School Bus Efficiency Training Offered

Superintendents and other school administrators are learning to make their bus systems more efficient during SURTC training sessions.

Sessions in October and April in Valley City and Minot, respectively, were attended by 13 administrators. "The small class sizes were a great way to start because we were able to have guided discussions rather than lectures," notes David Ripplinger, the SURTC associate research fellow who is conducting the training. "Those discussions provided some feedback that will be valuable in future offerings." The initial classes focused on bus fleet maintenance issues and innovative solutions such as pooled maintenance with other districts or outsourcing.

Ripplinger says many rural districts are facing declining tax bases and declining enrollments. Consequently, they are looking for ways to be more economical and efficient in transporting students.

"The state is trying to agree upon a school transportation funding formula that encourages efficiency and is equitable," Ripplinger says. In the meantime, the legislature provided funds to the Department of Public Instruction for professional training in school transportation system management. The department contracted with SURTC to provide the training.

A training session is scheduled for September that will focus specifically on multi-district coordinated maintenance programs. Ripplinger notes that the ultimate goal of these training sessions is to further develop regional experts in transportation. "The training will expose superintendents to fundamentals, and help them do a better job with transporting students," Ripplinger says.

In the future, training will be provided via the Transportation Learning Network, an interactive video network that can be accessed via the Internet. "We're looking for ways to make the training accessible to more districts in a manner that is more convenient and more cost effective," Ripplinger says.

Staff

Hough Attends White House Conference on Aging

SURTC director Jill Hough attended the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging Dec. 11-14 in Washington to learn more about elderly concerns about transit and listen to national-level discussions about rural transit policy.

About 1,200 delegates participated in the conference, discussed issues and developed recommendations for additional research and action in the field of aging. Senator Kent Conrad authorized Hough to attend as an observer.

"The event allowed me to hear first hand the primary issues being discussed by the delegates and the presenters in the breakout sessions," Hough says. "It was also an opportunity for me to have interaction with the delegates and to hear from them on their concerns and ideas for transit."

Ensuring that older Americans have transportation options to retain their mobility and independence was among the 10 resolutions adopted by delegates at the conference. "That's an indication of the importance of this issue to older Americans," Hough notes.

A report from the National Institute on Aging indicates that the U.S. population age 65 and over is expected to double in size within the next 25 years. By 2030, almost 1-out-of-5 Americans - some 72 million people - will be 65 years or older. The age group 85 and older is now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.

"Those numbers suggest some significant challenges for transit and mobility in the coming years," Hough says. "Those challenges will be particularly acute in rural areas where the proportion of elderly is even higher and transit and mobility already face difficulties."

SURTC's student bus shelter design competition was also highlighted at the conference. The competition was featured in the Community Transportation Association of America's exhibit. "CTAA wanted to have the bus shelter design at the conference to make two important points," noted Jane Hardin, Senior Transportation Specialist with CTAA. "First, to attract older passengers, public transportation needs to provide senior-friendly transportation facilities. Second, these senior-friendly facilities will also attract passengers of all ages."

Hardin noted that the student design featured nearly all of the features that older transit riders ask for in bus shelters. "It's a nearly ideal example of universal design," she says.

Hough says the experience will be valuable as SURTC continues to look at transit for all riders. "We were able to gain some important feedback and information from attendees at the conference," she says.