Staff

SURTC Staff Present at DTA Annual Conference

Two SURTC staff members addressed transit professionals gathered for the Dakota Transit Association (DTA) Annual Conference Sept. 20-23 in Sioux Falls.

SURTC director Jill Hough presented an overview of SURTC including summaries of its research, education and outreach programs. "The professionals at the conference represent the programs that SURTC is designed to help. It was a great opportunity for them to learn more about us and our mission," Hough says. "We want them to get to know who we are and what we do so that they're comfortable approaching us with the issues and challenges they face."

Hough noted that as SURTC takes a greater role in DTA, it's important for members to see how DTA fits with the Center's efforts. Hough also coordinated a day-long roundtable discussion on funding sources and transit finance.

SURTC researcher Gary Hegland presented preliminary results of a transportation coordination study being conducted for the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The study looks at opportunities and roadblocks facing coordination efforts among social service agencies and transit providers in the state. "As we look at providing the best service possible for the public investment in transit, coordination is becoming a bigger issue," Hegland says. More detail on the study is elsewhere in this newsletter.

Ulmer Makes Transition from Intern to Graduate Assistant

Dustin Ulmer joined SURTC on an internship in the summer of 2003. Following the completion of his B.S. degree in management information systems from NDSU he became a graduate research assistant with SURTC. Ulmer is working on his MBA. He is from LaMoure, N.D.

He creates databases, analyzes data and prepares reports. He is also interested in developing expertise in business planning for transit operations.

Two Attend National ITS Conference

Two SURTC researchers presented information on the impacts of Intelligent Transportation Systems coordination at the 2004 National Rural ITS Conference held in Duluth, Minn., August 22-25. David Ripplinger and Del Peterson were among the six consultants, transit researchers and managers presenting on various technologies that could improve the efficiency of local transportation providers.

Ripplinger discussed the experiences of Reach Your Destination Easily (RYDE), the local demand-response provider in Kearny, Neb. He outlined RYDE's use of the regional ITS architecture development process in implementing new technology while focusing on improving coordination. By closely following a federally-designed outline, the group has been considerably more successful than if RYDE had attempted to put ITS technology into action on its own.

Peterson addressed ndinfo.org. This Web-based service provides information about a number of agencies serving the state of North Dakota. Peterson outlined the service's impact on coordination in transportation.

Go to www.ugpti.org/about/staff/presentations/ for copies of the presentations.

Sarker Brings Computer Expertise to School Bus Program

Susmit Sarker joined SURTC in September as a graduate research assistant. Sarker, a masters student in civil engineering and computer science at NDSU, has extensive background in software development and design. His efforts are focused on developing and refining software for the SURTC School Bus Routing Program. He earned a B.S. in engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Before joining SURTC, Sarker was a technology consultant with NDSU's Information Technology Services and was an intern with NAVTEQ, an international digital geographic mapping and database company.

Ripplinger Joins SURTC Staff

David Ripplinger joined the SURTC staff in June. Ripplinger previously worked with the SURTC's parent organization, the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, as a research assistant while earning his B.S. degree in agricultural economics from NDSU. He earned his M.S. in economics from Iowa State University in Ames. While at Iowa State he collected and analyzed data on international meat trade and conducted research on intellectual property rights in agriculture.

Ripplinger also served as an agricultural fellow in Washington, D.C., researching and writing briefs, speeches and papers for Iowa senator Charles Grassley. He also was a research assistant with the USDA's Economic Research Service.

Ripplinger, originally from Devils Lake, will use his expertise in computer modeling and statistics in a project to help North Dakota school districts develop more efficient bus routes. He will also work on traffic demand models and other computer modeling applications for the SURTC.