Cline Named 2007 Community Transportation Manager of the Year

Barbara Cline, CCTM, director of Prairie Hills Transit in Spearfish, SD, was named the 2007 Community Transportation Manager of the Year by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) at its annual Awards Banquet in Reno, NV. The award was given in recognition for her efforts in building Prairie Hills Transit into a successful – and award-winning – transit operation.

The award, presented annually at CTAA's national EXPO, recognizes excellence by managers of community transportation systems in serving the needs of people in their communities. Association Board Member Dave Marsh said in presenting the award, "Barbara Cline of Prairie Hills Transit in Spearfish, South Dakota, has long understood that the service her operation provides is so much more than just a ride; it's a chance to improve people's lives, build the local economy and to make a difference."

In accepting the award on behalf of her colleagues at Prairie Hills Transit, Cline said, "It is a great honor to accept this award. This is something that you don't win by yourself. It's because of my many dedicated staff at Prairie Hills Transit who serve many people in a service area that's so big. I strive to be a reflection of the people we serve; to remember that Prairie Hills makes a difference in people's lives every day. The basics are to use good judgment, and to maintain high standards for myself and for the people on my team.

I continue to challenge, empower and inspire the people who work with me. Be ethical, but most importantly be a reflection of the people you work with and allow them to be a reflection of you."

Barker Receives American Public Transportation Association award

J. Barry Barker, transit director in Louisville, KY, is the recipient of the 2007 American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award. Barker was saluted for his achievements and presented the award at the Awards Ceremony Oct. 9, in Charlotte, NC, during the 2007 American Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting.

Barker participated in SURTC's strategic planning process in August of 2006 and is a supporter of SURTC programs at the national level.

The American Public Transportation Association award honors a manager of a public transportation system who has made outstanding contributions to the public transportation industry. Barker was chosen for his innovative leadership, ability to forge uncharted territory, and his compassionate response to the needs of public transportation passengers. His active involvement at the federal and state levels for fair and equitable mobility for all, particularly for older adults and people with disabilities, also contributed to him being selected for the award.

Barker began his career in transit in 1974 and became the Transit Authority of River City executive director in 1994. He leads the team of 690 members to provide approximately 57,500 passenger trips every weekday with a fleet of 260 vehicles.

SURTC Director is Guest Editor of JTRF Issue on Transit

SURTC director Jill Hough will edit a special issue of the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum in 2008. The issue will focus exclusively on public transportation. This special issue is being published in partnership with the American Public Transportation Association (American Public Transportation Association).

The deadline to submit papers is April 30, 2008. A copy of the guidelines for authors can be found at the JTRF website http://www.trforum.org/journal/policy.php. The issue is expected to be published in the fall of 2008 and will also be available on the Internet.

Potential paper topics include:

• Bus and paratransit operations
• Communicating with the public
• Commuter and intercity rail
• Customer service
• Intelligent transportation systems
• Maintenance issues
• Alternative fuels
• Service coordination
• Safety and security
• Workforce development

If you have any questions, please contact Hough at (701)231-8082 or jill.hough@ndsu.edu.

SURTC Accomplishments – FY 2007

• 8 Completed research reports
• 7 Refereed journal articles
• 23 Workshops for government or industry stakeholders
• 28 Training workshops
• 576 Participants in training sessions
• 1 Graduate course in public transportation offered to university students
• 9 States in the geographical region served by SURTC – North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, and Alaska