contracting and business opportunities with transportation planning american bus association 2010...
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Contracting and Business Opportunities with
Transportation Planning
American Bus Association 2010 Marketplace • Hal Morgan, Taxicab Limousine & Paratransit Association• Dan Dalton, KFH Group
TLPA awarded a grant from FTA to assist private transportation operators in understanding and becoming involved in the transportation planning process…and the opportunities for business and contracting that may follow
Includes opportunities for free technical assistance
Planning Ahead seminars – modules will be available on TLPA Website in near future
Background
Today’s Objectives Discuss the benefits of being involved in the
transportation planning process
Provide information on the transportation planning process
Help identify potential opportunities for your business
Transportation Planning – the Realities
Even for the most seasoned transportation professional, the process can be convoluted and difficult to determine where you fit in
You already have plenty on your plate, so going to more meetings may not be high on your list – unless there are potential business development opportunities
Gain access to decision-makers and public transit and other transportation providers: Opportunity to be where they meet and use that venue
to network Form partnerships and learn about opportunities to
expand your services
Enable you to provide your perspective, including offering ways to provide more efficient and effective services
Chance to sell yourself and your company
Transportation Planning – So Why Get Involved?
“Eighty percent of success is showing up” -- Woody Allen
Some Bus Service Opportunities
Contracts to provide transit services
Intercity Bus Services
Express Commuter Services
SAFETEA-LU
United We Ride
Mobility Management
Some Terms You May Hear
Job Access and Reverse Commute Program
New Freedom Program Section 5307 Section 5311 Section 5311(f)
Some FTA Programs You Should Know
Federal law requires public participation and consultation with variety of service providers …“to the maximum extent practicable”
Provides you with the opportunity to contribute ideas and provide feedback to various plans and at various levels of transportation planning:
Some Planning Process Background
Metropolitan
Statewide
Rural
Local
A MPO is required by law in urbanized areas with a population greater than 50,000 (currently 385 throughout the country)
Develop plans and programs for existing and future expenditures based on a “3C” planning process: • Continuing• Cooperative• Comprehensive
Is the required forum for cooperative transportation decision making in the metropolitan area
What is a Metropolitan Planning Organization?
Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)
Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP)
Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Key Documents from the MPO Planning Process
Finding Your Local MPO
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Database http://www.planning.dot.gov/default.asp
Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan
Local Transit Planning
Other Transportation Planning
New requirement under SAFETEA-LU Projects funded through the FTA’s Job Access
and Reverse Commute and New Freedom Programs must be derived from a “locally developed coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan”
Process must include “representatives of public, private, and non-profit transportation and human service providers, and participation by members of the public”
Coordinated Planning Requirements
Assessment of available services that identifies current transportation providers
Assessment of transportation needs for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes (should include private transportation services)
Strategies, activities, and/or projects to address identified gaps and achieve efficiencies in service delivery
Relative priorities for implementation based on
resources, time, and feasibility
Required Plan Elements
Coordinated Transportation Plan – Example Components Relevant for Private Transportation Providers
Inventory of Public and Private Transportation Services
Transportation Needs and Issues Gaps in intercity bus services Intermodal transportation centers Improved coordination between public
transit, intercity bus services, and human service transportation providers
Lack of central point of contact for information on all available transportation services
Coordinated Transportation Planning Outcomes Partnership between Treasure Valley
Transit (TVT) and Northwestern Trailways
TVT office now serving as ticketing agent for Northwestern Trailways
Customers can call TVT Transit Center to access info on Northwestern Trailways’ services
Treasure Valley Transit/Northwestern Trailways Partnership
“Our partnership with TVT is proof that the local planning and coordination process can lead to great things. Through the local process, we were able to learn a great deal about other providers and how we might be able to collaborate.”
--Bill Brannan, Northwestern Trailways
Local Transit Service Planning
Many transit providers develop specific plans May be within an MPO region, but often county-
based or for services provided in non-urban areas
Process typically includes: Inventory of available transportation services
(including private transportation providers) Assessment of unmet transportation needs Recommendations of service alternatives and
improvements
From TLPA Members….• Know which agencies are responsible for planning
transportation improvements, how they do this and when • Work with your local MPO and their advisory councils • Join key local committees and influence their decisions• Understand your community’s demographics, economics,
and development -- and how they change over time• Establish professional relationships with others in community
who are interested in high-quality, multi-modal transportation services
Source: “Business Growth Opportunities for TLPA Members in Federally FundedTransportation Programs”
Tips on Becoming a Part of the Planning Process
Develop relationships -- get to know your community’s leaders
Be creative Make yourself available to the community Make yourself heard if there’s a problem Be prepared to invest real time and effort
More Words of Wisdom from TLPA Members
FTA Private Enterprise Participation Website
Includes More Tips on Becoming a Part of the Planning Process -- http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/programs/planning_environment_7013.html
Establishing Your Value Before you venture into the transportation planning process, consider your value to the community:
What does your company have to offer?How does the value of your company compare to other resources in the market?Do you have knowledge of the entire transit community? Public transit, private operators, non-profits, etc.Where does your company fit in?
Transportation Planning Process Recap Become familiar with funding programs, planning terms, and planning documents
Establish your company’s value
Get to know the planners in your area
Join appropriate committees
Get to know your local transit provider
Ask questions about the planning process – when committees meet, when plans are updated, etc.
TLPA Toll Free Hot Line Questions on being involved in the
planning process How to overcome problems in getting
involved Developing services for consideration in
the planning process 1-866-928-6550 www.tlpa.org
Upcoming Resource
• Provides a working knowledge of the transportation planning process
• Discusses the benefits of being involved
• Helps assess objectives for participation
• Draft currently under review by TLPA advisory committee, available in early 2010
Contact Information Hal Morgan, TLPA
301-984-5700
Dan Dalton, KFH Group
301-951-8660