United We Ride Ambassador Program

The Coordination Ambassador project, as it is currently configured, began in November 2005. Prior to the current project, Jo Ann Hutchinson, along with several folks from National Easter Seals Project Action, served as Ambassadors.

Ambassadors provide assistance to policy makers, state and local officials, human service agencies, consumers, advocates and transportation providers to understand the opportunities available through SAFETEA-LU legislation and to translate those opportunities into concrete action. The program flows through the Community Transportation Association of America and is funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Five transit professionals work half-time to cover the 10 FTA regions, each Ambassador working with two regions.

The Ambassadors convene frequent phone conferences in each region; coordinate technical assistance activities with FTA regional offices, CTAA staff and other appropriate stakeholders; assist states in implementing coordination tools such as Transit Passes and provide overall support to each state within the applicable region.

Secretary Mineta described United We Ride as "our nationwide initiative to help community leaders to find common sense solutions to transportation problems," according to a recent article in Passenger Transport. The Ambassadors support the initiative in a hands on fashion.

Please visit Unitedweride.gov or CTAA.org for additional information.

Ambassadors pictured L to R: Jim McLary (Regions 2 and 7), Rex Knowlton (Regions 3 and 8), JoAnn Hutchinson (Regions 1 and 4), Roland Mross (Regions 5 and 6), and Dave Cyra (Regions 9 and 10).