Check out this infograph from Pembina Institute that clearly lays out the case for public transportation (i.e., Rapid Transit) and shows how much money can be saved..

Source: Pembina Institute.

Sustainable America via Upworthy

Oh, boy.  What looks like a seemingly insignificant activity – vehicle idling – has a major impact on our economy and on our planet’s well being.  Check out this informative infograph from Sustainable America that shows the gargantuan impacts of vehicle idling in the USA, both  economic and environmental.  If the US alone is wasting so much fuel and adding to the carbon footprint, I can’t even begin to fathom what’s happening if this issue is scaled up at a global level. Adoption of EVs can quickly put an end to this issue and should be considered as part of energy efficiency/conservation programs world wide. Take the pledge to stop idling! 

Image: Sustainable America via Upworthy.com

An awesome biking infographic from the team at Quicken Loans.

JOB TITLE: Research Analyst II/Policy Associate
PROGRAM: Environment, Energy and Transportation Program (EET)
SALARY: $3,245-3,667 per month depending on qualifications
FUNDING: 100 percent grant funds

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

NCSL’s Transportation Program is seeking a Research Analyst II or a Policy Associate to perform legislative research, analysis, writing and program planning. This person will assist with providing quality, unbiased information to state legislators and legislative staff through publications, legislative tracking, meetings and other efforts. The Research Analyst II/ Policy Associate will answer information requests from state legislators, legislative staff and other policy stakeholders on transportation issues
such as revenues for infrastructure, public transportation, aviation, ports and waterways, driver’s licensing, commercial vehicles, traffic safety and other transportation topics.

The Research Analyst II/Policy Associate will also update online bill-tracking databases, draft publications, coordinate meetings, give presentations, compile and summarize legislation, and complete research for program projects including publications, NCSL meetings and off-site trainings and presentations . This professional position requires demonstrated competence in research, writing,
communication, public policy and analytical skills. This position is funded for one year from outside grants and contracts and continuation of the position is subject to the acquisition of additional grant and contract funding.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Typical duties may include some or most of the following:

1. Collects, monitors and analyzes data on legislative actions and state and federal programs using  a range of research skills including legal research, original surveys, in-depth interviews and specialized library resources.
2. Prepares prompt, concise and accurate written responses to legislative requests for information.
3. Under supervision, plans programs and organizes background materials in closely related subject areas for research projects, meetings, conferences and technical assistance workshops.
4. Plans, researches and writes for newsletters, issue briefs, short research reports or articles though most written products are subject to close review and editing by more senior staff.
5. Provides substantial content management and data entry support to the NCSL Transportation Funding and Finance Database, the NCSL Transportation Access and Mobility Database and/or other bill-tracking databases.
6. Develops and delivers presentations to a variety of audiences based on original research on transportation policy topics.
7. Undertakes research and writing for grant and contract proposals.
8. Under supervision, may interact directly with grant and contact project officers and undertake some project management responsibilities.
9. Assist as required with the staffing of relevant NCSL committees, task forces and meetings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years of relevant work experience, including at least one year of general policy research, legislative or state government experience. Relevant professional level work experience or graduate level can be substituted on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree is preferred but not required.
• Skill and competence in a range of research skills and tasks.
• Experience with state transportation policy research and analysis.
• Skill and competence in writing clearly and communicating orally.
• Skill and competence to work effectively with legislators and legislative staff.
• Skill and competence to work independently and to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. This includes the ability to balance and prioritize numerous projects at once, to meet deadlines and to effectively communicate how this is happening to supervisors of said projects.
• Able to maintain bi-partisanship, confidentiality and handle politically sensitive work.
• Skill and competence in working cooperatively and professionally with a variety of people, often under pressure.
• The willingness and desire to learn from multiple supervisors.
• Attention to detail and the ability to problem solve and think critically is essential.
• Is well-organized, efficient, flexible and a team player with a positive attitude.

Reply:

Send cover letter and resume by Friday, January 3, 2014, to:
National Conference of State Legislatures
Personnel/AT
7700 East First Place
Denver, CO 80230
Email: hr@ncsl.org

NCSL is an equal opportunity employer.

Brilliant… and everything about Tesla Model S sounds better when the narrator sounds like Jason Statham (or is it Jason himself  narrating it?).  A bit of research showed that it is a part of NatGeo (UK)’s Megafactories Show, which has a ton of more such awesome things.. Check out the program’s website.

Foursquare Integrated Transportation Planning (Foursquare ITP – www.foursquareitp.com) has four job openings (scroll below for details on each position advertised):

• Transportation Planner – 3-5 years of experience
• Environmental/Transportation Planner – 5-7+ years of experience
• Transit Service Planner – 7+ years of experience
• Administrative/Marketing Professional – 5+ years of experience

Foursquare ITP is looking for qualified candidates to contribute to, assist, lead, and/or manage teams on a diverse array of transportation projects for state and local governments, federal agencies, transit agencies, and regional agencies. Foursquare ITP is a transportation planning firm based in Rockville, Maryland. As a small firm we are able to give our clients the personalized focus that they seek and deserve. We offer our clients expertise in regional transportation planning and coordination, public transit planning, strategic planning, and transportation demand management. For an overview of the types of projects that Foursquare ITP works on, please visit www.foursquareitp.com.

The selected candidates will work as part of a team and will be responsible for research, analysis, report development, field work and meeting participation on a wide variety of transportation projects. The selected candidates will be involved in a wide array of projects, including transit development plans, transportation needs assessments, station area plans, transit route planning, financial planning, transit performance monitoring, and federal grant management. The positions will require research and data analysis utilizing a variety of sources, including transit ridership data, Census, socioeconomic, land use, survey data, and existing plan information.

In addition to having the appropriate technical skills, the successful candidates will be smart, motivated, self-starters who are passionate about transit and transportation planning. The candidates must also be flexible in meeting client demands and operating within a dynamic workflow.

Qualifications

Transportation Positions: Any position at Foursquare ITP requires excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Topical area expertise is required in one or more of the following: transit planning; transit program implementation; corridor-level transit planning; regional transportation planning; transit development plans; federal transit grant management; transportation demand management (TDM); Environmental Impact Statements/Environmental Assessments; land use and economic development analysis; and strategic planning. A strong working knowledge of the Washington Metropolitan area is desired.

• Transportation Planner – Must have three to five years of experience in the field; a Master’s degree in transportation planning, urban planning or similar may be used to substitute for two years of experience.
• Environmental/Transportation Planner – Must have at least five years of experience in the field with extensive experience in conducting NEPA documentation for transit projects, specifically EIS, EA and documented CE. While this position will initially focus largely on environmental planning, the successful candidate will have a wider range of transportation planning experience and interests. Depending on the level of experience of the successful applicant, this position may also be a project manager position. Appropriate educational background is also required, including preferably a Master’s degree in transportation or environmental planning, urban planning, or similar.
• Transit Service Planner –  Must have at least seven years of experience conducting service and operations plans for transit agencies of all sizes and in a variety of environments.

Administrative/Marketing Position – The selected candidate will be responsible for a variety of administrative and marketing duties, including: coordinating and formatting proposals; updating company website; assisting with invoice preparation and review; serving as an executive assistant to the President and other senior staff – assisting with travel arrangements, meeting arrangements, and other duties; and other administrative and marketing duties.

• Administrative/Marketing Professional – Must have at least five years of experience conducting similar work in a private sector organization that deals primarily with public-sector clients. The selected candidate must be a self-starter with attention to detail and be comfortable working on multiple tasks at once in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The position requires excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign are required.

Applications (résumés and cover letters) will be accepted through Friday November 1, 2013 to resumes@foursquareitp.com.

When applying, please mention you saw this opening listed at Transportgooru.com. 

via Popular Science

Slowly but steadily coast-to-coast travel in an electric vehicle is inching closer to reality. Though not as ubiquitous as the gas stations on the highways and arterial, the growing number of charging stations indicate a big shift coming our way. An interesting data nugget – more than half of the nation’s 8,051 electric-vehicle charging stations have opened since 2012.

Data Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. Department of Energy; Image Courtesy: Popular Science

Legend:

• Each hexagon represents the number of stations in that area.
• Blue hexagons—mostly outside major cities—indicate those built in 2012 and 2013.
• Orange hues show older and newer stations.

Job Title:  General Manager
Job Location: San Francisco, with regular travel to the South Bay

Job Summary
Bicycle sharing is a sustainable, healthy, and community-based transport option that enhances urban livability and mobility. Alta Bicycle Share, contractor to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and operator of the Bay Area bike share program (BABS), is seeking a General Manager to oversee staff of over 50 people and all aspects of launch and ongoing operations. Core program functions include: program marketing; bicycle and station assembly and installation, programming and deployment; bicycle and station maintenance, repair and cleaning; bicycle redistribution; shipping/receiving and inventory control; client and customer service; and budget management.

Reporting to the Operations Director, the General Manager is accountable for overall success of Alta’s Bay Area bike share program as measured by program P & L, performance in core program functions, and client and customer satisfaction. Primary responsibilities include business strategy development and implementation; staff recruitment, training oversight, leadership and coaching; client and customer service; and contract negotiation and compliance. Ideal candidates will be diplomatic delegators with a track record of safety and success managing multifaceted operations with a diverse and committed workforce.

Primary Responsibilities
Manage all aspects of Alta Bicycle Share Bay Area pre-launch activities, including but not limited to:

• Recruitment and selection of key leadership team.
• Branding and marketing plan development.
• Identification of key marketing partners and sub-contractors.
• Property identification and acquisition.
• Acquisition of vehicles, equipment and tools.
• Site selection and planning.
• Contract and client management. Establish strong vendor and client relationships.
• Receive, inventory, and oversee assembly of all bike share equipment.
• Establish or improve policies and policy documents as required.

Manage all aspects of Alta Bicycle Share Bay Area program deployment and launch, marketing, customer service, administration and oversee all aspects of ongoing operations, including but not limited to:

• Hire, train, schedule, and manage a diverse workforce to necessarily and continually accomplish core program functions. Delegate tasks as needed.
• Working with the management and street team to develop strategies to accomplish operational functions including bike and station deployment, maintenance, repair, and cleaning, and bicycle redistribution.
• Working with the local client, management and street team to develop strategies for membership and corporate sales, public relations, and customer service leveraging social media.
• Manage multiple subcontracts.
• Lead collaboration with multiple clients and multiple sponsors.
• Continuous operation with adherence to policies, contracts, and budgets.
• Implement, improve, and share operational best practices.
• Ensure strict adherence to safety policies and procedures.
• Forecast revenues and expenses, and manage a budget.
• Ensure reports, invoices and purchase orders are complete and timely delivered to project officers and managers.
• Maintain strong client and vendor relations.
• Ensure overall success and future growth of Alta Bicycle Share the Bay Area.

Core Competencies

• Communication Skills: Collaborate and communicate effectively; requires listening, strategic context, win-win negotiating, situational leadership; great written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Leadership Skills: Inspire and motivate employees to successfully achieve operational goals; provide a stable, positive environment that challenges and develops employee potential; remove obstacles that interfere with team goals; earns respect of team and clients alike.
• Interpersonal Skills: Maintain confidentiality; remain open to others’ ideas; demonstrate willingness to try new things.
• Resource Management: Find creative ways to accomplish goals in the face of resource constraints; develop and manage realistic operating budgets that accomplish program objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Proficient in company best practices in each function; looks for ways to improve efficiency and performance; analyzes data to make fact based decisions; incorporates feedback from various stakeholders to improve processes.
• Emotional Intelligence: Self-aware, easily establishes trust and integrity with clients and staff.
• Adaptability: Enthusiastically adapt to changes in the work environment; manage competing demands; maintain team focus and optimism when dealing with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Dependability: Follow instructions; respond to management direction and client requests; communicate frequently; solicit feedback to improve performance.

Requirements

• College degree in business administration, engineering, transportation or related field required. Advanced degree a plus.
• 7+ years of demonstrated success in the areas of general management, sales/marketing, general operations and finance in a fast growth environment. Experience in logistics or transportation industries a plus.
• Prior P & L responsibility in a multi-site/multi-unit operation.
• Ability to identify priorities and focus on critical tasks.
• Must have demonstrated leaderships experience and history of hiring and developing key employees.
• Experience working with government, businesses, and non-profits.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication and problem solving skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Passion for bikes, efficiency, or sustainability a plus.
• Sense of humor required.

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. Alta Bicycle Share is proud to be an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer.
To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to: resumes+SFGM@altabicycleshare.com
Please, no phone calls

Click here for the original announcement.