Call for Presentations and Papers
Please contact Peter Shaw at TRB with any questions: pshaw@nas.edu.
For consideration of your presentation proposal, please submit it by January 10 , 2008.
Submit a Presentation Proposal.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PROGRESS IN RURAL TRANSPORTATION
The workshops and panels are organized around five topical routes. The routes are as follows:
Route 1: Planning, Design and Research
The Planning and Design route focuses on research and best practice with particular interest in new and innovative approaches, proven best practice, or recently-completed research on rural and tribal transit and intercity bus transportation planning.
Route 2: Policy, Funding and Finance
The Policy, Funding and Finance route focuses on federal, state and local funding issues of rural and intercity bus transportation.
Route 3: Special Topics on Rural Mobility
The Special Topics on Rural Mobility route addresses the changing face of rural transportation through changes in demographics, economic development efforts, “aging out” of transit managers, new funding sources, innovation and best practice.
Route 4: Rural Transportation in Today’s Operating Environment
The Operations route focuses on challenges and day-to-day best practices for rural and tribal transit managers, state transit program managers, and community planners.
Route 5: Technology Solutions to Improve Service
Technology solutions to improve service will focus on new developments in providing information, both pre-trip and en route, to passengers, those with special needs, with special destinations, or with challenging connections. Technology solutions for trip planning, fare collection, billing and reporting, vehicle maintenance and tracking and other activities of operating rural and intercity bus service are of interest.
The conference planning committee currently is working to identify presentations of interest to our audience of rural transit and human service transportation managers, rural and regional planners, rural intercity bus operators, State DOT and human service staff, and others with an interest in rural transportation.
If you have been accepted as a speaker for this conference, please visit the TRB Information for Authors web page.
The following topics have been identified by the committee for priority consideration for presentation:
Examples for topics in this route might include, but are not limited to:
• needs assessment and demand
modeling;
• public and stakeholder involvement, or
service design;
• exemplary experience with coordinated
public transit-human service plans;
• creative planning partnerships; for
example, working with local emergency agencies, regional planning approaches,
tribal/county partnerships, tribal/state partnerships,
• intercity bus/state partnerships;
• human services/transportation coordination
from numbers of perspectives: health, aging, disabilities;
• the transportation impact of exurbs stretching
into formerly rural communities;
• transit planning within tribal government:
the new SAFETEA-LU Tribal Set-Aside; and
• planning for connections with intercity
bus.
Policy, Funding and Finance
Examples of topics for this route include, but are not limited to:
• funding utilization within states from SAFETEA-LU with new and increased funding from Section 5310, 5311, tribal set-aside funding, New Freedom, Job Access-Reverse Commute, intercity bus set-aside;
• uses of State Medicaid funding;
• new partnerships for local match;
• access to Medicaid funding;
• cost allocation;
• NTD experience and best practice; and
• consultation with intercity bus companies.
Special Topics on Rural Mobility
Examples of topics for this route might include but are not limited to:
• customer needs and markets in rural communities: casino, resort, national parks, university and college students, commuters, retirement communities, regional health facilities, migrant farm workers, etc.;
• innovative approaches to tribal transportation services;
• serving minority populations in rural communities;
• expansion of courtesy personnel ideas for connections and directions at transfer points;
• addressing language barriers for passengers, drivers, and dispatchers;
• the changing countryside: bingo buses as a supplement to rural transportation;
• succession planning and workforce development in rural transit: recruiting and developing new managers, mentoring programs;
• models for partnerships with educational institutions for workforce development; and
• serving intercity travel needs of the rural customer.
Rural Transportation in Today’s Operating Environment
Examples of topics for this route might include but are not limited to:
• human resource management including workforce development, succession planning, mentoring, recruitment, retention, credentialing and training, performance evaluation;
• safety and security programs;
• innovative vehicle development, specifications and testing:
• marketing to meet diverse customer needs;
• mobility management;
• best practice in passenger assistance;
• financial management, including cost allocation;
• drug and alcohol testing and compliance;
• rural transit 101; and
• best practices in rural transit/intercity bus operating partnerships.
Technology Solutions to Improve Service
Examples of potential topics for this track might include but are not limited to:
• how data exchange can improve service for passengers;
• technology solutions for cost allocation;
• technology solutions for safety and security;
• technology solutions and innovations in transport of riders using wheelchairs and mobility devices;
• technology innovations for intercity travel;
• live technology demos of rural transit applications; and
• technology development partnerships: state consortiums, regional consortiums, private sector partnerships (e.g. Google)
STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION
Awards presented at the 18th National Conference
on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
Omaha, Nebraska
October 19-22, 2008
The TRB Committee on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation (AP055) Student Paper Competition is designed to encourage student interest and future participation in the development of rural public and intercity bus transportation systems and solutions; to provide an opportunity for today's transportation students to apply their knowledge in a thought-provoking and hopefully enjoyable competition; and to build awareness of public transportation serving rural communities.
Award
Awards will be made for first, second and third-place papers. Students receiving the awards will be invited to present their papers at the 18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation being held October 19-22, 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Prizes: First Place $1,000; Second Place $ 500; Third Place $ 250
Travel Assistance: The top three finishers will be eligible for reimbursement of registration and travel expenses up to $750 each.
The winner will be recognized during the Conference, and will have their winning papers displayed on the TRB Rural Committee conference web site.
Topic
The theme of the conference is “Partnerships for Progress in Rural Transportation.” Major topics covered during the conference will include planning and design; policy, funding and finance; rural transportation in today's operating environment; technology; and special issues in rural transportation. Papers should address a topic related to the theme and one of the major topics.
Rules
Papers are not to exceed 2,000 words in length, must be written in English by only one person and should not have appeared in any publication other than in school publications. Entries must be submitted in paper form and electronic format via email.
Eligibility
At the time the paper is submitted the author must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student program. Entries shall be limited to one paper per student. Online abstracts should indicate a faculty advisor and contact information.
Format
The title page should include the author's name, school, mailing address, fax and phone numbers, and e-mail address. Papers should be double-spaced with one-inch margins. References should be cited as appropriate. Papers should be written using Word.
Submission
Entries must be postmarked no later than June 1, 2008. Send an electronic version to: Jill Hough, Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, North Dakota State University, email: jill.hough@ndsu.edu.
Please submit an online abstract for the paper by going to Online Proposal.
Selection Criteria
Criteria to be employed to evaluate the papers include originality, innovation, practicality, timeliness, and readability. Eligible entries will be evaluated by representatives of the TRB Committee on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation. Winners will be announced on or before July 1, 2008.
Additional information
Questions should be directed to Jill Hough at 701-231-8082 or email jill.hough@ndsu.edu or Pat Weaver at 785-864-2595 /email weaver@ku.edu