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| Volume 18, Issue 1 | Winter 2006 |
APTA's Bus Paratransit Conference Del Peterson, Associate Research FellowSmall Urban & Rural Transit Center Fargo, ND The American Public Transportation Association 2005 Bus & Paratransit Conference, the public transportation industry's largest and most comprehensive learning experience for bus and paratransit professionals, was held this past May in Columbus, OH. The conference theme was "Public Transportation: Getting Down to Business." The schedule was highlighted by keynote speakers, educational sessions and technical tours of Columbus-area public transportation facilities. I especially enjoyed sessions on increasing transit ridership and partnering with universities to provide efficient transit service for college students. Presenters spoke of service adjustments, fare and pricing adaptations, and service coordination along with various other techniques to increase ridership within their service regions. Ronald Kilcoyne, CEO of the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority in Bridgeport, CT, and Richard Maxwell, marketing director for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority in Fort Worth, TX, spoke about increasing ridership by targeting specific workgroups and marketing to minorities.
The conference included a bus products and services showcase. Time was set aside for attendees to view transit-related products and obtain information related to both bus products and services on display. The showcase also sponsored lunch one day, which is always a nice perk. Overall, the conference was a success. It was well attended and received by everyone I spoke with throughout the week. I would recommend the conference to larger Dakota transit agencies, particularly those offering fixed-route service and/or service to local universities, or agencies considering the implementation of either one of these services. The 2006 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference will be held in Anaheim, CA, from April 30 - May 3, 2006. 2006 Membership Dues are Due Now!If you are interested in joining DTA, please either complete the online application at: www.dakotatransit.org/join/ or complete the written application below and mail to the designated address. If you complete the online application you sill have to mail the dues check. Dakota Transit Association 2006 Membership Membership Categories (Please check one):
Explanation of membership categories:
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In this issue...
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The university presentations discussed innovative approaches to market university bus service. Dwight Smith, director of operations for Capital Area Transportation in Lansing, MI, presented on a partnership between his system and Michigan State University. Dottie Lancaster, purchase transportation manager for Capital Metropolitan Transportation in Austin, TX, highlighted surveying techniques used to improve campus service at the University of Texas, Austin. One transit/university partnership even spurred the development of a downtown circulator to service their community. All presenters offered many interesting insights into their respective communities and were very receptive to audience questions and comments.