florida.

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JTA Recognized as Best in North America (cont. from page 1)

Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold. “It is nice not only to have a transit agency in the state that is the best in the state, but in this case, the best in the country.”

“This distinguished award is a testament to the determination, passion, and innovation of the Authority’s dedicated employees,” said JTA Board Chairman

Scott L. McCaleb. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend my deepest congratulations to Nat Ford and his team for being named the best mid-size transit system in North America.”

From the onset, the JTA has played a pivotal role in Jacksonville’s growth and

economic development by providing critical service to thousands of public transit dependent residents in Florida’s largest city by population. With a total of 874 miles, Jacksonville has the distinction of being the

largest city by land mass in the United States.

“This award is a positive reflection of all the hard work by our great staff, the leadership of our visionary Board of Directors and our amazing customers,” said JTA Chief Executive Office Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award and will

keep up the transformative work to be a world class transportation network in Northeast Florida.”

APTA is the nation’s leading force in advancing public transportation. APTA members are public entities providing bus, light rail, commuter rail, subway

and waterborne passenger services, as well as high-speed rail and paratransit services.

For additional information, please contact the JTA’s customer service line at (904) 630-3100; TDD (904) 630-3191 or visit www.jtafla.com.

4

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Pre-Paid Fare Programs in Manatee and Sarasota CountyIn June 2016, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners and the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners approved Universal Access Pass (i.e., U-Pass) access agreements with two local colleges, Ringling College of Art and Design and New College of Florida. Each agreement is a three-party agreement between Manatee County, Sarasota County, and the college which allows students, faculty, and staff to ride all Manatee County and Sarasota County fixed route bus service for free, when presenting a valid College-issued photo identification when boarding. Each college pays both Manatee and Sarasota County a pre-paid, lump sum, annual fee to cover fare revenue.

A similar agreement was approved in November 2015 between the University of South Florida (USF) Sarasota-Manatee, Manatee County and Sarasota County. The U-Pass Program serves a number of purposes including broadening access to public transportation service for area college students, faculty and

staff throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties, assisting in meeting agency goals in regards to facilitating ridership growth, adding an additional source of operating revenue for transit service, and expediting the boarding process at key bus stops.

Both Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) and Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) continue to broaden the scope of the U-Pass program and are now working with State College of Florida (SCF) to implement the same program for SCF students, faculty, and staff. A major post-secondary educational facility, SCF has several campuses throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties, with sizeable ridership evident already at the campus

adjacent to US Highway 41, served by both MCAT and SCAT.

The collaborative efforts of MCAT and SCAT to serve major post-secondary educational institutions, demonstrates the commitment of both transit agencies to improve service connectivity and provide seamless regional travel.

Way to go!

New Leadership at FBT and FTC

Floridians for Better Transportation (FBT) named Sally Patrenos, a public affairs professional with more than 30 years experience working in public affairs, government relations, economic development and marketing, as its new president. Patrenos, who begins her new assignment on August 22, succeeds Matthew D. Ubben, who recently accepted an appointment to serve as Executive Director of the Florida Transportation Commission.

The Florida Transportation Commission (FTC) has appointed Matthew D. Ubben as the Commission's Executive Director. Ubben, who begins his assignment on August 22, replaces Brad Swanson, who recently became the president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association. Ubben, a public affairs professional with more than 30 years experience working for associations, corporations and state government, has been serving as President of Floridians for Better Transportation since January, 2012.

ADA Bus Stop Upgrades and Amenities

Since spring 2014, Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) has completed 320 bus stop upgrades for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. These upgrades include concrete boarding pads for passengers to use when boarding and de-boarding and to facilitate wheelchair deployment along MCAT fixed routes. The ADA bus stop upgrades are complete along the Cortez Road, 30th Avenue, SR 64/Manatee Avenue, US Highway 41, 15th St East/Tallevast Road, US Highway 301 and 17th Street (Palmetto) corridors. Work is currently underway on 9th Avenue and 27th Street East in the Bradenton area. Once these ADA bus stop upgrades are completed, MCAT and County Highway Division staff install passenger shelters or passenger benches at each bus stop. These amenities incorporate the County “Branding” scheme by matching the colors. They follow a strict way finding pattern by installing the Turquoise benches on the North and East sides of the streets and the Rust Red benches on the South and West sides. This effort enhances passenger accessibility to the fixed route system, while also providing seating for MCAT passengers at every bus stop.

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In 2011 the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club and League of Conservation Voters created a map of the annual consumption of gasoline by County. The map is actually telling in that some of the counties with the most robust public transit systems also represented areas with high per capita oil consumption. What was telling for me as a public transit manager were the “hot spots” in a number of areas in Florida. The author of the NRDC article, Deron Lovaas conceded that some of the variation in hot spots in the map of Annual Consumption of Gasoline Per-Capita by County versus that of the County Annual Consumption of Gasoline could be attributed to through-traffic and the low overall use of oil per person in rural and exurban areas. Either way you look at these maps, they provide a sound foundation and an opportunity for public transit agencies and County officials to seriously evaluate the current initiatives and policies in place that support increased transit accessibility and use.

Graphic Courtesy of NRDC

The high consumption of oil has been reduced in the years since the original NRDC article was written. With the increase in the production of fuel-efficient single-occupancy vehicles and County fleets and the increased use of public transit - where in March 2015 the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported a 39 percent increase in transit ridership between the years of 1995-2014 - it appears that the nation and our Counties are attempting to make incremental changes to decrease oil consumption and increase public transportation choices (Refer to the 2014 Fourth Quarter & End-of-Year 2014 APTA Public Transportation Ridership Report).

NEW CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE: Lackotran*From the the NEW Journal of American Transportation Infectious Disease(s)**

Lead Researcher: Tomika Monterville, Lake County Transit Division, Lake County, Florida

Graphic Courtesy of NRDC

However, oil consumption and transit ridership data are mere symptoms of a disease we all know too well and I would like to call, “lackotran”. Lackotran (noun) - is a pathological condition of a county, city, person, place or thing; or system of these sub-sets resulting from various causes of a lack of transit accessibility, such as:

1. Spatial - Lack of proximity to public transit service (particularly scheduled fixed-route service);

2. Cultural/Social - The negative stigma associated with public transit use;

3. Economic - Low-income or transit-reliant patrons cannot afford the cost of transit;

4. Environmental - Lack of public infrastructure to support access to transit, i.e. sidewalks, ADA ramps; and

5. Political - Perception by elected officials that public transit is an eyesore and/or only for poor and low-income patrons.

Lackotran is known to adversely affect all of the aforementioned groups and can result in the following signs and symptoms:

1. Unemployment – Cause by the lack of access to employment centers and jobs;

2. Out-migration – Due to the lack of viable, long-term employment opportnities, many residents migrate to other areas where transit options and accessibility can increase income opportunity and quality of life;

3. Inability of Jurisidictions to Court and Support Large and Quality Employers – Large employers often site employment centers and offices in areas where all-

wage earners can access public transit to reduce travel time to-from work. Lack of accessible public transit can be a deciding factor in businesses locating in jurisdictions and municipalities;

4. High Employee Turnover – Lack of reliable transportation often forces employees to resign due to lack of affordable and accessible transportation options;

5. Increased Costs to All – Many rural and suburban patrons utilize classic demand-response service for up to three trips daily which can cost upwards of $40.00 per trip to the jurisdiction. Increasing fixed-route service can significantly reduce these trips and resultant costs.

There currently is no cure for lackotran. However, many counties, cities and individuals can and DO live with the disease, experiencing intermittent symptoms or “episodes”, as public transit officials call them. A typical episode may include the non-acceptance of a much sought-after job due to the management of a fast-food chain indicating to a potential employee that their preferred job site was not within the reach of public transit. Another common episode is the new, fresh outta college government employee who enjoyed the use of public transit in another city and later discovers that their new employer was three miles from the nearest transit stop; thereby necessitating that the employee purchase a car - which they could not afford due to student loan debt.

These episodes will continue until we bring light to this disease that is ravaging the nation. We can start the dialogue with government and elected offiicals, the transit industry and all of our stakeholders to begin to eradicate this disease and its symptoms. Lackotran has to be challenged and the public transit industry is the ideal industry to take the lead. Florida, we see the symptoms every day. Now it’s time to fight the causes!

*Lackotran is not a real or recognized disease. This is fictional.

**The Journal of American Transportation Infectious Diseases is also fictional and not affiliated with any association (real or imagined).

Graphic Courtesy of NRDC

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE ...

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Lake County announces new Transit Division Manager

TAVARES — Lake County has named a new Transit Division Manager to oversee its paratransit and fixed-route services. With over 20 years of transportation and transit planning experience, Tomika Monterville joins Lake County after having most recently worked for the Prince George’s County Maryland Department of Public Works & Transportation, where she was the associate director for transportation.

“Ms. Monterville brings a broad range of experience in transit operations that will benefit the Transit Divisionss efforts in continually expanding and improving services for Lake County residents,” said Dottie Keedy, director of Lake County Community Services, which oversees the Lake County Transit Division.

Monterville has held several transportation/transit planning positions with multiple agencies including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and other private firms. She received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Howard University and a master’s degree in planning from Florida State University, from which she started her transportation career as an airport planner.

The Transit Division provides paratransit and fixed-route services through a contracted service provider. Services offered include LakeXpress, Lake County’s fix-route public transportation system which has five routes, and Lake County Connection, a paratransit service providing low-cost transportation throughout Lake County to individuals who qualify as “transportation disadvantaged” as defined by state statutes.

For more information about the Lake County Transit Division, call 352-326-8637. To obtain LakeXpress schedules and bus maps in both English and Spanish, visit www.ridelakexpress.com.

Pasco County Commissioners approve PCPT bus route expansion

Changes designed to improve rider options and customer service

PASCO COUNTY, FL ---- The Pasco County Public Transportation Department (PCPT) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are making it much easier to work, shop, learn and play in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. Major improvements are being made to two main bus routes: the 54 Cross County Connector Route. Beginning August 15, 2016, there will be more opportunities to catch the bus along 54 and riders will be able to travel from U.S. 19 along SR 54 to make connections to the Hillsborough Area Transit System (HART). Pasco County Commissioners approved the changes at their regular meeting July 26, 2016.

Improved service along the Route 54 Cross County Connector will include:

• More frequent schedule; buses will run every hour instead of two hours• Two brand new buses with cushioned seats, reading lights andluggage racks• New Saturday service• Service from U.S. 19 to the Shops at Wiregrass and TampaPremium Outlets• Direct transfers from the following: Bus Route 14 Madison Street; Bus Route 18 Tarpon Springs/Grand Boulevard; Bus Route 25 Rowan Road; and Bus Route 23 Little RoadThese changes will provide shorter wait times, fewer transfers between buses, a more comfortable ride, better connections to the HART system in the Wiregrass Area and more efficient access to things like shopping, education and services.

For more information or to request a copy of the updated map and times please contact PCPT by phone at 727.834 3322 or visit the PCPT web page at http://www.ridepcpt.com. The PCPT administrative office is located at 8620 Galen Wilson Boulevard, Port Richey, Florida, 34668.

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Fryeboss: For all your fire supression needs

-- Business Member Corner --

Timely and cost effective fire suppression service and maintenance of your fleet is one of the most important keys to keeping your transit assets on the road. Fyreboss, based in the Tallahassee area, can assist your maintenance team with the parts, services and training that will keep your fleet out on the street.

Although fire suppression systems are fairly technical and complex, they are easy to understand: a heat sensor releases a fire suppressing chemical into the areas of the engine compartment (or battery compartment) that have been deemed by factory engineers as having a sufficient potential for fire danger. Once activated, the system must be serviced, recharged and put back into operating condition by an authorized factory representative.

Three of the prominent brands of fire suppression system that are currently approved for use in Florida Transit include:

• Fogmaker (FMNA)

This water-based fire suppres s ion system uses an extremely e f f i c i e n t and vehicle-f r i e n d l y suppres s ion design to snuff out fires. System activation temperatures of the Fogmaker design exceed 360°F, making it very unlikely to give a false activation on a hot day in Florida. The ultra-modern, slim hardware design allows the canister to be installed in out-of-the way areas of the bus. The 12-month inspection cycle minimizes your out-year costs. Most importantly, your fleet maintenance team can be trained and certified with a FACTORY CERTIFICATE to allow for in-house inspection and maintenance services. You can use your own employees to perform routine inspections of these systems, rather than outsource those required services to a third party contractor. Fogmaker a very “agency friend” choice for your fire safety needs.

• Amerex

This ABC p o w d e r b a s e d system is r e l a t i v e l y c o m p l e x , and its m a k e r

does not allow in-house maintenance employees to perform routine inspections. Unlike Fogmaker, Amerex’s inspection cycle is 6-month, not twelve, and unlike Fogmaker, a small battery must be changed in the Amerex control panel on a regular basis. Worse yet, the dry chemical ABC becomes slightly corrosive in the humid Florida environment mandating extreme measures of clean up after a discharge. Unfortunately, for Agencies with vehicles that have had ABC systems discharges, vehicle longevity is negatively impacted.

• Jomarr

Up until a few years ago, a dominant brand of bus fire suppression was Jomarr. This brand used a “clean agent” fire suppression product as its extinguishment media. Jomarr changed its systems design when one of its major vendors closed its doors in 2013. Unfortunately, for Jomarr systems owners, no legacy parts or replacements were offered. Jomarr systems must be inspected on a 6-month cycle by a third-party contractor. Access to parts and system documentation continue to be problematic for Transit Agencies. Fyreboss can assist you with Jomarr systems.

Fire suppression systems are designed to be life-saving safety features of your transit assets. These systems must be regularly serviced and maintained to assure their proper operation. Your maintenance team must know what to look for in their routine inspections. Your drivers need to visually inspect system pressure gauges as a part of their standard pre-trip inspections. Ultimately, you must have assurance that your systems will operate and activate when called upon.

Fyreboss was launched in the second half of 2015 to assist you with your fire suppression system needs. We have offices in both the northern and southern parts of the State of Florida. We are stocking spare parts for Fogmaker (FMNA) and Jomarr systems in both locations.

We offer:

• No-cost factory certificates for your shop employees to perform their own yearly inspections of Fogmaker (FMNA) system

• No-cost factory warranty support for certain types of systems service needs

• Fogmaker system recharges

• Genuine Fogmaker parts and replacements

• Five-year Fogmaker fluid change outs

• Inspections for Amerex and Jomarr

• Jomarr cylinder re-builds when Jomarr systems are discharged

• CNG warning system parts and inspections, along with calibration equipment

Contact us at: 850-508-9465 – or – www.fyreboss.com – or – jefftilley@fyreboss.com – or visit us on Facebook.

For more information, contact: Jeff Tilley, Fyreboss

850-508-9465jefftilley@fyreboss.com

9

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11

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, September 7, 2016.......... Lawmakers will face a tight budget during next year's legislative session and will likely need to take action to head off a shortfall in the near future, a new report suggests.

A draft of the state's "long-range financial outlook," set to be considered by a legislative commission next week, raises the prospect that "a structural imbalance" is looming.

For the coming budget year, which begins July 1, the outlook projects a surplus of just $7.5 million --- a tiny sliver of the state spending plan, which is now roughly $82 billion. The following year, a budget gap of $1.3 billion could open up, followed by $1.8 billion the year after that.

That could force lawmakers to scale back expected spending or, less likely in a Legislature dominated by Republicans, to boost taxes to pay for budget increases in areas like education and health care. The financial outlook, which is prepared by state economists, is not official until approved by the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate members.

However, there are conclusions in the report that could change the potential shortfalls, in some cases dramatically. For example, the outlook assumes some increases in spending on areas like education and health care, projecting them to be handled the same as they have been in recent budget years.

It includes a three-year average of tax cuts, which have been popular under Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP legislative leaders, and projects similar decisions in the coming session.

And it accounts for lawmakers setting aside $1 billion each year to deal with unexpected changes in the economy or additional needs that could crop up. No major changes are expected to that policy because lowering the state's reserves substantially could make it more expensive to issue bonds to pay for construction needs.

Report Points to Tight Budget Times Ahead

Still, legislative leaders admit that the forecast will prompt lawmakers to consider changes to state spending when they begin work on the budget in earnest in March.

"I think it shows that we will have difficult choices to make in the upcoming session, and I think it will force us to make decisions between competing priorities," incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said.

He said lawmakers who oversee different areas of the state budget will have to take a deep look at whether to continue spending on items approved by previous legislatures.

"We can't simply reaffirm the priorities of yesterday," Negron said.

Meanwhile, legislative leaders and Scott are expected to push new priorities. Negron has proposed increasing spending on higher education by $1 billion over the next two years, as well as a plan to use bonds and federal money to boost Everglades restoration.

Incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, has not outlined much in the way of new spending, though he has spoken in the past of overhauling state health-care programs in a way that could save money. Through a spokesman, Corcoran --- who currently serves as the House budget chief --- declined to comment before the outlook was finalized.

Scott generally unveils his budget proposals in the weeks before the annual legislative session.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, said the report didn't rule out the kind of spending plans proposed by Negron. But doing so would require making offsetting changes elsewhere in the budget.

"I think what that outlook says is that there's going to have to be some realignment of priorities if additional expenditures of that magnitude are approved," Lee said.

Source: News Service of Florida

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After 25 years of dedicated service, Donna Hersom has handed over the wheel for Marion Transit to Tom Wilder.

Wilder was born in the Canal Zone, where his Dad was a ship pilot for the Panama Canal. In 1979, they left and moved to Ocala. Shortly afterwards, he began a career in law enforcement; first with the Ocala Police Department, then with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. He worked his way through the ranks while earning a Master’s Degree from Saint Leo University and retired in 2012 as Chief of Staff. This local experience provided a vast perspective of Marion County because of having worked with many facets in both the private and public sectors. During his tenure, he also oversaw the transportation needs of the Sheriff’s Office, which uniquely qualified him for the position of Transportation Director.

Wilder says, “It is nice to be part of an agency that does so much for the community.”

“Tom joins our team with an incredible amount of experience and leadership," said Jennifer Martinez, Executive Director. "He is highly respected among our community, and I look forward to working beside him in moving Marion Transit to the next level to better serve our clients."

About Marion Senior Services

Marion Senior Services, Inc., (MSS) is a 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit corporation providing services in Marion County since 1973. Our mission is “to assist the elderly, disabled and disadvantaged residents of Marion County to maintain independent living status”. Our elderly and disabled clients hope to remain in their homes for as long as possible and our services help maintain their independent status by providing transportation, nutrition and in-home support.

MSS is the Lead Agency for the Department of Elder Affairs in administering a variety of programs to assist the frail and elderly in Marion County by providing adult day care, in-home and in-facility respite, home delivered meals, emergency alert response, personal care, homemaking, nutrition education, case management, and emergency energy assistance. In addition, MSS (operating as Marion Transit Services) has been the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) providing Para transit transportation in Marion County since 1982.

Marion Senior Services Names New Transportation Director

Jarrell Smith was the recipient of the 2016 Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) scholarship for the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTA). He received recognition in Los Angeles during the 2016 Annual APTA Conference.

Jarrell received a BA in Developmental Economics and a BS in Environmental Science from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana in May 2015. The following month, he participated in the Career Discovery Program hosted by Harvard’s Graduate School of Design for six weeks. At this program, Mr. Smith focused on urban and regional planning studies and was involved in studio sessions dealing with land use and transportation issues in Somerville, Massachusetts.

The summer program at Harvard confirmed Jarrell’s interest in pursuing graduate studies in urban and regional planning at the University of Florida (UF). However, after being exposed to the intricate rail system in Boston, he was a bit apprehensive about pursuing a career in transit planning. Nevertheless, he applied and accepted an internship position with the Regional Transit System (RTS) in Gainesville, Florida to fulfill a class credit requirement and he unearthed a

fascination for transit planning.

While at RTS, Jarrell acted as an assistant t r a n s p o r t a t i o n planner and he primarily assisted with using geographic information systems (GIS) to enhance the planning process. Although Jarrell admires the work environment and the skillset defining the transportation planning profession, the social and economic impacts of public transit represent the foremost motives fueling his desire to pursue a career as a transit planner.

According to Jarrell, knowing that he can help connect someone with a job, a school, a healthcare center, or a friend gives him great joy! After completing his studies at UF, he is looking forward to furthering his career in the transit

UF Student wins FPTA/APTF Scholarship

industry as a transportation planner. More information about Mr. Smith can be found at the following web address: http://jarrellsmith2010.wixsite.com/resume

Congratulations, Jarrell!

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Bertini received his Ph.D. from University of California at Berkeley, a masters from San Jose State University, and bachelors cum laude from California Polytechnic State University. He is a registered professional engineer in California and Oregon.

Established in the USF College of Engineering in 1988 by the Florida Legislature and the Florida Board of Regents, CUTR is an internationally-recognized resource for policymakers, transportation professionals, the education system, and the public. CUTR provides high-quality, objective transportation expertise in the form of technical support, policy analysis, and research support that translates directly into benefits for its project sponsors. CUTR’s multidisciplinary research staff includes experts in planning, engineering, public policy, finance, economics, and geography who develop comprehensive solutions for all modes of transportation while combining academic and real-world experience.

CUTR conducts over $15 million in research annually for a variety of public and private sector sponsors in Florida and the U.S. Areas of research include public transportation, transportation planning, mobility policy, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), transportation safety, transportation demand management (TDM), transportation economics and finance, and corridor management, among others.

Transportation educator Robert L. Bertini will lead the nationally recognized center.

After an extensive, two-year search, Dr. Robert H. Bishop, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida, announces the appointment of Robert L. Bertini, Ph.D., P.E., as Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) and tenured professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Bertini was most recently a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Previously, he held faculty and leadership positions at Portland State University in Oregon.

In 2009, President Obama appointed him deputy administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) for the U.S. Department of Transportation (now known as OST-R) where he also led Transportation educator Robert L. Bertini will lead the nationally recognized center.

After an extensive, two-year search, Dr. Robert H. Bishop, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida, announces the appointment of Robert L. Bertini, Ph.D., P.E., as Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) and tenured professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Bertini was most recently a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Previously, he held faculty and leadership positions at Portland State University in Oregon.

In 2009, President Obama appointed him deputy administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) for the U.S. Department of Transportation (now known as OST-R) where he also led the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office and chaired the USDOT’s Innovation Council. He served as the chief operating officer of a 700 person agency reporting to the Secretary of Transportation. He was also founding director of the Oregon Transportation and Research and Education Consortium (OTREC), a statewide four-campus national university transportation center in Oregon from 2002 to 2006.

Dynamic Transportation Leader to Head the Center for Urban Transportation Research

“This is an exciting time for transportation as we begin to re-imagine our future with intelligent roadways and self-driving vehicles in increasingly complex traffic patterns,” said Bishop. “Dr. Bertini is the right person at the right time for the College of Engineering and CUTR.”

As a researcher, Bertini received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, one of the most prestigious awards in support of early career development for young faculty. His primary research interests are in sustainable transportation solutions, traffic flow theory informed by empirical and experimental measurements, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), multimodal transportation “big data” for improving performance measurement, planning and operations, and proactive traffic management and operations, which has generated nearly $18 million in external funding over his 20-year academic career.

Currently, he serves as chair of the Transportation Research Board Operations Section, is a member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society and co-chairs the Research Working Group of the Vehicle to Infrastructure Deployment Coalition. He is a recipient of the DeFazio Transportation Hall of Fame Award.

“I’m grateful to Dean Bishop, the CUTR Advisory Board and the entire CUTR team for this unparalleled opportunity to join such a dynamic and impactful organization. I’m looking forward to working with all of my new colleagues and all of our stakeholders to move CUTR to the next level of excellence in multimodal transportation research and education.”

Dr. Bertini has authored / co-authored more than 280 publications, including journal articles, conference proceedings, book chapters and technical reports. He is an active advisor to students, having supervised, advised and mentored dozens of Ph.D., masters and undergraduate students over the years.

“Bertini’s experience in transportation at the national and state levels will undoubtedly enhance and strengthen CUTR and the College of Engineering’s work in transportation planning, policy, and safety, and in intelligent transportation systems and demand management, economics and finance,” said Bishop.

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Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) Service Optimization and Restructuring Plan

On July 26th, 2016, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved the MCAT Service Optimization and Restructuring Plan. The Service Optimization and Restructuring Plan is an ambitious effort taken on by MCAT staff to take a fresh look at the existing fixed-route service and create a new and more efficient design using the same set of resources (i.e., drivers, buses, revenue hours of service, and operating budget), while ensuring development of the “core network” of fixed route service. In addition to enhancing the “core network,” the optimization plan facilitates travel between major activity centers, bolsters ridership, and furthers economic development.

Prior to BCC adoption, MCAT staff worked diligently to identify underperforming service with the goal of repurposing service hours to more productive areas. Staff specifically targeted two key “core network” corridors for the reallocation of underutilized service hours: 1. The SR 64/Manatee Avenue; and 2. the SR 684/Cortez Road. Improving service frequency on these major east-west route corridors, complements existing major north-south route corridors including the existing 30-minute service frequency

on US Highway 41 (Route 99), and the 20-mintue service frequency on Anna Maria Island (AMI), where the AMI Trolley service produces a half-million passenger trips every year. In addition, staff worked to improve overall on-time performance by adjusting scheduled running times between major time points and ending the northbound Route 99/US Highway 41 service at the Downtown Bradenton Station.

Service optimization and efficiency modifications are identified through an in-house comprehensive operations analysis process, including extensive review through public outreach. Public workshops, social media outreach, and a survey instrument (available both on-line and at public meetings) are utilized for all MCAT outreach programs. This comprehensive service optimization and public outreach effort demonstrates the County’s commitment to enhancing fixed-route bus service despite budget constraints, implementing priorities defined by system users, fulfillment of Transit Development Plan (TDP) service priorities, and utilizing available resources in order to “do more with less”, while establishing a foundation for system growth and expansion.

Congratulations to the MCAT Planning Manager and the MCAT Planning “team” for the Service Optimization effort. Very well done!

In July 2016, Manatee County/MCAT was awarded a $90,000 grant award from the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (FCTD). These funds are used to provide bus passes to low-income individuals in the community who do not have adequate access to transportation for medical appointments. The grant application was developed as a collaborative effort and partnership between the Public Works/Transit Division, the Manatee County Community Services Department and several area healthcare providers, who provide necessary health care services to low-income patients in Manatee County.

Demand for Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) paratransit service in Manatee County continues to grow. In fact, paratransit ridership increased more than 20 percent over the last three years. Consequently, Manatee County has been using all available TD trip and equipment

MCAT Transportation Disadvantaged Bus Pass Programgrant funding to provide p a r a t r a n s i t trips for TD eligible clients, with a specific focus on persons with d i sab i l i t i e s . The Mobility Enhancement Grant award enables the expansion of TD service to eligible clients for fixed route service utilization. In addition to increasing public transit ridership on fixed route services, the grant award promotes positive public health outcomes by reducing medical appointment no-shows and cancellations, due to lack of available household transportation. Patients who did not have the means to

travel to primary care appointments are more likely to schedule regular medical follow-up visits, if transportation is readily available.

Longer-term, this initiative increases travel opportunities for low-income, medically needy clients in the community, demonstrates the importance of the regular bus system to TD clients, forges stronger community partnerships, and leverages local funding for indigent health care needs.

The MCAT Planning Manager, Ryan Suarez is the MCAT lead for this new initiative, working closely with MCAT Superintendents Benita Zarr and Kevin Sheerin.

Well Done!

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Healthy Indoor Air Abounds with New Leadership

SanUVAire, LLC, is setting new and improved clean air standards in its acquisition of JKA Company, the woman owned, certified DBE that has been designing, manufacturing, and supplying technology solutions for the public transportation industry for over 25 years. The company, that prides itself on crafting customized indoor air quality units for individual applications, is expanding its portfolio to include commercial and residential applications as well.

CEO, Chad Sleiman, acquired JKA Company in January of this year and partnered with the step-daughter of former innovator and CEO, Lee Huston, who’s passing last year left a significant void in the company’s executive team.

Among the many assets acquired is the development and deployment since 2002 of UV Irradiation systems. The company’s leading product called “Breathe-Safe Systems” was designed and manufactured under a licensing agreement with a major patent holder for multiple UV Ventilation systems. Over 600 Breathe-Safe Systems have been successfully deployed on various transit vehicles and railcars over the past 12 years.

The system was originally deployed and tested through a project sponsored and partially funded by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Specifically, the Transit IDEA Program awarded the project designed to stimulate the development of commercially viable products and solutions for various segments of the transportation industry.

Notably, the research and report completed under this project led to validation and quantification of the effects of safely designed and installed UV Ventilation treatment systems in all modes of public transport vehicles. The project included the collection and analysis of molds, viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens typically found in

transport vehicles. Additional research and testing was conducted to determine the specific effects of the “Breathe-Safe System” on those pathogens considered dangerous and typically transmitted through airborne contamination. Calculations of flow rates and volumes of air exchanges were also considered. Most of the data and analysis used to determine pathogen kill rates and required exposure times was based on research conducted by the USEPA, Center for Disease Controls, American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers, Published documents from the Department of Homeland Security, Medical and Hospital Research, and by qualified university research contractors.

Now, SanUVAire is taking the existing technology and upgrading it with transit specific feedback in mind to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases and harmful pathogens. Its mission is to advance public health and security for riders of all modes of public transport including employees by improving vehicle interior air quality, lowering maintenance costs, and reducing the probability of the successful use of a bioterrorism agent on transit vehicles.

The company is also hard at work building upon the established reputation as a socially conscious supplier of products and services focused on the transit dependent population. With this year’s acquisition and the Sleiman presence, collectively SanUVAire now has over 60 years of engineering, design, development and application of technology solutions for public transport applications. The company’s work has quantified the scale and scope of the potential problems that can occur on all transit vehicles and paves the way for healthier and cleaner air for all transit ridership.

For more information regarding the company’s growth and its expansion into commercial and residential applications, visit www.SanUVAire.com. Check back frequently for transit industry updates.

Resources:

Biological Inactivation Efficiency by HVAC Ultraviolet Light Systems – Technology Evaluation Report – Office of Research and Development National Homeland Security Center Eric Koglin Project Officer , National Homeland Security research Center Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, Nevada

Breaking the Mold – Mold and Moisture in HVAC Systems for Commercial Buildings – Engineered Systems (2005)

Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Research Development and Engineering Command, AMC US ARMY, 5183 Blackhawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/archive/studies/idea/finalreports/transit/Transit53_Final_Report.pdf

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205

TRB project on Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Transit Buses (Transit Idea Project 53).

Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Transit Buses HVAC Systems – Transportation Research Board, Transit IDEA Project 53, Lee Huston JKA Company, 2008

UVC Under a New Light – Florida Hospitals Put HVAC Maintenance Under a New Light. Engineered Systems Magazine (2004) – Firouz Kiikavousi PE

For More Information: SanUVAire, LLC

6435 W. Quaker St.Orchard Park, NY 14127

P.888.611.6660F.888.665.7253

www.SanUVAire.com

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