SURTC Staff Attend 2006 National Rural ITS Conference
Two SURTC staff members attended the 2006 National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Conference in Bozeman, MT, August 13-16.
 The conference provided an opportunity for transportation professionals to obtain information on rural transportation issues and exchange ideas and information regarding the challenges faced in rural transportation.
Researcher Del Peterson was particularly intrigued by a session on coordinated public mobility. Examples from Idaho and California were used to show how ITS technology could be used to coordinate public transit. "Use of ITS in urban areas is fairly common," Peterson notes. "Now rural areas are beginning to use similar technologies and realizing the potential benefits as well."
SURTC Director Jill Hough also attended the conference. In conjunction with the conference, the Federal Transit Administration invited ITS practitioners and users in the transit industry to discuss how to best put the technology to use in transit applications. Hough was invited to participate in that discussion.
"The discussion focused on developing peer groups that would share ideas on using ITS. We also discussed developing performance measures that transit agencies could use to gauge the success of ITS use," Hough said. "It was helpful to participate in those discussions. The transit agencies that we work with in small urban and rural areas will need to make decisions regarding how to use this technology."
A scholarship from the American Public Transportation Foundation was recently renewed for SURTC graduate research assistant Dustin Ulmer. The original award was for $5,000. The renewal was for $3,000.
The scholarship is directed to an outstanding student who intends to pursue a career in the transit industry. Ulmer, a 2000 graduate of LaMoure High School, attended a scholarship award presentation ceremony during the American Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting and Expo Oct. 8-11 in San Jose, CA.
 Ulmer earned his bachelor's degree from NDSU in 2004 in management information systems. He is now working on a master's degree in business administration. Ulmer is working with researchers in developing databases, analyzing data and creating spreadsheets for use in studying transit and mobility in the region. He is also interested in developing an expertise in business planning for transit operations.
The American Public Transportation Foundation is part of the American Public Transportation Association, an international organization representing transit since 1882.
Xinyu (Jason) Cao received the Charley V. Wootan Memorial Award from the Council of University Transportation Centers in January. Cao is an associate research fellow with the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, part of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute.
The national award recognizes a student in transportation for an outstanding Ph.D. dissertation in policy and planning. Before joining SURTC in July, Cao completed his Ph.D. in civil engineering with an emphasis on transportation planning at the University of California-Davis. In addition, he has received a University of California Transportation Center Dissertation Fellowship. His dissertation, "The Causal Relationship Between the Built Environment and Personal Travel Choice: Evidence from Northern California," examines the causes behind travel choices made by individuals living in areas with various land-use characteristics.
Cao received the award at the annual Council of University Transportation Centers Awards Banquet in Washington, DC. The honor also includes a $2,000 cash award. The banquet is held during the national meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
At NDSU, Cao is investigating transit-oriented development and solutions in small urban and rural transit.
SURTC produced its first annual report in 2006 to detail work underway and completed through 2005.
"The report has been a valuable tool in demonstrating our accomplishments and capabilities to potential partners at the local, regional and national level," notes SURTC Director Jill Hough.
The report includes project highlights in the areas of research, training and outreach, and education. It was printed and distributed to key transit officials and project partners in early 2006. It is also on-line at www.surtc.org/about/annrpt/.
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