Public Transportation News Documents
Read The Most Current TPTA Newsletter
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2010 TPTA Conference & Expo to be a Hit!!
This year the Tennessee Public Transportation Association is excited to co-host the 2010 Conference & Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee with the Knoxville Area Transit (KAT). Don’t wait! Make your reservations online at www.tntransit.org for the 2010 Conference & Expo set for October 12 – 15 at the Knoxville Downtown Hilton Hotel & Convention Center. Conference sessions will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center, located just one block from the Hotel. The Downtown Hilton Hotel is one of Knoxville’s finest hotels and is situated in the heart of downtown, the gateway to scenic East Tennessee. With a covered sky bridge to the Knoxville Convention Center, a short walk to the University of Tennessee campus, views of the Tennessee River & Neyland Stadium, and perfectly situated in the downtown business district, the Knoxville Hilton Hotel is convenient to it all! The 2010 Conference & Expo will host several educational sessions for managers, drivers, planners, dispatchers and other interested parties. The Conference will also include panels of legislative representatives and experts, great keynote speakers, and numerous vendors displaying the latest buses and public transit technology. Again, don’t wait to register for the Conference and make your hotel reservations at www.tntransit.org !!!
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Day on the Hill a Huge Success!!
The 2010 TPTA Day on the Hill was one of the most successful to date. We had great participation from our members, and it was a true milestone event for TPTA. Below are some highlights:
- Over 50 legislators attended the TPTA reception, along with dozens of legislative staffers
- TPTA had great meetings with the Speaker of the House and the Chairmen of the House and Senate Transportation Committees
- TPTA made a presentation that was well received in the House Transportation Committee
- Dozens of individual meetings were held with district legislators by individual transit systems
- 20 informative transit agency displays appeared in the Legislative Plaza hallway
- Impressive TPTA membership attendance at the Senate and House Transportation Committee meetings
Several legislators, staff, and lobbyists from the legislative plaza were impressed with the number of people that we had at the event, as well as TPTA’s clear and consistent message. Many shared that they had a better understanding of urban and rural public transit and were surprised to learn so much transit existed in the State of Tennessee. The Association says “Thank You” for participating in the 2010 TPTA Day on the Hill and we hope to make next year’s event even better. I know our public transportation message was delivered to our elected officials, so keep up the good work. Again, thanks for participating and being part of the legislative process!!
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TPTA Trip to Washington, DC - Always a Great Opportunity to Educate our Congressmen about Public Transit!!
The March 2010 trip to Washington, DC provided the Association with a special treat - both Senator Alexander and Senator Corker took time out of their busy schedules to meet personally with TPTA members Both acknowledged a deep commitment to public transportation. With their retirements on the horizon, the Association recognized Congressman Bart Gordon, Congressman John Tanner, and Congressman Zach Wamp at the TPTA breakfast for their many years of service. They have always been tremendous supporters of Tennessee Public Transportation and we are grateful.
The TPTA trip to Washington, DC is always a significant opportunity for Tennessee transit agencies to educate federal Senators and Congressman about our public transportation story - Tennessee public transportation agencies carry approximately 32 million passengers annually across the state and we are one of a handful of states with public transportation in every county. With the expenses and environmental concerns associated with owning an automobile, the need for reliable public transportation is greater than ever in Tennessee. This need is especially true for the State’s low-income and elderly residents who rely on public transportation as an economic alternative to automobile usage. For many Tennesseans, public transportation is the only means of getting to and from a job or doctor’s appointment.
With Tennessee residents increasing their use of bus and van transportation services, vehicle replacement is a key issue for rural and urban transit agencies. TPTA requested $20 million in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (Section 5309, Federal Transit Administration account) for bus replacement and bus facilities. The funds will be allocated to each local public transportation agency through a TPTA formula. As with the previous year, the 5309 statewide request is one of the most important requests that TPTA makes at the federal level.
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New TPTA President, Officers and Board of Directors Named at 2009 TPTA Annual Conference and Expo
Mr. William Hudson has been appointed as the new TPTA President for the next two years. Mr. Hudson is the President / General Manager of Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA). He began his transit career as a bus operator in April, 1964. For 45 years, he has worked in nearly every aspect of transit and has quickly advanced at MATA. Prior to being named President / General Manager in 1993, Hudson held numerous positions including Director of Transit Operations, Customer Service & Marketing, Labor Relations and field operations, and former TPTA President.
Paul Ballard, CEO of MTA / RTA was named Vice President; he is also a veteran in the public transportation industry with over 30 years of experience. Appointed Treasurer was Tommy Bradberry, NWTHRA Transportation Director. Jimmy Smith, past TPTA president and Transit Director of the Clarksville Transit Authority was appointed Secretary. The Immediate Past President is Rebecca Harris, Transportation Director at UCHRA. The Board of Directors consists of:
Tom Dugan--CARTA
Tom Fox--MATA
Johnny Gullett--JTA
Eldonna Janutolo--JCT Cindy McGinnis--KAT
Wayne Owens--SETHRA
Sanford Potts--SCTDD
Jeff Simpson--MCHRA
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All-Time Attendance Record Set at 2009 TPTA Annual Conference and Expo
Over 350 people converged in Nashville for the 2009 Tennessee Public Transportation Association (TPTA) Conference and Expo. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) hosted the Conference on October 27-29, 2009, at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. The Conference theme was "Go Green, Go Transit" which featured informative workshop topics about going "Green", dynamic speakers, prominent elected officials, premier manufacturers, and the latest innovative transit equipment and technology.
Some of the most exciting moments of the conference where having Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, TDOT Commissioner Nicely, and APTA President Bill Millar open the conference up at the Opening Session. We also had a packed and very informative Legislative Roundtable Panel that included Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh, Senate Transportation Chair Jim Tracy, House Transportation Chair Bill Harmon, House Agriculture Chair Stratton Bone, and Former House Transportation Chair Phillip Pinion.
The Expo was also TPTA's most successful with approximately 50 sponsors and vendors. Dave Brown from Mobility Transportation Services stated that "from a vendor's perspective the (2009) TPTA conference is one of the best! I do 8 – 12 State and National conferences a year and I think yours (TPTA Conference & Expo) is the best. We talked to a number of friends and customers, had an opportunity to show what we had to offer and had a fun time doing it. Thanks again for the opportunity and you can be assured that we'll be back next year."
The 2010 TPTA Conference and Expo will take place in Knoxville. Details will be forthcoming!!
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TPTA Requests High Priority Project (HPP) in Federal Transportation Reauthorization Bill
TPTA timely filed paperwork with Tennessee Federal House and Senate members for an $80 million High Priority Project (HPP) over the life of the next Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The money would be used for bus and bus facility replacement and modernization. Without the funding the aging Tennessee public transportation bus fleet would be severely limited to replacing buses.
New equipment helps Tennessee public transportation agencies carry approximately 31 million passengers per year across the state. Each day Tennesseans in every county in the state benefit from public transportation in order to get to and from work, school or to healthcare services. Low-income and elderly residents in particular rely on public transportation as an economic alternative to automobile usage.
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Upcoming 2010 TPTA Legislative Events
The Annual TPTA DC Advocacy Trip and Breakfast will take place the first week of March. The weeklong event will start on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in Washington D.C. The event will start with the TN Tuesday Breakfast with Senators Alexander & Corker and will conclude with the TPTA D.C. Breakfast on Thursday, March 4.
The Annual TPTA Tennessee Day on the Hill will be on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville and will conclude that night with a TPTA Legislative Reception. If you have any questions about the upcoming events, please contact Diane Harmon at dharmon@bledsoe.net.
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