International Transit Studies Program

The Project Panel has selected Tom Prendergast as the team leader for the spring 2012 study mission, which will focus on "Protecting Passengers, Employees, and Property: Building a Safety Culture." Prendergast is president of New York City Transit.

The study team will examine the organizational, operational, and regulatory practices that underpin a pervasive and effective safety culture and yield a high level of safety and security on public transport systems in several cities in Europe.

The call for nominations for the mission will be distributed late in fall 2011. If you would like to be added to the email distribution list for the call for nominations, please contact Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 443-385-0300 (khh@tcrpstudymissions.com).

The "Doing More with Less: Best Practices in Bus Operations and Rail Operations," which had originally been scheduled for spring 2012, is now planned for fall 2012. This mission will focus on small and medium sized cities, and topics to be covered include coordination and integration of services, operating models, marketing and communications, customer service, service planning and scheduling, fare structures and nonfare revenue sources, energy efficiency, safety, accessibility, and workforce development.

Posted September 12, 2011

August Webinar Summarizes Findings from Spring 2010 Mission on Achieving and Sustaining a State of Good Repair

Achieving and maintaining a state of good repair is a priority for transit agencies of all sizes throughout the United States. Public transportation agency staff are charged with finding ways of making improvements in an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible manner, while struggling with funding constraints.

The spring 2010 study team investigated how bus and rail agencies and operators in several cities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Norway achieve and sustain a state of good repair. Their findings will be presented in a free webinar on Wednesday, August 11, from 2 to 3:30 pm.

Webinar presenters include the team leader, Jeff Hamm, executive director/CEO of the Clark County PUblic Transportation Benefit Area (C-TRAN), and team members Lesia Macko (Long Island Rail Road), Rolando Cruz (Long Beach Transit), Steve Meyer (Utah Transit Authority), and Victor Rivas (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority).

The webinar is free, but you must register online to receive the log-in information. To read the report from the study mission, download the pdf file.

Posted July 23, 2011

Fall Mission on Integrating High-Speed Rail with Public Transportation Systems Canceled

The fall 2011 study mission, which was to focus on Integrating High-Speed Rail with Existing Public Transportation Systems, has been canceled. Nominations for team member positions are thus not being accepted. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes transit professionals who have submitted, or who were going to submit, a nomination for a team member position on the study mission.

Information on future missions will be posted here as plans develop early in 2012.

Posted July 12, 2011

Team Leaders Sought for 2012 Missions

The Project Panel for the International Transit Studies Program is seeking candidates to lead the two 2012 missions.

The spring 2012 mission will focus on "Doing More with Less: Best Practices in Bus Operations and Rail Operations," with an emphasis on small and medium sized cities. Topics to be covered include coordination and integration of services, operating models, marketing and communications, customer service, service planning and scheduling, fare structures and nonfare revenue sources, energy efficiency, safety, accessibility, and workforce development.

The theme of the fall 2012 mission will be "Protecting Passengers, Employees, and Property: Buidling a Safety Culture." The study team will examine the organizational, operational, and regulatory practices that underpin a pervasive and effective safety culture and yield a high level of safety and security on public transport systems in several cities in Europe.

To be eligible to be considered for a team leader position, you must be a general manager at a US transit agency or an executive-level staff person nominated by the general manager, and you must have an extensive background in and knowledge of the mission theme. Please note: the deadline for applications is Monday, July 11, at 5 pm eastern time.

Each mission is conducted over a two-week period, and all travel expenses are paid by the International Transit Studies Program.

For more information on the mission themes, eligibility requirements, and instructions on how to apply, please read the call for applications.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 1-443-385-0300 (khh@tcrpstudymissions.com).

Posted June 6, 2011

Nominations Being Accepted for Study Focusing on Integrating High-Speed Rail with Existing Transit Systems

Nominations are now being accepted for the 12 team member positions on the fall 2011 study mission that will be conducted by the Transportation Research Board's Transit Cooperative Research Program from Friday, October 21, through Saturday, November 5.

High-speed rail projects are now being planned or considered in many locations throughout the United States. To effectively serve the transportation needs of those communities, high-speed rail services should offer accessible, easy connections to existing public transportation services. This mission will provide the team members with an opportunity to examine how public transport agencies in several cities in Europe have effectively coordinated and connected their bus, metro, light rail, and commuter rail services and facilities with high-speed rail services and facilities.

Topics to be covered include fare integration and ticketing, marketing, customer service, multimodal stations, accessibility, scheduling, and safety and security.

The tentative schedule includes meetings with public transport agencies in Germany (Cologne and Aachen), France (Lille and Lyon), and Spain (Madrid and Valencia).

When they return home to the States, the team members will each contribute a section to a report of their findings, which will be published by the Transportation Research Board.

Nominees must be in a management-level position at a US transit agency, state department of transportation, or nonoperating agency that plays a major role in planning or financing public transportation in the United States.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, July 20, at 5 pm (eastern time); the TCRP Project J-03 Oversight Panel will review the nomination materials and select the team members. Nominees will be notified of the panel's decision by August 15.

Please refer to the Eligibility Information and Nominations Instructions for details on how to prepare and submit a valid nomination package.

If you have any questions, please contact the project manager, Kathryn Harrington-Hughes, at 1-443-385-0300 (khh@tcrpstudymissions.com).

Posted May 25, 2011

Fall Mission Will Focus on Integrating High-Speed Rail with Existing Public Transportation Systems

Nat Ford, General Manager of San Francisco Muni, will lead the fall 2011 mission, which will involve site visits and meetings at several European cities served by high-speed rail. The team members will investigate how rail, bus, and light rail systems in those cities integrate their marketing, ticketing, customer information, and other services with high-speed rail operations.

The call for nominations for the fall mission will be issued May 25. The mission will be held October 21-November 4, 2011.

Posted May 16, 2011

Team Members Selected for Spring 2011 Mission on Sustainable Public Transportation—Environmentally Friendly Mobility

The Project Panel for the International Transit Studies Program has selected the team members for the spring 2011 mission on "Sustainable Public Transportation--Environmentally Friendly Mobility." The team members were selected from among nominations received from public transportation agencies throughout the country. The team, led by Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro Transit, consists of the following individuals:

Clinton Bench, Deputy Director of Planning, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Boston, MA)

Anthony Carr, Deputy Regional Administrator, FTA Region 2 (New York)

Todd Daniel, Maintenance Manager, Link Transit (Wenatchee, WA)

Projjal Dutta, Director, Sustainability Initiatives, New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Mariate Echeverry, Transportation Planning Manager, City of Asheville (NC)

Heather Ferguson, General Manager, Scheduling, Chicago Transit Authority

David Kilmer, Executive Director, Red Rose Transit Authority (Lancaster, PA)

Marla Lien, General Counsel, Regional Transportation District (Denver, CO)

Brian McCartan, Executive Director, Finance and Information Technology, Sound Transit (Seattle, WA)

Roma McKenzie-Campbell, Senkor Project Manager, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Felix Nwoko, Transportation Planning Manager/Administrator, Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (NC)

Geoffrey Straw, General Manager, ASUCD Unitrans (Davis, CA)

Circe Torruellas, Program Analyst, Lead Planner, District of Columbia Department of Transportation

The team members will meet with public transport operators and planning agencies in Ahmedabad and Delhi, India; and Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, China.

Call for Nominations Issued for Spring 2011 Mission on Sustainability

The Transportation Research Board's Transit Cooperative Research Program has issued a call for nominations for team members for the spring mission on Sustainable Public Transportation—Environmentally Friendly Mobility. The mission will be held April 1-16, 2011, and will involve site visits and meetings in several cities in India and China.

Public transportation systems in the United States and other countries are increasingly being looked to as a means of improving the environment and reducing the impact of climate change. The spring mission will focus on public transport systems in India and China that exemplify the goals of livability and sustainability. Participants will meet with staff of public transport agencies, governmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations to learn how public transport systems in several cities in India and China are reducing their fuel consumption to lower their carbon footprint and implementing innovative transit services that improve mobility and safety, as well as reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. The mission will be led by Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro Transit (Seattle).

The deadline for nominations is January 19, 2011.

If you have any questions, please contact the project manager, Kathryn Harrington-Hughes, at 1-443-385-0300 (khh@tcrpstudymissions.com).

Nomination information and instructions

posted 12/17/2010

Team Members Selected for Fall 2010 Study Mission on Transit's Role in Economic Development

The team members for the fall 2010 study mission were recently selected from among nominations submitted by GMs/CEOs of transit agencies throughout the US. The team will study the role public transport plays in economic development.

Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid (Grand Rapids, Michigan), is serving as the leader of the study team. Team members are:

Steve Ainslie, Assistant Transit Director, Wichita Transit

Terry Bassett, Executive Director, Yolo County (California) Transportation District

DJ Baxter, Executive Director, Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City

John Crocker, Director of Regional Service Coordination & Special Projects, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Corinne Goodrich, Manager of Strategic Development, San Mateo County (California) Transit District

Brian Marshall, CEO, Capital Area Transit System (Louisiana)

Carter Mau, Executive Manager, Planning & Budget, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District

Karyn Robles, Transportation & Planning Team Leader, City of Naperville (Illinois)

Hector Rodriguez, Interim Executive Officer, Operations Administration, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Brenda Schweitzer, Executive Director, Brookings Area Transit Authority (South Dakota)

Teresa Thompson, Director of Transportation, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (Ohio)

William Van Meter, Assistant General Manager, Planning, Denver Regional Transportation District

Yvette Taylor, Regional Administrator for FTA Region 4, and Gwen Chisholm Smith, Senior Program Officer, Transit Cooperative Research Program, Transportation Research Board, will also be a part of the study team. Kathryn Harrington-Hughes, project manager for the International Transit Studies Program, is serving as the mission coordinator.

The mission will take place in early November and will include meetings and technical tours with public transport agencies in Cairo, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Istanbul.

posted 10/11/2010

Kevin Desmond and Nat Ford Selected to Lead 2011 Study Missions

The J3H Project Panel has selected the leaders for the two 2011 missions.

The spring 2011 mission, which will focus on "Sustainable Public Transportation--Environmentally Friendly Mobility," will be led by Kevin Desmond, General Manager of King County Metro.

Nat Ford, Executive Director/CEO of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, will lead the fall 2011 mission, which will focus on "Integrating High-Speed Rail with Existing Public Transportation Systems."

The exact dates for the study missions have yet to be determined. A call for nominations for team members will be distributed approximately 4 months prior to each mission.

Add me to the mailing list for the call for nominations.

Learn more about the 2011 study missions.

posted 10/11/2010

TRB Issues Report on Managing Increasing Ridership Demand

The report from the fall 2009 mission, which was led by David Armijo, CEO of Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, is now available. The report summarizes the findings from the study mission. Team members met with transit operators and agencies in Guayaquil, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Porto Alegre, Brazil; to learn how those agencies coped with significant and sudden increases in ridership.

Download the report

posted 10/11/2010

Project Panel Seeks Team Leaders for 2011 Missions

The J3H Project Panel is seeking a team leader for each of the two 2011 missions. The spring 2011 mission will focus on "Sustainable Public Transportation--Environmentally Friendly Mobility," and will include meetings with public transport agencies in several cities in India and China.

The fall 2011 mission will focus on "Integrating High-Speed Rail with Existing Public Transportation Systems." The team will meet with public transport agencies in Europe and Asia.

More information is available in the call for applications .

The team leader must be an experienced, highly motivated general manager or executive-level staff member who is known, respected, and active in the transit industry. The leader must have an extensive background in and knowledge of the mission theme and be able to assist team memers in interpreting what they see and hear and in understanding how it relates to U.S. practice. More information on the qualifications and the application process is included in the call for applications. (Please note: The eligibility criteria for the team leader position have recently changed to include executive-level staff members, provided the individual is nominated by his/her general manager and otherwise meets all of the qualifications.)

Each mission takes place over a two-week period. All travel costs are paid by the International Transit Studies Program.

The deadline for applying to serve as a team leader for the 2011 missions is Friday, August 6.

If you have any questions, please call Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 443-385-0300 (khh@tcrpstudymissions.com).

posted 7/12/2010

Call for Nominations Issued for Team Members for Fall 2010 Mission

Nominations are now being accepted for the fall 2010 study mission, which will involve meetings and site visits with public transportation agencies in several cities in South Africa, Egypt, and Turkey. The focus of the mission is "Public Transportation Systems as the Foundation for Economic Growth."

The mission will be conducted October 29 through November 12. Stephen Bland, CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County, has been named as the team leader.

Nominees must be in a management-level position at a U.S. transit agency, a state department of transportation, or a nonoperating agency that plays a major role in planning or financing public transportation in the United States.

All travel costs are borne by the International Transit Studies Program.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, August 26, at 5 pm. More information is available in the call for nominations.

posted 7/12/2010

Team Members Selected for Spring 2010 Mission

The ITSP Project Oversight Panel, chaired by Bob Prince, has named the team members for the spring 2010 study mission, which will focus on "Funding for Infrastructure Maintenance: Achieving and Sustaining a State of Good Repair."

The team will be led by Jeff Hamm, Executive Director/CEO of C-Tran (Vancouver, Washington). The team members, who were selected from among nominations submitted from public transportation agencies throughout the country, are

Anthony Beckford, General Manager, Sarasota County Transportation Authority (Sarasota, Florida);
Michael Bradley, Director, Capital Projects and Planning, Central Ohio Transit Authority (Columbus, Ohio);
Stephanie Burris, Budget Manager, Delaware Transit Corporation (Dover, Delaware);
April Chan, Director, Budgets and Grants, San Mateo County Transit District (San Carlos, California);
Rolando Cruz, Executive Director/Vice President of Maintenance and Facilities, Long Beach Transit (Long Beach, California);
Lesia Macko, Senior Manager--Performance Measurement, Metropolitan Transportation Authority--Long Island Rail Road (Jamaica, New York);
W. Steve Meyer, Manager of Engineering and Construction, Commuter Rail, Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City, Utah);
Sharon Montez, Director of Program Management, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (Corpus Christi, Texas);
Victor Rivas, Deputy Director of Capital Budget, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (Boston, Massachusetts);
Jerry Rutledge, Manager of Power and Facilities, King County Transit (Seattle, Washington);
Kathryn Taylor, Director, Public Transportation Division, Washington State Department of Transportation (Olympia, Washington);and
Glen Tepke, Transit Capital Priorities Manager, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (Oakland, California).

Aaron James, Director of the Office of Engineering for the Federal Transit Administration; Terry Rosapep, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; and Jeffrey Hiott, Senior Program Manager, American Public Transportation Association; will also serve on the team. Kathryn Harrington-Hughes, Project Manager, International Transit Studies Program, will serve as the mission coordinator.

The team members will investigate how bus and rail agencies and operators in several cities in Europe develop community support for public transportation and how those communities implement innovative, sustainable funding strategies for transit assets, operations, and maintenance.

posted 5/1/2010

Performance Measurement and Outcomes Report Now Available

The Transit Cooperative Research Program has published "Performance Measurement and Outcomes" (Research Results Digest 95). The report provides an overview of the spring 2009 mission, which explored how performance measurements are
used to achieve organizational goals and enhance
quality of service at public transport planning, funding,
and operating agencies in Hong Kong, Special
Administrative Region of the People’s Republic
of China; in the city-state of Singapore; in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia; and in Taipei, Taiwan.

To download a pdf file of the report, click here.

Printed copies of the report are available from tcrponline.org.

Call for Nominations for Spring 2010 Mission

The TCRP International Transit Studies Program is now accepting nominations for team members for the spring 2010 study mission, which will focus on Funding for Infrastructure Maintenance--Achieving and Sustaining a State of Good Repair. Team members will investigate how bus and rail agencies and operators in Europe develop community support for public transportation and how those communities implement innovative, sustainable funding strategies for transit assets, operations, and maintenance. The mission will be led by Jeff Hamm, Executive Director/CEO of C-Tran, Vancouver, Washington.

The itinerary, which is still being finalized, includes meetings with public transportation agencies in London and Nottingham, England; Lyon and Strasbourg, France; Karlsruhe and Berlin, Germany; and Oslo, Norway.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 26, at 5 pm (eastern time); team members will be notified of their selection by April 12.

Please refer to the call for nominations (pdf file) for information on eligibility and complete instructions on the nomination process.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Harrington-Hughes.

posted 2/17/2010

2010 Mission Themes Announced

The Project Oversight Panel for the TCRP International Transit Studies Program has selected the themes and leaders for the 2010 study missions.

The spring 2010 mission will focus on Funding for Infrastructure Maintenance--Achieving and Sustaining a State of Good Repair. Team members will investigate how bus and rail agencies and operators in Europe develop community support for public transportation and how those communities implement innovative, sustainable funding strategies for transit assets, operations, and maintenance. The mission will be led by Jeff Hamm, Executive Director/CEO of C-Tran, Vancouver, Washington.

The fall 2010 mission will focus on Public Transportation Systems as the Foundation for Economic Growth. Participants will investigate how transit investments are linked to economic development in several cities in South Africa and Egypt. Steve Bland, CEO of the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will serve as the team leader.

A call for nominations for team members will be issued for each mission. If you would like to be added to the email notification list, please contact Kathryn Harrington-Hughes.

posted 1/29/2010

Team Members Selected for Fall 2009 Mission

"Managing Increasing Ridership Demand" is the theme of the fall 2009 mission, which will include meetings with public transport agencies in Guayaquil, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The team will be led by David Armijo, Chief Executive Officer, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (Tampa, FL). Team members were selected from among nominations received from agencies across the U.S. The team members are

Virginia T. Barry, Director, Service Analysis and Scheduling, Central Ohio Transit Authority (Columbus, OH);

Ronald Downing, Principal Planner, Service Development, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District (San Rafael, CA);

Joe Escobedo, Chief of Operations, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (Tampa, FL );

Grace Gallucci, Deputy Executive Director for Research Analysis and Policy, Regional Transportation Authority (Chicago, IL);

Jesus M. Gomez, Transit Director, Regional Transit System—City of Gainesville (Gainesville, FL);

Elsa Gutierrez, General Manager, Service Planning, Chicago Transit Authority (Chicago, IL);

Michael Ledesma, Manager of Bus Service Transportation, VIA Metropolitan Transit (San Antonio, TX);

Marian Lee, Executive Officer, Planning & Development, San Mateo County Transit District (San Carlos, CA);

Maureen McCarthy, Community Relations and Marketing Manager, Whatcom Transportation Authority (Bellingham, WA);

Jeffrey Parker, Deputy Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Transportation (Newington, CT);

Mark D. Wells, Assistant General Manager Transit, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV); and

Natalie Wilkins, Marketing Associate, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (Lynchburg, VA).

Gail Lyssy, Director of Program Management and Oversight, Federal Transit Administration (Ft. Worth, TX), will represent FTA on the study.

Kathryn Harrington-Hughes is serving as the mission coordinator.

Posted October 9, 2009

Call for Applications for Team Leaders for 2010

The International Transit Studies Program is currently seeking two general managers/CEOs from U.S. transit agencies to serve as team leaders for the two study missions to be conducted in 2010.

“Sustainable Public Transportation Funding—Innovative Planning and Financing Strategies” will be the theme of the spring 2010 mission. At transit systems across the country, investments in infrastructure maintenance have lagged far behind what is needed to achieve and sustain a state of good repair. Systems are forced to keep worn-out equipment in service, skimp on preventive maintenance, and delay upgrading, rehabilitating, and replacing infrastructure. Participants in this study mission will investigate how bus and rail agencies and operators in Europe develop community support for public transportation and how those communities implement innovative, sustainable funding strategies for transit assets, operations, and maintenance.

“Public Transportation Systems as the Foundation for Economic Growth” will be the focus of the fall 2010 mission. Public transportation systems can be highly effective drivers of economic growth. Investments that improve and enhance public transportation systems are considered essential to the economy, culture, and quality of life in many cities throughout the world. Participants in this study mission will investigate how transit investments are linked to economic development in several cities in South Africa and Egypt.

The team leader has three key roles:

To serve as the official spokesperson for the team and the U.S. transit industry during the mission;
To serve as a mentor to the team members, helping them understand what they see and hear and how it relates to, or might have application to, U.S. practice; and
To assign report topics to the team members and serve as a resource during the preparation of the reports.

Eligibility Criteria

An applicant for team leader

Must be a general manager at a U.S. transit agency;
Must be known, respected, and active in the transit industry;
Should have a background in, and extensive knowledge of, the mission theme;
Must be able to represent the mission and the U.S. transit industry to mission hosts;
Must be able to serve as a mentor to participants, helping them interpret what they see and hear and compare it with U.S. applications; and
Must be willing to provide mission participants with guidance on individual report-writing assignments.

More information about eligibility and the application process can be found in the call for applications, which was mailed to APTA and CTAA members in mid August (pdf file).

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, September 25, 2009, at 5 pm (eastern time).

If you have any questions, please call Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 410-770-9192.

Posted August 28, 2009

Call for Nominations for the Fall 2009 Study Mission

Managing Increasing Ridership Demand

Nominations are now being accepted for members of the study team for the fall 2009 mission, which will focus on managing increasing ridership demand. Fred Gilliam, president and CEO of Capital Metro, will lead the mission, which will take place October 30-November 14.

Rising fuel prices, a weakening economy, and growing concerns about global climate change have pushed transit ridership numbers to record levels in the United States. But this welcome increase in ridership arrived as transit operations and services were being severely strained by declining revenues and increasing costs.

Team members will meet with transit operators and agencies in several cities in South America that have successfully managed sudden and signficiant increases in ridership demand. Discussion topics will include incentives to encourage off-peak demand and distribute demand, coordination of services, route adjustments, communication with staff and with the public, marketing, workforce schedules, maintenance strategies, system efficiencies, and innovative services.

All travel costs for team members (airfare, ground transportation, hotels, and per diem expenses) will be paid by the International Transit Studies Program.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, August 3, 2009, at 5 pm (eastern time).

Please see the call for nominations for more information, including eligibility requirements and nomination instructions.

Posted June 15, 2009

Fred Gilliam Named Team Leader for Fall Mission

Fred Gilliam, president/CEO of Capital Metro (Austin, Texas), has been selected to lead the fall 2009 mission. The mission will focus on how public transport agencies in South America are focusing on managing increasing ridership demand.

A call for nominations for team members for the fall mission will be distributed in June. Please send us an email if you would like to be added to the notification list for the call for nominations.

Posted April 22, 2009

Public Transportation's Role in Addressing Global Climate Change

In spring 2008 members of an International Transit Studies Program study team met with governmental and nongovernmental organizations that play a role in encouraging and regulating environmentally sensitive transport and land use practices in five European cities. The cities were selected because they have successfully implemented "green" transit operations and project developments and integrated transit with land use planning.

The report from the study mission (TCRP Research Results Digest 89: Public Transportation's Role in Addressing Global Climate Change) is now available. The report summarizes the team members' findings from their study of public transport in Dublin, Ireland; Munich and Frieburg, Germany; Milan, Italy; and Bilbao, Spain.

Posted April 22, 2009

Transit Members Named for Study Mission on Performance Measurement Systems in Southeast Asia

A team of transit professionals will head to Southeast Asia in March to study how public transport agencies in four cities have developed and implemented performance measurement systems that have resulted in more efficient operations, enhanced quality of service, increased customer satisfaction and community support, safer and more secure facilities, and improved fuel efficiency.

The team members were selected in late January from among nominations submitted by transit agencies throughout the U.S. The team members are:

Jerry Benson, Chief Operating Officer, Utah Transit Authority;

Steven Callas, Manager, Service and Performance Analysis, TriMet;

Patricia Hendren, Manager, Capital and Strategic Planning, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority;

Mark Johnson, Director of Transit Operations, Lane Transit District;

Lisa Koch, Public Transit Manager, Kansas Department of Transportation;

Nadine Lee, Engineering Project Manager, Regional Transportation District--FasTracks;

Kate Miller, Manager, Capital Development, Legislation, and Grants, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District;

Victor Obeso, Manager of Service Development, King County Metro Transit;

Alla Reddy, Senior Director, MTA New York City Transit;

Alma Scott-Buczak, Assistant Executive Director, Human Resources, New Jersey Transit;

Patricia Vidaurri, Manager of Performance Information, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority;and

Robert Yegidis, Administrative Officer, Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.

Mark Aesch, Chief Executive Officer at Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, will serve as team leader. Joining the team will be Sherry Riklin, Deputy Associate Administrator in the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Planning and Environment.

The study team will meet with agencies involved in planning, regulating, and operating public transport services in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Taipei. The mission will be conducted from March 20 to April 3. Upon conclusion of the mission, team members will summarize their findings in a report that will be published by the Transit Cooperative Research Program.

Posted February 20, 2009

Team Leader Sought for Fall 2009 Mission on Managing Increasing Ridership Demand

In fall 2009, the International Transit Studies Program will conduct a study mission to South America to study strategies for managing increasing ridership demand.

Rising fuel prices, a weakening economy, and growing concerns about global climate change have pushed transit ridership numbers to record levels in the United States. This welcome increase in ridership has, however, come when transit agencies are grappling with declining revenues and increasing fuel costs, which are severely straining system operations and services.

Participants in the fall 2009 study mission will meet with transit operators and agencies in several cities in South America that have successfully managed sudden and significant increases in ridership demand.

We are now accepting applications for the position of team leader for the fall 2009 mission. The team leader must be an experienced, highly motivated general manager at a U.S. transit agency and must be known, respected, and active in the transit industry. She or he must have a background in, and extensive knowledge of, the mission theme.

The role of the team leader is threefold:

To serve as the official spokesperson for the team and the U.S. transit industry during the two-week mission;
To serve as a mentor to the team members, helping them understand what they see and hear and how it relates to, or might have application to, U.S. practice; and
To assign report topics to the team members and serve as a resource during the preparation of the reports.

All travel expenses are paid by the International Transit Studies Program.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the position of team leader is Friday, January 23, 2009, at 5 pm EST.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 1-410-770-9192 (email).

How to Apply for Team Leader (pdf file)

(Note: The call for nominations for team members for the fall 2009 mission will be announced in summer 2009; to be added to the e-mail notification list, send us your email address. Back to Top
Posted December 16, 2008

Call for Nominations for Spring Mission on Performance Measurement and Outcomes

Nominations are now being accepted for the spring 2009 TCRP International Transit Studies Program mission on Performance Measurement and Outcomes. The mission will focus on how quality control procedures are used to achieve organizational goals and enhance quality of service at public transport agencies in Southeast Asia.

The mission will take place March 19 to April 3, 2009, and the tentative itinerary includes Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Transit professionals in management-level positions at U.S. transit agencies, state departments of transportation, and other non-operating agencies that play a major role in planning or financing public transportation in the United States are eligible to apply.

The study mission will be led by Mark Aesch, chief executive officer of the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority. He will be joined by 12 transit professionals selected from among the nominations received.

The deadline for nominations for team members for the spring 2009 mission is Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 5 pm (EST).

Nomination instructions (pdf file)

This will be the 30th study mission conducted since the program’s inception in 1994. More than 400 transit managers in urban and rural communities throughout the United States have participated to date.

The team members’ travel costs (airfare, ground transportation, hotels, and per diem) are paid by the International Transit Studies Program. Back to Top

Posted November 27, 2008

Harrington-Hughes & Associates Awarded ITSP Contract

The Transportation Research Board's Transit Cooperative Research Program has awarded Harrington-Hughes & Associates Inc. a 5-year contract to manage the International Transit Studies Program. The project involves researching, planning, and conducting two study missions each year, as well as administering the selection processes for team members and team leaders.

"The International Transit Studies Program is truly an exceptional professional development program, " says Kathryn Harrington-Hughes, who will serve as the ITSP program manager. "The program has a distinguished legacy, and we are thrilled to be part of its future."

The first 29 missions were conducted by the Eno Foundation, under a contract with TCRP. Harrington-Hughes had served as the ITSP program manager from 2000 to 2005, when she was on the Eno Transportation Foundation staff.

Assisting with the project are consultants Jill Hough, Stephen Kingsberry, Carole Verschoor, and Michele Waxman Johnson. Back to Top
Posted Sept. 29, 2008

Mark Aesch to Lead Spring 2009 Study Mission

The Project Oversight Panel has selected Mark Aesch, CEO of Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (Rochester NY), to lead the spring 2009 mission, which will focus on performance measurement and outcomes at public transportation agencies in Southeast Asia.

The call for nominations for team members will be distributed in December 2008.
Posted November 7, 2008

Study Mission Themes Selected for 2009

The themes for the 2009 International Transit Studies Program study missions have been identified by the project oversight panel.

Performance Measurement and Outcomes—spring 2009

Participants in the spring 2009 study mission will travel to Southeast Asia to study quality control procedures in place at public transport agencies, particularly as the procedures relate to management practices, operations, and maintenance.

A call for nominations for team members will be announced in November 2008; the information will be posted on this website and will also be sent directly to members of APTA, CTAA, and AASHTO. If you would like to be notified when the call for nominations is available, please send us your email address.

Managing Increasing Ridership Demand—fall 2009

Fall mission participants will meet with transit agencies in South American countries that have demonstrated the ability to manage increased ridership and high-quality services. The study mission team will investigate, among other things, how incentives can be used to spread ridership demand and make more effecicient use of the existing system. A call for nominations for team members will be announced in summer 2009; to be added to the notification list, send us an email request.
Posted Sept. 29, 2008

Team Members Named for Fall 2008 Mission

The International Transit Studies Program project oversight panel has selected the team members for the fall study mission. The mission, which will be conducted by the Eno Transportation Foundation, will explore how transit systems in Australia are balancing the need to increase capacity and expand service, while maintaining and upgrading their existing infrastructure (bus, tram, rail, ferry).

The team consists of :

Karen King, Team Leader, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Empire Transit District (Bakersfield, CA);
Roland Behee. Supervisor of Strategic Planning, Community Transit (Everett, WA);
Alix Bockelman, Director, Programming and Allocations, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (Oakland, CA);
Mary DeLoretto, Environmental Studies Manager, Utah Transit Authority (Salt Lake City, UT);
Toby L. Fauver, Deputy Secretary, Local & Area Transportation, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ( Harrisburg, PA);
Virginia Harrington, Chief Financial Officer, San Mateo County Transit District (San Carlos, CA);
Michael C. Hubbell, Vice President, Maintenance, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (Dallas, TX);
William S. Hutto, Executive Director, TriCounty Link (Moncks Corner, SC);
LaShawn King Gillespie, Director of Planning, Foothill Transit (West Covina, CA);
Renee Matthews, Special Projects Director, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Pompano Beach, FL);
Diane H. Ratcliff, Director, Office of Planning, Maryland Transit Administration (Baltimore, MD);
Steven Santoro, Assistant Executive Director, New Jersey Transit Corporation (East Newark, NJ); and
Charles N. Switzer, Vice President of Transportation Services, Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (Rochester, NY).

The mission will take place October 17 to November 1. Team members will meet with public transit officials, government planners, and transit advocates in Sydney, New South Wales; Melbourne, Victoria; Perth, Western Australia; Adelaide, South Australia; and Brisbane, Queensland. Kathryn Harrington-Hughes will serve as the mission coordinator for the Eno Foundation.
Posted Sept. 29, 2008

International Transit Studies Program • Sponsored by the Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board
Contractor: Harrington-Hughes & Associates Inc.
tel: 1-443-385-0300 • fax: 1-443-433-0854

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Team Members Named for Fall 2008 Mission

International Transit Studies Program • Sponsored by the Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board Contractor: Harrington-Hughes & Associates Inc. tel: 1-443-385-0300 • fax: 1-443-433-0854

International Transit Studies Program • Sponsored by the Transit Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board
Contractor: Harrington-Hughes & Associates Inc.
tel: 1-443-385-0300 • fax: 1-443-433-0854