The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance seeks qualified applicants for the position of Director of Policy and Programs.  This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits.

Desired Start Date:  week of Jan. 6, 2014 or a.s.a.p.

The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance is a non-profit coalition of business, philanthropic, non-profit and institutional organizations.   Our commitment is to create a forward-thinking, innovative, realistic, usable transportation system.   We advocate for better transportation that will provide access and opportunity for housing, jobs, education, services, goods and recreation to all residents throughout the region.  The Transportation Alliance is an initiative of the Baltimore Community Foundation.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research to support the Transportation Alliance’s initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to, our ‘Let’s Get to Work’ initiative to enhance service on MARC commuter rail, improving access to regional jobs via alternatives to driving alone, transit-oriented development, transportation funding, and benchmarking the region against national peers;
• Design and execute a comprehensive organizing plan that brings together hundreds of stakeholders to call for advancing the Transportation Alliance’s objectives;
• Assist with development activities including creating and executing a fundraising strategy and grantwriting;
• Develop and maintain knowledge and expertise in diverse areas of transportation including transportation planning, alternative funding methods, transit-oriented development, and related topics to inform conversations with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders;
• Cultivate meaningful collaborations with businesses, institutions, non-government organizations, and government agencies to advance the Transportation Alliance’s mission and vision;
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of presentations for audiences comprised of elected officials, economic development professionals, business leaders, other non-profit advocacy organizations, etc.;
• Assist with drafting various documents and materials such as the organization’s newsletter, social media content, letters to the editor, letters to elected officials, etc.;
• Represent the organization at meetings;
• Other duties as assigned.  In an office environment with a small staff, all personnel, including the Director of Policy and Programs, are asked to be flexible about covering various duties as they arise.

Qualifications:

• Masters degree or commensurate experience in public policy, environmental science,  geography, urban planning, or related fields;
• Familiarity with transportation and its connection with economic development, urban planning, and environmental issues;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly with word processing and spreadsheets;
• Experience with advocacy campaigns, organizing, and coalition building is preferred;
• Experience with data and quantitative analysis, particularly reviewing and analyzing budgets, is a plus;
• Proficiency with social media such as Twitter and Facebook and web outreach is a plus.

To Apply:

The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance offers a competitive salary and benefits package.  To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Brian O’Malley, bomalley@cmtalliance.org.  The first review of letters and resumes will take place after Monday, December 9, 2013.

The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and seeks a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

We have come across many studies over the years that dissected the ill-effects of long commutes. Add this to the collection.  This video from Wall Street Journal Live summarizes a lot of these big issues associated with long commutes. It sheds light on how hours spent driving can wreck finances, health, and marriage. Market Watch’s Quentin Fottrell joins WSJ Lunch Break to chat about the five ways commuting may be ruining your life.

logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Capital Metro, Austin’s regional public transportation provider, is looking for an RAIL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGER. This position is responsible for the management of the Rail Systems engineering design and construction activities under the supervision of the VP of Rail Operations. Join us in our vision to be a driving force for quality life in the Austin and surrounding communities.

MORE INFORMATION AND TO APPLY: http://ow.ly/hwnSK

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(Source: WSJ)

How do you deliver rail safety message to the General public in the age of twitter and YouTube.  Here is one such effort and it’s called Gap Rap (Warning: Geeky & Corny Video and Lyrics).

The music video, which premiered online Thursday, features LIRR Medical Director John Clarke — an army of fifth graders from Long Beach accompanying him as backup dancers — giving safety tips to railroad riders from Times Square, trains and LIRR stations. Here it is:

Dr. Clarke has a history of public-service raps.  He’s taken on psoriasis (“No one knows the cause or why is brings drama”) and H1N1 (“If you have it stay at home so you don’t spread none”).  The effectiveness of this effort is definitely worth watching in the months to come.

(Transportgooru’s Review: A full 10/10 for the thought to promote safety; 0/10 for the execution.  Summary: Doc, please spend a couple of $$ and find some pros can can really deliver and pls. stick to what you know best – medicine).

(Source: CNN)

• Tunnel will link New Jersey with New York, doubles commuter rail capacity
• Part of project financed by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
• ARC, Access to the Region’s Core, expected to create 6,000 jobs

Image Courtesy: Arctunnel.com

The new tunnel, said to be the largest commitment to any transportation project anywhere in the United States in the history of the Department of Transportation, according to administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transportation Administration, will link New Jersey with New York and eventually will double capacity on the nation’s busiest rail corridor, running from Washington to Boston, Massachusetts, officials said.

Officials participated in the groundbreaking for the $8.7 billion project as commuter trains passed behind them in North Bergen, New Jersey, before entering the existing train tunnel, which went into operation in 1908.

“As we start digging this tunnel, I think that what really it means, we are digging our way out of an economic crisis,” said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey. “As we’re getting under way, we’re seeing the dividends of the Recovery Act being paid right now.”

The project — known as ARC, for Access to the Region’s Core — is expected to create 6,000 design and construction jobs.New Jersey Transit says 170,000 passengers now travel through the existing train tunnel beneath the Hudson River to New York each day. When completed, the second tunnel will enable that figure to increase to 255,000 passenger trips. The additional passengers will disembark at a new concourse to be built at Penn Station in New York, 150 feet below street level.

(Source: Washington Post)

Increased Subsidy Might Mean a Boost in Ridership on Longest Rail Commutes, Officials Say

Good news for transit riders: Starting on Sunday, the monthly transit benefit allowance increases to $230 from the current $120, thanks to the recently enacted economic stimulus package.

Click here to read the entire article