Strongtowns.org has a compelling piece that explains the funding crisis in transportation and why the U.S. transportation system is going broke. This Strongtowns article points to the set of graphics below, which are actually part of a lengthy write-up on Star Tribune that dissects the state of Minnesota’s transportation funding issues.  In all, you get a good understanding of the fundamental disparities when it comes to the state of our unsustainable transportation financing methods and how badly we need a dramatic shift in our approach (H/T Streetsblog for sharing this article via Facebook).

Image Courtesy: Star Tribune. Click on the graphic to be linked to the source story

Image Courtesy: Star Tribune via Strongtowns.org. Click on the graphic to be linked to the source story

Image Courtesy: Star Tribune. Click on the graphic to be linked to the source story

via Yahoo Tech

Image courtesy: Yahoo.com “Calling for an ride after midnight? We hope you saved up for it.”

The chart comes to us via Dan Tynan’s “12 Ways to Avoid Uber and Still Get Home Safely on New Year’s Eve“.  If you are one of them brave souls venturing out tonight in the West Coast cities of Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego or Seattle , I highly recommend checking out FlyWheel, who is offering a $10 flat fee rides from 8PM until 3AM. Dan Tynan has done a great job identifying the various alternatives for you to get around safely after a fun night out. One additional smartphone app that I’d like to recommend in addition to Dan’s collection is @RideScout. This mobile app will help you get from point A to point B faster and smarter. RideScout shows you real-time information about transportation options that are available right now around you, including transit, bus, bike, taxi, car share, rideshare, parking and walking directions – all in one view. Now, how cool is that!

I’d like to also use this as an opportunity to wish all my reader a SAFE & Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support and I promise to keep you even more informed in 2015.

The Department of Transportation is seeking qualified applicants to perform difficult professional and administrative work involving planning, organizing, administering, and providing technical guidance for major transportation Capital programs, including VDOT and NVTA financed road projects under agreement, utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition.

Work involves:

• supervising and managing subordinate staff;
• formulating the Division budget;
• participate in the development of overall policy for the Transportation Department and in the development and maintenance of the CIP;
• participating in the development and implementation of County-wide policies and procedures.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of Transportation. Supervision is exercised over subordinate professional and technical staff. Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity.

To apply click on this link http://agency.governmentjobs.com/pwcgov/default.cfm

This graphic puts the use of space by each surface transportation mode in perspective.. and it is quite obvious that cars eat up a lot of space in our urban environments.

Automobile, defined: a really poor use of space to move people thru the city. (Like, the worst.) h/t @jen_keesmaat pic.twitter.com/ZwgdCPvWbv

— Taras Grescoe (@grescoe) December 29, 2014

Image Courtesy: NVTC

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission seeks a resourceful, transportation professional skilled in bringing teams together across transportation agencies on technology projects and planning efforts. This position will work with NVTC’s jurisdictions which include Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church. Combine your skills in project management and knowledge of policy and planning to support regional efforts to expand capacity, improve connectivity and ensure high quality transit service in Northern Virginia. The Projects and Policy Manager will coordinate a regional working group on the New Electronic Payments Program, other contracts and state and federal grants as well as support regional planning activities.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The position combines planning, coordination and project management of contracts and state and federal grants for six jurisdictions and the region as a whole. Existing projects include bus rapid transit (BRT), Metrorail station improvements, light rail and other multi-modal facilities. The position will develop funding strategies for ongoing and new initiatives as well as preparing all phases of funding applications. The Projects and Policy Manager will facilitate regional working groups, participate in planning activities of other regional working groups, and support the work of Commission. This position reports to the Director of Programs and Policy.
The ideal candidate will have experience with local or state government, project management, and transit and related fields including communications, research & analysis, regional transportation planning, and federal contracts and grants management. This position requires a college degree and at least five years of relevant experience supported with strong references. Excellent written and oral communication, experience in facilitation/meeting management, and skills in spreadsheets and graphics are mandatory.

DUTIES INCLUDE
 Manage New Electronic Payments Program (NEPP) project including:
o Facilitating regional partners working group o Serving as Project Manager for the regional Technical Assistance contract
o Staffing grant applications and procurements
o Serving as the liaison with WMATA and their contractor for NEPP

 Manage other projects, which may include the following:
o Vanpool Alliance Program
o National Transit Database (NTD)

 Represent NVTC on regional studies & with other regional organizations
 Develop partnerships on collaborative research and technology efforts
 Manage and/or provide oversight for approved NVTC contracts
 Identify new projects and develop applications for state/federal funding
 Draft requests for proposals and invitations for bids for new NVTC projects, direct selection and procurement, and manage contractor performance and payments
 Work with the Executive Director and board members on special projects
 Serve as DBE compliance officer
 Prepare informative materials for commissioners, local staff, and regional partners on new and existing NVTC projects including memoranda, web content, and e-newsletter text
 Participate in ongoing strategic planning efforts and organize outreach efforts on behalf of NVTC and regional projects

SELECTION CRITERIA
Mandatory:
 Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, planning, transportation, economics, business management, civil engineering, or related field, plus five years of professionally progressive experience with project management in transit, planning, or a related field.
 Demonstrated interest in transit or rail project development, policy, or finance.
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
 Experience in meeting management and facilitation.
 Skills in graphics and spreadsheets.

Desirable:
 Advanced degree in economics, public sector management/administration, public policy, planning, technology policy and law or related field;
 Additional work experience beyond the minimum five year requirement;
 Experience with FTA grant and contract requirements highly desirable;
 Experience in writing talking points, preparing presentations, meeting agendas, and drafting reports, analyses, and recommendations for board action and comments to legislative and regulatory agencies;
 Experience with local or state government;
 Experience with developing and making presentations to elected officials, business leaders and community groups;
 Experience in designing and/or conducting community outreach efforts; and
 Experience working closely in a small team environment.

How to Apply
The job will remain open until filled. NVTC is an equal opportunity employer. Please provide a complete resume including your salary history and requirements, as well as a letter describing your qualifications and interest in this specific position. Please describe examples of your relevant experience, include links to or attachments of relevant work product:

Email: opportunities@nvtdc.org
Director, Programs and Policy
NVTC
2300 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 620
Arlington, VA 22201

ABOUT NVTC
NVTC has a small staff located in offices in the Court House area of Arlington. NVTC is a leading expert on performance metrics and transit finance, coordinates regional planning studies and evaluations, partners with other regional entities including the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. NVTC encompasses six cities and counties, Virginia Railway Express (a commuter rail service), six bus systems including MetroBus, Metrorail and the Vanpool Alliance.

SALARY and BENEFITS
Outstanding benefits are provided (life, health, dental, disability insurance; pension; pre-tax child care and medical cafeteria plan; free parking or parking cash-out; tax-free transit benefit). The competitive salary depends on experience and qualifications.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, work hours may vary based on business needs and may include evening and occasional weekend hours as necessary.

Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. Interviews will be scheduled with those candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Photo by Elvert Barnes

Metro’s Office of Planning is hiring a planner for its Regional Planning branch. The job description and information on how to apply can be found on the WMATA Careers page and the job code is 141283. The job will be open until 11:59pm on 12/24/14.

About the position:

The open position is within the Regional Planning (REGP) program area in Metro’s Office of Planning. The REGP program area focuses on developing and executing the Authority’s long-range regional transit system plan and advocating for Metro’s short and long-term infrastructure and operational needs at local, regional, and state levels, with an emphasis on ensuring integration of Metro’s plans across all the ongoing planning activities in the region. Planners in this position manage long-range planning projects, prepare technical reports/presentations, represent Metro at project stakeholder meetings, and analyze/recommend regional transit policy.  The successful candidate will possess extensive capabilities in regional planning, possess strong communications skills, and be able to represent Metro across the region. The applicant will be particularly skilled at translating highly technical information into written documents, graphics, and presentations that are easily digested by a wide range of audiences. Knowledge in the areas of regional transportation planning and forecasting, the metropolitan planning process, transit funding options and considerations, and project evaluation and alternatives analysis is strongly preferred.

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• Fairfax County signs off on federal loan for Silver Line construction
• Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting to Ride Metro’s Flashy New 7000-Series Cars

Steps and Instructions: 

1. Technical Papers

   Papers should address technical subjects as well as the institutional, policy, business and economic aspects of ITS. All papers must be original and report on recent, significant and substantive achievements. All papers must relate to one of the eight main topics provided.

   Papers must be submitted as final, be at least six pages and no longer than 12 pages single spaced. Technical papers will be reviewed by a peer panel that will look for quality, relevance, and significance of the findings.

2. Guidelines for Paper Submission

   • The deadline for submitting papers is Friday, February 6, 2015. Papers will not be accepted after this date. This deadline will not be extended.
   • Submitted papers must be in final form and follow the formatting instructions outlined here.
   • Papers must be submitted as final, be at least six pages and no longer than 12 pages single spaced.
   • Graphics are encouraged to enhance the presentation of the technical material.
   • Authors may submit up to three papers.
   • Papers may have up to five listed authors. Please note only the presenting author will be listed in the 2015 ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition Final Program.
   • To help organize the technical sessions, please accurately specify the topic area that best describes the subject of your paper.
   • Upon submission, the primary author will receive a confirmation email.
   • If a paper is accepted, the primary author will be informed by mid-March 2015.
   • If the paper is conditionally accepted, the author must make sufficient changes to the paper, suggested by the reviewer, and resubmit the revised paper through the online portal by April 3, 2015.
   • Papers of a predominantly commercial nature will not be selected for presentation.
   • Presenting Authors must be registered for the 2015 ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition by April 24, 2015 or their paper will be withdrawn from the program.
   • Please note that English is the official language of ITS America’s Annual Meetings. Papers not submitted in English will be automatically rejected.

   For more detailed information on submissions, see the Call For Papers brochure.

   For complete 25th Annual Meeting Paper Formatting Instructions, see
   Formatting Instructions.

3. Technical Support

For help in submitting an abstract online, Contact technical support.

TECHNICAL PAPERS

Via City Fix Blog

Photo by mariordo59

The World Bank and EMBARQ Mexico – in collaboration with TransMilenio S.A. – will host the third annual “Building Leaders in Urban Transport Planning” course, which provides tools for systematic integrated mobility planning, corridor management, public transport planning evaluation alternatives, governance, finance, and public-private partnerships – all of which are key issues facing Latin American cities and cities worldwide. The course will use a hands-on learning approach, making extensive use of case studies, group exercises, and site visits – all aimed at highlighting linkages between the various components of the urban transport system. The deadline to apply to the course is January 9, 2015.

The event is part of the World Bank’s “Leadership in Urban Transport Planning” (LUTP) capacity building series, which develops leadership, awareness, and implementation strategies for urban integrated mobility planning. It is designed specifically for senior level decision makers at the national, provincial or city level – those who have a responsibility for urban transport at the policy making level, rather than a purely technical level. Academics, consultants, and other members of civil society are also encouraged to apply.

The Building Leaders in Urban Transport Planning course will consist of two parts. The period from January 19 to February 21, 2015, will be devoted to self-study, covering topics in land use and transport planning, and incorporating the environmental and social issues of urban transport planning. Participants will then partake in a seven-day hands-on workshop from February 22 to February 28 in Bogotá, Colombia – a city with a track record of leadership in sustainable urban transportand development. Following the workshop, participants will also have the option to partake in a six-month mentoring program to provide advice and guidance as participants work on city-level projects.

In addition to other special guests, #LUTPColombia 2015 will have the following distinguished faculty:

• Thierry Denis Desclos, Urban Transport Specialist, World Bank
• Ivan Jaques, Head of Energy Efficient Cities Initiative, ESMAP
• Arturo Ardila, Urban Transport Specialist, World Bank
• Dario Hidalgo, Director of Research and Practice, EMBARQ
• Adriana Lobo, Director of EMBARQ México
• Fernando Páez, Transport Director, EMBARQ México

Learn more about the event and apply here.

The event will be conducted in Spanish, and is organized with support from the Public Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP). Follow updates on the proceedings on social media from @EMBARQMX and#LUTPColombia. 

Related articles

• CicLAvia heads south next weekend: map and info
• Bogota mayor defends programme for women’s safety on buses

Photo by torbakhopper HE DEAD

Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bicycle share programs and systems worldwide.  Public bike sharing systems combine the convenience and flexibility of a private vehicle with the accessibility and reliability of mass transit.

Overview of Position:

We at Alta Bicycle Share located in NYC are looking for a Technical Project Manager who thinks relentlessly about who does what by when, everything that can go wrong, and how to make it all come together in the end.  Someone who knows enough about technology to identify risks and evaluate plans, but doesn’t need to be the one actually writing the code or designing the system.  Someone who always has a plan B and a Plan C, and can stay cool when everything else seems to be going wrong.  This is an exciting opportunity for a high performing individual to be part of the Technology Team in a growth environment.

The Technical Project Manager will report to/support the Vice President of Technology to help deliver the desired products and projects on time, on target and on budget. This position includes project management responsibilities for one or more complex projects.  These projects typically utilize vendor participation and require complex schedules and integration with other systems and multiple contractors.

Key Aspects of Position:

• Manage scope, schedule, budget, and risks for critical aspects of aggressive and complex bikeshare systems rollouts and upgrades.
• Hold relevant contracted and in-house resources accountable for timeliness and quality of all deliverables
• Work with contractors to understand production and supply chain, and mitigate risks and issues.
• Identify and manage project risks through deep communication and collaboration with contractors and in-house technical and operational teams.
• Create contracts by developing scopes of work, estimating costs, identifying contractors, and negotiating contract awards.
• Report qualitatively and quantitatively on project status, progress, and risks.
• Develop and manage team project management tools and processes

Note: The above description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.  All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities due to the nature of work performed to accomplish Alta Bicycle Share’s Mission.

Required Skills and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or analytical field and 5+ years of progressively more responsible experience.
• Experience managing at least one large and complex technology project or program across multiple teams or contractors.
• Technical experience and/or training sufficient to understand project technical risks.
• Exceptional verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build consensus, negotiate solutions and alternatives, and resolve conflicting high-priority requirements.
• Travel: will vary but must be willing/able to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Located in or willing to relocate to New York City metro area.
• A Master’s degree in an engineering or analytical field.
• Thorough knowledge of Project Management principles, concepts and practices.
• Experience creating contracts and managing contractors.
• PMP Certification is a plus.
• Passion for bicycling/bikeshare and progressive urban transportation on issues.

Alta Bicycle Share is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Alta Bicycle Share is a drug-free workplace.

Click here to learn more and to apply