Archive for the ‘Training’ Category

SURTC Partnering with National Center on Senior Transportation

Jan 9, 2013 / 0 Comments

SURTC is working with the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) to develop a plan for conducting technical assistance and training needs assessments.

NCST has been administered by Easter Seals, Inc. and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) since its inception, and these partners were once again selected in 2012 by the Federal Transit Administration to administer the center.

Easter Seals, Inc. and n4a identified the development of a plan for conducting technical assistance and training needs assessments as one of NCST’s milestones.

Ph.D. student Elvis Ndembe and Dr. Jill Hough began work on this project December 1, 2012.  Ndembe and Hough are looking at past successful technical assistance mechanisms NCST has utilized and will develop survey instruments, conduct focus groups, and evaluate other appropriate data sources to help with the new assessment. The assessment should be completed by May 2013.

Research, Training

Updated Training Information Posted

Nov 2, 2012 / 0 Comments

An updated list and description of training courses being offered by SURTC has been posted online. SURTC has been developing new training courses and broadening the types of training offered. Among the recently developed classes include “Environmental Justice and Public Participation” and “Safety, Security, and Emergency Management.” Both of these classes will be available for booking in early 2013. “Capital Asset Management” is another new class that is now available. Visit the Training on Demand section of the SURTC website to view the list of training courses currently being offered.

SURTC develops and provides training for transit operators, transit associations, and state Departments of Transportation as needs are identified. If you would like to host a training session, please e-mail training@surtc.org or call us directly — Carol Wright (701) 231-8231; Keven Anderson (701) 231-6436.

Training

Tribal Transit: Principles of Transit Management Course to be Held in Rapid City – Register Now

Mar 9, 2012 / 0 Comments

Registration is open for the Tribal Transit: Principles of Transit Management course to be held April 10-12, 2012 at the Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD. The course will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. The cost is $325 per participant, and the deadline for registration is April 5. Class size is limited to 35 participants.

Training is being held in conjunction with the 2012 Tribal/BIA Transportation Conference. Continuing Education Credits are being provided by United Tribes Technical College at no charge.

Click here for registration and hotel information.

The instructors for the course are Carol Wright and Keven Anderson of SURTC. Tribal Transit:  Principles of Transit Management is an intensive three-day course developed by SURTC that covers virtually all aspects of transit and paratransit management for operators of tribal transit programs across the country.  This course is based on our popular Principles of Transit Management course which has been taught across the country over the past three years, but it has been specifically modified to address the unique perspective of tribal transit operations.  Particular attention has been placed on tribal governance, financial management, human resource management and procurement, since many of these issues vary even among various tribal entities.  This course is directed toward experienced managers and those who are relatively new to their positions, as well as front-line supervisors and those who are in a position to assist transit managers. It also provides extensive take-home resource materials.

Training
,

Emergency Planning Workshop to be Held in Fargo

Feb 3, 2012 / 0 Comments

The research team for Boyd, Caton & Grant and Nusura, Inc. are conducting a free Emergency Planning Workshop Feb. 14-15 in Fargo, ND, co-sponsored by SURTC.  This interactive workshop and tabletop exercise will explore industry-leading practices in emergency planning for people with disabilities and access and functional needs, with particular focus on the role of paratransit agencies in emergency response and recovery. Participant feedback will help shape the final form and content of the Paratransit Emergency Preparedness and Operations Handbook. [Register Here]

Training
, ,

NDSU is partner in U.S. Department of Transportation grant to study transit

Jan 30, 2012 / 0 Comments

North Dakota State University is one of four universities that will cooperatively conduct research and provide training and outreach related to public transit under a $3.5 million grant awarded this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

NDSU is a partner with the University of Illinois at Chicago and Florida International University in Miami.  The University of South Florida in Tampa will lead the effort.  The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, a part of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Research Institute at NDSU, will provide expertise in rural and small urban transportation.  NDSU will receive about $500,000 from the grant.

The grant was one of 22 awarded in the University Transportation Centers Program administered by the DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration and was one of two grants specifically targeted to consortiums that will study public transportation.

“NDSU has developed expertise in transit management and coordination, among other areas specifically related to transit providers in rural and small urban areas,” notes Jill Hough, director of the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center. “Our participation in this effort brings added knowledge and awareness to assure that the issues faced by rural and small urban transit providers are addressed.”

Overall, the partnership will focus on the following topic areas:

  • Enhancing transit safety
  • Developing procedures and approaches to help agencies better care for their fleets and facilities
  • Exploring how transit can enhance economic competitiveness of business, regions or communities
  • Enhancing the livability of regions or communities through transit
  • Improving environmental sustainability of transportation systems and transit operations.

“In each of these areas we will bring a rural or small community focus,” Hough noted.  “We will also gain ideas from our partners that may be transferable to the smaller transit providers that we serve. Each of the four partner universities brings unique strengths and accomplishments to this consortium, but by working together we will enhance our overall collective contribution to the transit industry.” Hough said.

Education, Research, Training

Transportation Seminar: Giving Effective Presentations

Nov 10, 2011 / 0 Comments

Carol Wright will present a seminar Nov. 15 on Giving Effective Presentations for UGPTI’s Transportation Seminar Series.

At one point or another, each of us is called upon to give a presentation. It might be in front of a college class, at a business meeting, at a conference, or at a research forum. One of the most highly sought after skills is the ability to stand on your feet in front of an audience, say what you want to say, and be effective in the way you present your material. A person who can stand in front of a group with poise and confidence creates the perception of competency.

Regardless of the setting for your presentation or your public speaking experience level, this seminar will provide you with strategies and techniques for building upon your existing skills, as well as tips for improving your performance and stepping up your confidence the next time you give a presentation.

A recording of the seminar will be made available online shortly after it is completed.

Training

Ride or Relocate Webinar

Aug 3, 2011 / 0 Comments

SURTC and the National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) held a live webinar August 3rd. The webinar was cosponsored by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and the Community Transportation Assistance Program (CTAP). The presentation addressed results from a study conducted in North Dakota which quantified the cost of living at home and riding transit versus relocating to an assisted living facility. In addition, potential marketing strategies were presented utilizing the results of the study to reach people who may be in the process of making these difficult decisions. View the archived seminar

Training
,

Transit Management Training

Mar 25, 2011 / 0 Comments

Principles of Transit Management will be offered May 17-19 at the Doublewood Inn in Fargo. This training is an intensive three day course that covers virtually all aspects of transit and paratransit management for rural and small urban operators across America. More information about the training and registration is available here.

 

Training

SURTC to Hold Courses on Principles of Transit Management and Fiscal Management

Dec 3, 2010 / 0 Comments

SURTC trainer Carol Wright will be conducting a Principles of Transit Management course January 11-13 in Alexandria, Minnesota. Principles of Transit Management is an intensive three-day course that covers virtually all aspects of transit and paratransit management for rural and small urban operators across America.

To address concerns of transit managers trying to balance their financial operations while meeting the transit needs of the communities they serve, SURTC is holding a training course called Transit Dollars and Sense: Sound Fiscal Management Using Performance Measures February 7-8 in Houston, Texas.  This class will provide transit agencies with easy to understand tools, strategies, and suggestions and will help participants so that they can accurately know their fully allocated costs, prepare accurate budgets, evaluate their transit system’s performance, improve decision making, and develop tracking mechanisms that can provide important information for managing transit operations.

For more information about these courses, including registration information, visit SURTC’s Training and Outreach webpage.

Training

SURTC Now Scheduling 2011 Training Dates

Sep 8, 2010 / 0 Comments

SURTC is already looking forward to the coming year with regard to its successful training programs.  Many of you have asked for 2011 dates, so the calendar is now “open” and ready for booking.  The dates fill quickly, so we would encourage you to plan ahead.  If you are interested in having SURTC provide  training, please contact Carol Wright, Associate Director for Training and Outreach, at 701.231.8231 or by email at carol.wright@ndsu.edu.  Popular training programs range from multiple day classes such as Principles of Transit Management and Business Plan Development to individual offerings such as the Implementing Rural Transit Technology class developed by David Ripplinger in partnership with the National Transit Institute.  Other topics include diversity, ethics, cost allocation, financial management, working with local governments, performance measures, human resources, tribal transit, and motivational leadership.  A complete list of training topics and brief descriptions can be found by clicking on the Training and Outreach tab.

Training