James River Transit

Hi, my name is Laurie McGuire. I am the new project director of James River Senior Center (JRSC), James River Transit and Wells/Sheridan Transit and Senior Services located in Harvey Senior Citizen's Center. For 26 years I was a medical professional working for Trinity Nursing home in Minot, and later at the Jamestown Hospital in Jamestown. I enjoyed those 26 years in the medical world immensely, but decided I was ready for a change in my career. In late 2001, I applied for a management position at the James River Senior Center and was successful in getting the position so packed my medical scrubs away and never looked back.

Today, I direct two agencies in North Dakota. I supervise a multitude of staff from cooks, bus drivers, janitors, dispatchers, experience works staff and community service participants. We are a multi-service provider operating seven days a week; our services include senior meals, transit and senior services programs serving the general public, elderly and people with disabilities. Along with these services, I also direct a for-profit catering service serving meals seven days a week out of the James River Senior Center. Staff at the JRSC continues to do a wide variety of fundraisers such as a huge spring and fall rummage sale, an annual golf tournament and a food vendor for the Rodeo Association at the Stutsman County Fairgrounds. We also do other smaller fundraisers as the opportunity presents itself.

I have been in my new position for about a month! I have a lot to learn, so if there are any great words of wisdom out there, please feel free to call me at the James River Senior Citizen Center, and hopefully I will meet many of you at the fall DTA conference in Spearfish, SD.

Charter Bus Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee

Ron Baumgart, director of River Cities Transit, has been appointed to the Charter Bus Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee (CBNRAC) by the Federal Transit Administration. With the passage of SAFETEA-LU this past year, Congress directed the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to appoint an advisory committee to revisit charter bus and transit rules in order to better define the federal guidelines. Ron Baumgart was recommended by SDDOT for the advisory committee and received a letter from FTA Deputy Administrator Sandra Bushue, who made the appointment.

Ron, the only person on the committee from rural small transit systems in the country, thinks this is an excellent opportunity to represent small urban and rural transit systems. Ron is also representing DTA on this committee by looking out for their best interests and shaping federal guidelines that do not discriminate against our small operations in rural states. Many small transit systems operate in environments where charter bus companies do not provide service.

The eight topics the CBNRAC will be considering are to:

1. Explore where there may be limited conditions under which public transit agencies can provide community-based charter services directly to local governments and private non-profit agencies that would not otherwise be served in a cost-effective manner by private operators.
2. Determine how the administration and enforcement of charter bus provisions can be better communicated to the public, including the use of internet technology.
3. Investigate whether the enforcement of violations of the charter bus regulations should be improved.
4. Research possibilities whether the charter complaint and administrative appeals process can be improved.
5. Explore new processes for determining if there are private charter bus companies willing and able to provide service that would utilize electronic notification and response within 72 hours.
6. Explore new exceptions for transportation of government employees, elected officials, and members of the transit industry to examine local transit operations, facilities, and public works.
7. Review and clarify, as necessary, the definitions of regulatory terms.
8. Determine if FTA policies relative to the enforcement of charter rules and the boundary between charter and mass transit services in specific circumstances, such as university transportation to/from special events, need revamping.

The Committee met for two days both in May and June with four more 2-day meetings scheduled and hopes to complete their recommendations by the end of the year. The CBNRAC consists of nine leaders in the charter bus field and nine representatives from public transit. Ron represents rural transit on the committee and is the only director of a rural transit system. CTAA is also represented on the committee and is very active in helping our cause and objectives. If you have any questions or comments about any of the issues listed above, feel free to call Ron Baumgart at (605)945-3166 or e-mail ron.rct@midconetwork.com.

In this issue...

• River Cities Public Transit: Winner of CTAA's Rural Transit System of the Year
• From the President
• North & South Dakota Drivers Compete in the National CTAA Roadeo
• Standing Rock Public Transportation
• DTA Makes a Splash in Florida
• NDDOT Adds Annette Tait to Transit Section
• Documentation
• James River Transit
• Charter Bus Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee
• Prairie Hills Transit
• Medical Transportation
• "Cutting Edge Transit"
• Coordinating Technology in Scheduling and Dispatching