Transit Class Completed
Nineteen students from four states participated in an "Introduction to Public Transportation" course coordinated by SURTC for the second time this spring.
The class features transit case studies, online discussions and presentations on research projects. Lectures were recorded and streamed for student accessibility. During the semester, speakers included nationally recognized experts, William Millar, president of American Public Transportation Association, and Barbara Sisson, Associate Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.
The course was offered on the NDSU campus and linked students from Utah, Wyoming and Pennsylvania via the Transportation Learning Network. This interactive video network with archived presentations and interactive features allows each student to learn at their own pace and accommodate differing holiday breaks and schedules.
"One interesting result of this wonderful technology is that Tom Flanagan, a PhD student at NDSU, was able to take the class from his home in Alaska," notes instructor Jim Miller. Miller, a retired faculty member from Pennsylvania State University, has more than 30 years of experience in public transportation research planning and management and is a leader in developing transportation systems for rural areas.
"The TLN is an invaluable tool for us," says SURTC director Jill Hough. "Allowing students and professionals to share experiences and challenges gives us insight into the field at a national level."
CCTM Study Guide is Updated
Transit managers across the country will benefit from recent work SURTC staff and cooperators completed with the Community Transit Association of America.
SURTC recently updated the study guide for CTAA's Certified Community Transit Manager program. Transit managers who want to be certified in the program must pass an exam covering several topic areas. The study guide provides background for those studying for the exam.
 "The main reason we selected SURTC for this project is that it is uniquely placed to understand the training needs of rural transit providers," says Chris Zeilinger, assistant director for training and government affairs at CTAA. "The timing was perfect for this project; we were desperate to update the guide and SURTC provided the perfect environment for creative thinking."
SURTC director Jill Hough said members of SURTC's steering committee were asked to help update chapters in the guide in cooperation with a SURTC staff member. "That collaboration helped us integrate real-world thinking and applications into the guide while keeping the chapters consistent and complementary."
"We are thrilled with the results," Zeilinger says. The updated study guide made its debut to transit managers at the Community Transportation EXPO conference in May in St. Louis.
 SURTC offered website development training to transit agencies in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota May 4.
The day-long workshop was taught in a computer laboratory at NDSU by Renu Jyoti, an MBA student at NDSU and a computer trainer. Jyoti is employed by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute as a Web developer.
"Transit agencies are aware that websites are becoming increasingly effective ways to reach clients and others with routing, scheduling, contact and policy information," notes Gary Hegland, the SURTC staff member who organized the workshop. "This workshop was designed to give transit agency staff members the tools and background to create and maintain their own websites."
The workshop drew only five participants. "We were disappointed in the turnout, but we're learning that small urban and rural transit organizations don't have the staff time to devote to website development," Hegland says. "The participants were excited about the training because it gave them the knowledge to make smarter decisions about how they will develop and use online tools."
Hegland says SURTC will continue to work with regional transit operators and directors to refine its training and services in website development. "Clearly, the Web will continue to be a valuable tool and resource for transit organizations. Our challenge is to find a way to help transit staff members, which are already time-strapped, find ways to use timesaving technology to improve their services without overextending themselves."
How to Develop a Business Plan
SURTC is conducting a Transit Business Plan development course for transit operators. Writing an excellent business plan is crucial to the success and growth of any business, including transit. The class will be held October 18, 2005, via the Transportation Learning Network (TLN).
For more information on this class visit www.surtc.org.
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