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| Volume 17, Issue 3 | Fall 2005 |
SAFETEA-LU: 'Public Transit' Not 'Mass Transit' Barb BallenskyVermillion Public Transit Vermillion, SD Dale Marsico, Executive Director of CTAA, gave an uplifting and interesting talk to kick off the 2005 DTA conference. He spoke about the transportation reauthorization bill, SAFETEA-LU, and the strides made in language and funding for transit with this reauthorization. One of the first things to notice is on the first page of the bill, where the definition of mass transit is abolished and replaced with the new definition of public transit. Listed below are the allocations of 5311 and RTAP for both North and South Dakota:
Dale mentioned that U. S. Senator Max Bacchus from Montana was the driving force who helped small states like ours to get the increases we have. We all owe him a big "thank you!" Dale did note that this administration has been one of the most supportive of rural transit. Unfortunately, at CTAA there is no time to relax. Two hours after the bill was signed, a proposal was introduced to remove funding for Medicaid transportation from the Medicaid bill. As Dale explained, they are on to their next fight to stop this from happening. They are working to make non-emergency medical transportation benefits a permanent part of the Medicaid program. Currently it exists because court cases have mandated such a service. We all know that without this service, some of our customers would not have transportation to the medical services they need. We need to help support CTAA by writing our Washington delegations about this important funding. Dale also took some time to report how the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority performed during Hurricane Katrina. The staff and management stayed at their posts, picking up and moving people until the roads became impassible. This was also the case in the rural areas of the region where they took people to higher ground and afterwards helped to relocate those who were in crisis. CTAA is planning to make sure that during the upcoming hearing on this disaster, Congress knows what transit did to help people survive and recover. CTAA will be renewing its request that Congress establish a more vigorous planning effort that includes transit as part of the first-response network, funds a capacity for being part of that network, and establishes a ready reserve of replacement buses and service equipment, so that transit can always be first to come back when needed most. This will be a big challenge to accomplish, but, like Dale said, we have always had challenges in transit, but have turned them into opportunities.  SAFETEA-LU: FTA Perspective from the DTA Conference LaMae BerganSenior Meals and Services Devils Lake Transit Devils Lake, ND The DTA Conference began with information presented by our Region VIII Federal Transit Administration representative, Jennifer Stewart, on the newly passed SAFETEA-LU transit bill. SAFETEA-LU, acronym for Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, passed Congress on July 29 and was signed by the President on August 10. Most provisions of this 1,300 page bill start FY 2006 and cover FY 2005 through FY 2009. It will provide $52.6 billion in funding for FY 2004 through FY 2009. The previous six-year TEA 21 transit bill provided $36 billion in funding. The basic programs that rural transit providers will access under this bill include, but are not limited to, Section 5309-Capital Grant Program, which is for new starts, fixed guideway modernization, buses and bus facilities; Section 5310-Elderly and Disabled Formula Program for capital costs; and Section 5311-Other than Urbanized Formula Program for rural public transportation capital, operating costs which have been set aside for Indian Tribes, and the Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP). SAFETEA-LU also provides for two new programs to start in FY 2006. The first is Section 5317- New Freedom Program, which is a formula grant for capital and operating costs. This will be used to encourage services and facility improvements that address the transportation needs of persons with disabilities that go beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The second new program is Section 5320-Transit in the Parks Discretionary Program, which provides funds to support public transportation projects in national parks and related public lands. This is a very condensed version of what we've been told is a very good transportation bill. I am cautiously optimistic that this new funding will trickle down to small rural transit providers so that we can continue to do what we do best - transport people. Southwest Transportation ServicesSouthwest Transportation (SW) is a non-profit organization that provides transportation to the public in Adams, Bowman, Hettinger, and Slope counties. Project director Donna Schaff works out of the main office in Bowman, but SW also has sub-offices in New England and Hettinger which are manned by local drivers. All staff are part-time, including the director, three in-town drivers, and two out-of-town drivers. The biggest challenge SW faces is balancing and coordinating the system to cover this rural area of approximately 5,500 square miles. With only five drivers, three buses, and two mini-vans, it takes careful planning and use of resources. At times, I feel like I'm doing a juggling act, but this service is absolutely essential to our rural residents. The majority of our riders are elderly and/or disabled. Without us, many wouldn't have a lifeline to healthcare services, work, education, or connections to air and train services to visit family living elsewhere. Because the majority of rides provided by SW are for medical needs, I have contracted with several healthcare providers, both within and out of the four-county area. Through this agreement, these providers pay half the fare for clients SW brings to their facilities. Medical needs take precedence; nevertheless, Southwest Transportation is also sometimes available for special events. We've taken retired teachers as far as Grand Forks for their annual conference. In the summers we do six to eight Medora trips. We've done overnight Bismarck-Mandan historical tours and the Black Hills Passion Play. We've taken a number of groups on day trips, such as to the Hebron Brickyard or the Richardton Abbey. These trips take a huge amount of planning, but it's worth it when we see the smiles of enjoyment on the faces of our clients who would not otherwise have had the experience. I feel it's essential that our many 'homebound' residents have access to societal events. In rural areas, community is so important, and anything we can do to maintain that and lessen the risk of isolation is a benefit. As for the future, the biggest challenge Schaff sees is meeting the needs of an increasingly aging population, and in hiring and retaining needed drivers. I'm lucky to have a fantastic staff of caring drivers, including last year's North Dakota Driver of the Year, but it's a small staff. Recruitment has always been difficult. Finding drivers willing to work part-time - for not-so-great wages and few benefits - is always a challenge. 
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