via Young Professionals in Transportation

Manager, Title VI Compliance
NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

This position is located in Manhattan, NY.

Summary:

Under supervision of the Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, EEO & Title VI Compliance, this position is responsible for assuring compliance with federal regulations through auditing, monitoring, tracking, training and reporting the Authority’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Environmental Justice and Limited English Proficiency requirements, and other related civil rights legislation and FTA issues. Administer, direct and coordinate the Authority’s Title VI and Limited English Proficiency plans. Additionally, the incumbent will develop federal and state regulatory reports, as well as internal reports for the Diversity Committee of the MTA Board, and provide data and other statistical information as per request from legal and other departments.

Pretty cool video that offers a nice overview of the 2nd avenue subway project and its impact on residents and businesses in the Upper East Side neighborhood. The size and scope of the project in addition to the geographical location makes for an interesting combination..

Related articles

• MTA releases Second Avenue subway photos
• Next Second Avenue subway phase gets some funding

Project Manager

Serve as Project Manager in the Transit Development Group within NYCDOT’s Division of Traffic and Planning. Manage key planning and implementation initiatives related to improving surface transit within New York City, including implementation of PlaNYC recommendations and the DOT strategic plan. Assist in the planning, design and implementation of Select Bus Service projects, as well as other transit priority and complete streets projects. Work closely with other DOT staff, with other City, State, and Federal agencies (particularly the MTA), and with the general public. Manage consultant work efforts and contracts, as well as capital grants. Create GIS maps, and perform other technical planning analysis. Work with community boards and other public stakeholders in public workshops, presentations, and other settings.

Outreach Coordinator

Serve as Outreach Coordinator in the Transit Development Group within NYCDOT’s Division of Traffic and Planning. Develop and execute plans for community outreach associated with Select Bus Service projects and other related initiatives. Organize community meetings, and serve as the point of liaison with community boards, elected officials, and other project stakeholders. Develop and manage contact lists for projects, and record and respond to community feedback. Prepare materials for online distribution, including regular updates of the Select Bus Service website and other Web 2.0 activities. Work closely with DOT External Affairs, Borough Commissioner offices, and NYCT Government and Community Relations as needed.

Source: Imgur via Reddit

Trying to take the subway the day after New Years.Image Courtesy: Imgur via Reddit

Reports To: Chief Officer, Environmental Sustainability
Authority:      TA/OA/MTA Bus
Location:     2 Broadway, Manhattan
Application Deadline:  12/12/11     

SUMMARY:
Under general supervision and with significant latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, the incumbent will assist in the development, collection, analysis, organization and presentation of data and information related to Sustainability in all aspects of Bus Operations (including fuels, vehicles, facilities, training and recycling).  In addition, the incumbent will support and manage projects and will assist in the development and implementation of an enterprise asset management system. Assignments will require the incumbent to work at all NYCT Department of Buses and MTA Bus Company facility locations throughout the five boroughs, and Yonkers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and apply systems (i.e., tools/software, job aides and protocols) to facilitate data collection and analysis on a continuing basis; train others to use these systems.
• Implement multiple projects simultaneously and be accountable to ensure that all projects are advancing as required to meet targets.
• Interface with staff from Operations, Maintenance, Capital Programs, and other MTA Units and outside parties on sustainability issues, programs and initiatives.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• General knowledge of and demonstrated interest in environmental sustainability concepts and approaches.
• Experience in Microsoft Office, Access and Powerpoint, ESRI ArcGIS and other relevant programs.
• Good database and data management skills
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Highly developed customer service skills, including listening and inquiry skills.
• Demonstrated interest in new technologies and their application.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with a major in one or more of the following: information systems, operations research, finance, accounting, economics, business, public administration, engineering, science or a related field.
• Three (3) years of satisfactory full time experience; or
• A satisfactory equivalent of education and successful experience.

Job Description:
Manages the planning, engineering, design, acquisition and installation of state of the art electronic toll collection technologies and systems, including research and testing; manage consultants and contractors as necessary; administer capital projects budgets; work collaboratively with all functional areas to address operational, customer service and other needs; reports to the Senior Director of New Toll Initiatives.

Specialized Knowledge:

At least 10 years experience working in the toll industry at a level that has included detailed technical knowledge of state of the art toll collection technologies and systems obtained through a technical degree and in field experience, experience with systems engineering through classroom work or practical application on multiple projects and extensive project management skills. Excellent communicatons skills and ability to work as part of a team

Education:

Undergraduate technical degree, master’s degree preferred

How to Apply

To be considered for this vacancy, follow these four easy steps:

1 – Place the Control Code found below in the upper right hand corner of your resume.

2 – Ensure that this office receives your resume by the Due Date provided above.

3 – Make sure that your resume includes a chronological work history.

4 – Send your resume to this address:

 (Source: The Transport Politic)

State Senate finally comes to agreement on system’s adequate funding; will vote today

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has been threatening huge fare increases and drastic cuts in service, will be able to rest easy tonight, because its multi-billion-dollar budget deficit will be covered by a new, more stable source of revenue: a region-wide payroll tax. There will be no bridge tolls, but a small fare increase. Though this is no panacea, and more funding is still needed, but this is huge news for New York City and means that the city will continue to be able to offer its citizens high-quality transit at a reasonable price.

The solution — held up for weeks by the demands of a few Democrats in the Senate (no members of the GOP are willing to vote for the program) — was found by agreeing to reimburse school districts that are affected by the tax. 

According to Gotham Gazette (via 2nd Ave Sagas), the plan to be voted on this afternoon will raise a total of $2.26 billion a year for the transit agency. This plan will cover the $1.8 billion MTA’s budget gap for FY 2009 and the $2 billion gap for 2010 as well as provide a small amount for capital expenditures. The New York Timesclaims that the taxes will be enough to cover the first two years of the agency’s 2010-2014 capital program. The state is likely to have to get going over the next few months to shape a funding system for necessary subway and commuter rail repairs as well as expansion needs.

Here are the basic conditions:

• 34¢/$100 payroll tax in all 12 MTA counties, with no differences between them (meaning people in Manhattan pay the same amount as people in Nassau County, even though people in the former clearly are more likely to take advantage of the transit system than those in the latter): $1.5 billion/year.
• 10% fare increase, will likely raise the cost of a single ride to $2.25 from $2 today; monthly unlimited cards will go from $81 to $89: $500 million/year.
• 50¢ surcharge on taxi rides: $85 million.
• $25 vehicle registration fee on the MTA region: $130 million.
• Increase on car rental fee: $35 million.
• Increase on driver’s license fee: $10.5 million.

The plan also foresees fare hikes of 7.5% in 2011 and 2013 to keep up with inflation.

(Source:  The Brookings Institute)

Transit agencies across the US are facing service cutbacks and fare increases in order to close their budget gaps. The largest, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is no exception. In its 2009 budget, the agency proposes painful service cutbacks and fare increases to help cover a projected deficit of around $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, the state senate failed to unite around a rescue plan last week. And while Washington did provide $8.4 billion in stimulus funds for transit this year (with over $1 billion allocated to the MTA), this money can be spent only on capital improvement projects and not to finance gaps in day-to-day operations.

An op-ed by the Brookings Institution’s Robert Puentes and Emilia Istrate offers recommendations for closing the MTA’s budget gap. They recommend raising state support to national levels and urge the federal government to step aside and empower metropolitan agencies to spend their federal money in ways that best meet their own needs, such as operating expenses. Over the long term, some form of federal competitive funding for operating assistance also might provide the right incentive – or reward – to states and localities to commit to funding transit.

Extract from the op-ed:

Why the disconnect?

The response in Washington is predictably stubborn: Recovery money cannot be used for operating expenses because operating is not a federal role.

You would think that the pressure of this policy would lead to transit agencies that are self-sufficient – where passenger fares pay the full costs of operating the system. 

But large metropolitan transit agencies generally “recover” only about one-third of their costs from subway riders and about one-quarter from bus passengers. The MTA has the highest cost-recovery ratio among all subway operators – its fares pay for two-thirds of operating costs. 

For large bus systems, the MTA’s New York City Transit ranks second only to New Jersey‘s in terms of the share of operating costs paid for by riders. The Long Island Rail Road is the seventh among the 21 commuter rail systems in the country, recovering from fares close to half of its operating costs.

So what should be done to close the MTA’s budget gap?

For one thing, lawmakers in Albany need to recognize that the state contributes a lower proportion of the MTA’s budget from its general revenue than other states provide to their transit agencies from general revenue. In New York, about 4 percent of all the MTA operating costs are covered by the state budget; in other states, transit agencies are getting closer to 6 percent.

Raising state general fund support to national levels would be a good place to start helping the MTA. 

Another idea is to get Washington to help. Not in doling out more money, but in stepping aside and empowering metropolitan agencies to spend their federal money in ways that best meet their own needs.

Click here to read the entire article.

(Source: StreetsBlog)

We want mass transit in American cities, right? Right. So how are we going to pay for it?