The Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation (CMRT), a private non-profit transit management firm located in Central Maryland, is conducting a search for a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization through its next level of growth.  The CEO will be responsible for the general oversight of a multi-jurisdictional transit system with an annual operating budget of $15 million and ridership of more than 1.6 million passengers.

This position will report to the CMRT Board Chair and its elected Board of Directors and will manage a professional and support staff of approximately twenty-five employees.

The CEO must have demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, be a creative problem solver, maintain a keen understanding of political affairs as well as business and government relationships.  Experience in grant writing and working knowledge of federal and state processes and policies preferred.  Qualified candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Preferred) in Business Administration, Public Administration or related field, have excellent communication skills, and also have at least 5 years’ experience in a senior management capacity with a transit organization or similar business enterprise.

CMRT offers a competitive salary and benefits package.  The position will remain open until filled, however; applicants are encouraged to apply by May 4, 2012.  Interested persons should submit a resume, cover letter and salary history to CMRT Executive Search Committee, 312 Marshall Ave., Suite 1000, Laurel MD  20707; email: hr@cmrtransit.org.
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TRIP MOBILITY MANAGER

The Central Maryland Regional Transit Corporation, a non-profit regional transportation management organization, seeks a highly motivated professional to be responsible for the development and oversight of a one-call/one-click transportation resource center that provides information on transportation options throughout central Maryland.  The TRIP Mobility Manager is responsible for building coordination among the existing public transportation and human service transportation providers within the service area of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties, as well as the City of Baltimore, the City of Laurel, and Washington DC.

Responsibilities:

Specific duties include the oversight of the centralized information call center and website and direct supervision of TRIP staff.   The position will regularly meet with project stakeholders to continue to build community networks, continue to improve and build on TRIP outreach efforts, develop strategies for seeking additional funding sources, and to leverage existing funding with non-FTA federal programs.

TRIP has received a federal grant to expand the program statewide.  This position will also be responsible for managing and implementing this project.

Qualifications:

Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation/Urban Planning, Business/Public Administration, Marketing or related field and minimum of five (5) years job experience in public sector transportation or non-profit organization management.  Additionally, candidates must exhibit excellent analytical, written and oral communication skills.  Marketing/outreach expertise valuable, but not required.

Compensation:

$52,500 – $60,000, commensurate with experience.

Please send resume and cover letter to:

CMRT Human Resources
312 Marshall Avenue, Suite 1000
Laurel, MD 20707
HR@cmrtransit.org

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration seeks a senior executive to serve as the Director of the Center for Safety Management Systems (RVT-30) of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center). Located in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Volpe Center plays a unique role in looking across the transportation enterprise by applying its multi-disciplinary capabilities to anticipate future transportation issues and challenges across all modes of transportation. This is a permanent position in the Senior Executive Service, and it is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reporting to the Deputy Associate Administrator for Research and Innovation, you will lead and oversee the Center for Safety Management Systems comprised of three technical divisions with a combined technical/scientific federal staff of 80 employees; a portfolio of 93 projects; and average annual obligations of $70 million. This Center maintains and applies internationally recognized capabilities in the acquisition, maintenance, distribution, and analysis of transportation safety data to assist transportation entities in taking effective actions to reduce the number and severity of transportation-related deaths, injuries, and property damage. The Director will also collaborate with other Technical Center Directors in overseeing Volpe’s support for safety programs for other DOT organizations in addition to safety management systems for FAA and FMCSA.
To succeed in this rewarding and challenging leadership position, candidates must have expertise leading applied research and technology projects in safety management systems in the transportation field. Candidates must also possess exceptional management, planning and communication skills, and be willing and able to contribute as part of a collaborative management team. Travel is required (30-50%).

The announcement is posted to the Public at http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/311508000

Application deadline: Extended to May 1, 2012

(Source: via Reddit)

Interesting to know how Chilliwack, Canada enforces its no-cell-phone-use-behind the wheels law.  True story! Redditor mlane201 shared this picture and reading through the comments he shared, I came to know how it is done – Constable Martell will be on the watch holding this sign by a roadside, looking for drivers using their cellphones while operating the vehicle.  Once Constable Martell spots an offender, he will radio in his colleagues who are sitting a little father up the road and they will comfortably pull over the offending driver and issue the tickets. Pretty nifty strategy there, right?

Image Courtesy: Imgur.com via Reddit

(Source: Daily Mail, UK)

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Seriously, TSA should exercise some discretion when it comes to these pat downs.  Interestingly, the video shows it was filmed during Spring 2010 at O’Hare in Chicago, and let’s hope TSA has changed  some of its invasive procedures at least when it comes to kids. The look on the little boy’s face is really disheartening and the parent is doing all he can to assure the kid that it is all okay.   Not sure what prompted the swabbing for explosive residues but it seems a bit too excessive given the age of the toddler.  One may argue that TSA is simply doing their job and is just ensuring the safety of the flying public by subjecting everyone through the same batter of tests.  But I think the swabs for a 3 years old is still a bit too much. The only saving grace here is that the TSA officer was as nice as he can be to the little kid and was not rushing or doing things that will spook the kid more upset/terrified than he already is.

(Source: AASHTO)

Recently found this nice 62-page report on vehicle electrification via an AASHTO e-mail and felt compelled to share.  Here are some excerpts from the AASHTO Journal:

Plug-in electric vehicles can lessen U.S. dependence on imported oil, address rising gas prices, enhance air quality, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but their full potential will only be realized through a broad-based group of stakeholders working together, concludes a report released Tuesday by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and co-sponsored by AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence.

The report presents several recommendations from a coalition that includes automakers, electrical utilities, environmental groups, and state officials. Coordinated public and private actions at the state and local levels can help ensure that plug-in owners are able to more readily charge their vehicles without overburdening the electric grid, the report states.

Recommendations include encouraging state public utility commissions and other policymakers to set up a consistent regulatory framework across the nation to better synchronize technical standards; streamlining the establishment of changing stations in both home and commercial settings; leveraging electricity rate structures to promote charging at off-peak times; helping local policymakers and other stakeholders in the appraisal of needs in their jurisidictions; strategically targeting public and private investments in related infrastructure; and providing credible information on the costs, benefits, and choices involving plug-ins.

[scribd id=85636602 key=key-2n0xv981yvwrrne389q8 mode=list]

Image Courtesy: AAA via Grist.com

Found this interesting graphic on Grist in an article titled “How high do gas prices have to get to trigger behavior change? “.  So, do Americans really change their driving habits when the gas prices rise? According to the graph, the answer is an emphatic yes.  The article quotes AAA saying, ” A AAA survey conducted at the beginning of the month found 84 percent of respondents saying they have changed their driving habits or lifestyle in some way in response to recent gas-price increases, and 87 percent would change driving habits further if prices remain this high for long. The most common change adopted so far is combining trips and errands, which 60 percent of respondents say they’ve done. And 16 percent say they’ve purchased or leased a more fuel-efficient vehicle.” Read the entire article here.

Note:  If the gas prices continue to rise with the drum beats of war getting louder and louder by the day, we can expect to see many drivers ditching their cars and opt to taking transit to work and to other places.  I hope the transit agencies do everything in their power to demonstrate the conveniences of riding a bus/train and entice these flocking masses to continue using transit as a primary option for getting around.  Oh, the big question I have in mind – Are the American transit agencies equipped to handle this sudden spike in ridership? Many transit agencies are hobbled by poor funding patterns over the years and it will be hard to meet this new segment of ridership arrives to what is an already exploding demand.  Let’s see what happens.  (Oh, no matter what the scenario is, one can expect to see a decline in VMT numbers again).

(Source: National Coalition for Safer Roads)

No technology in the transportation domain gets the general public in a tizzy as much as the red light enforcement. Though the technology has been in use for  over a decade and raked up some impressive stats in terms of lives saved, the sight of cameras at the intersection continue to remain a point of contention in many communities across the country.  For the naysayers, here comes an infograph highlighting the dangers of red light running and how enforcement technology has helped address this problem.  Also check out the one-page Get The Facts (PDF document) that accompanies this infographic.

(Source: TSAoutofourPants.wordpress.com via Reddit)

Blogger Jonathan Corbett is upping the ante in his protracted fight against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) much criticized Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In the video below, he demonstrates the flaws in the nude body scanners widely deployed at US airports.  Amazing to see how simple yet effective his strategy is  as he clears the security check points at multiple airports with hidden materials completely undetected.  TSA is going to have some serious explaining to do soon as this video is starting to go viral. It is already generating a brick ton of comments on Reddit.

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Click here to read more.

(Source: Reddit.com)

The brilliance of this image lies in exposing the hypocracy surrounding the escalation in gas prices. Too bad such political ploys have become the norm at Capitol Hill.  Can we let the President focus on solving the nation’s problems and spare him these silly distractions?  Compelling enough for a web post.

Image Courtesy: via Reddit