ITD Chief Deputy Scott Stokes at opening of conference

Public Transportation summit provides next steps          

The Public Transportation summit in Boise in late July provided a few highlights and some takeaways. With more than 70 in attendance, including providers, stakeholders and transit advocates, some valuable insights illuminated the path moving forward. 

Attendees took advantage of networking opportunities by sharing best practices and ideas to take back to their organizations.

Here were some of the ideas that came out of the conference:

- Providers can apply the information, tips and suggested for how to be a successful applicant to the next funding cycle, which will be made available September 1.

- The presentations from the ITD staff regarding mobility, safety, and economic opportunity highlighted the essential components that are integral in continuing existing partnerships with stakeholders, ensuring the success of the transit provider's operations, and setting the framework for new partnerships.

- ITD's Public Transportation office solicited input on the statewide plan which will be finalized this fall and be used as a tool for transit planning.

- Region 10 administrators met the ITD staff and providers in person, allowing FTA to see firsthand what the needs are and how to better partner with ITD and subrecipients.

- More training from the ITD-PT office, the National Transit Institute and Federal Transit Authority will be brought to subrecipients.

This was the first time the PT office put on and fully hosted an "in-house" conference. Kudos to Juanita Risch, who spearheaded the effort. Risch is pictured right, in purple, with rest of PT team, clockwise from top right: Rachel Pallister, Kim McGourty and Shauna Miller).

Below to left: Rob Lynch from the North Dakota Small Urban and Rural Transit Center presents on the second day of the conference.

 

Published 08-25-17