………. from the desk of the KPTA President

Dear KPTA Members:

Spring is here and before you know it summer will be upon us, how time just flies.

As I’m sure you know by now that President Obama’s Stimulus package has been passed into law.  The actual name of this legislation is called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  This urgently-needed legislation requested by President Obama will create and protect 3.5 million jobs for American workers and begin to put the nation’s economy back on track.  We are confronting the most severe economy problems in generations as millions of Americans are struggling.

On the Highway and transit side of the package it is estimated that 421.1 million in Highway funding will be allocated to the Commonwealth.  On the Public Transit side it is estimated that Kentucky will receive $50.3 million in transit formula funding for investments in Mass Transit.  This is welcome and needed revenues for Kentucky due to deficit shortfall we are running in our current State budget and an anticipated shortfall in next year’s budget.

Finally, I want to remind all members to write in there calendar the dates of August 10-14, 2009.  That’s the date of our Bi-Annual KPTA conference in Lexington, Ky.  We need volunteers for the Rodeo, Golf tournament, Welcome desk. Awards committee, etc.  Vendors we need you also.

Please contact Pam Shepherd our chairperson at FTSB 1-859-233-0066 if you are interested in volunteering or you want to be a vendor.

As always, I want to thank the membership for there on going support of KPTA.

Sincerely,

Beecher Hudson

Beecher Hudson

KPTA President

Chief Executive Officer

Louisville WHEELS Transportation, Inc.

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KENTUCKY PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION

KPTA FY 2008 DUES 

Small Systems:  $325.00 

Please Send Check to:  Pam Shepherd, FTSB1460 Newtown Pike, Suite 209 Lexington, KY  40511

A message from Vickie S. Bourne, Office of Transportation Delivery ... Reference Federal Register March 24, 2009. The Federal Transit Administration has released a notice announcing the availability the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program.  Proposals for the TIGGER Grant Program must be submitted by May 22, 2009.   Eligible Applicants Any public transportation agency may apply. Since the minimum proposal that will be accepted is $2,000,000, eligible applicants may submit a consolidated proposal either directly, through a designated recipient, a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), State Transit Association, Transportation Management Association (TMA), or through a State Department of Transportation. Grant awards will be made for particular projects directly to public transportation agencies.  C. Eligible Expenses Eligible expenses must meet the following criteria: (1) The expense must be an eligible capital expense as defined under 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1); and (2) The project will assist in the reduction of the energy consumption of a public transportation system or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of a public transportation system. This excludes some elements of the statutory definition of a capital project, such as fleet expansion or fixed guideway extensions because these types of projects would increase transit agency energy consumption. Dear Colleague Letter  |  Model Bus Transit Safety and Security Program This message being sent on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). Dear Colleague,  We are pleased to share with you the attached "Dear Colleague Letter"  and its enclosure, distributed under the joint signatures of FTA, AASHTO, APTA and CTAA - partners to the Model Transit Bus Safety and Security Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The letter and its enclosure represent increased collaboration and cooperation between FTA and its partners to the MOU as well as input we have received from bus transit industry stakeholders. We believe that the new Model Program Strategies highlighted in the letter enclosure continue along the path of the valuable progress and exceptional work over the last few years by our transit bus industry stakeholders.  These strategies emphasize increased partnership and the development and distribution of practical technical assistance to bus transit agencies as well as the identification of assessment  measures to maintain the voluntary nature of the Model Program.   Initial objectives include the compilation of technical assistance materials that are tailored to meet the needs of small and rural bus transit agencies. In the near future, FTA will establish a Working Group with representatives from its partners to the MOU, bus transit agencies, national and state Rural Transit Assistance Programs (RTAP), State Departments of Transportation, Federal partners and other key stakeholders.  The Working Group will improve program coordination and communication and ensure that an ongoing dialogue is maintained with all Model Program stakeholders.  You will be consistently updated on Working Group activities and deliverables. FTA and its Bus Safety Partners are hopeful that you will continue in your support of the Model Program.  We appreciate your patience in cooperating with FTA on the Model Program and look forward to working with you as we move forward.  We also understand that additional questions may be raised as a result of this communication and we want to assure you that answers will be forthcoming in future outreach efforts.  Thank you again for your ongoing support. Sincerely, Carole Ferguson - Program Manager FTA's Office of Safety and Security A message from Vickie S. Bourne, Office of Transportation Delivery ... Here is the proposed Section 5311 Circular. If the members would like to send their comments to our office by the end of next week, we will incorporate with the State comments and send to the Federal Docket. Please send to Della Davis/Public Transit Manager, Office of Transportation Delivery, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40622 by August 11, 2006. This will be our last chance before the Circular or 5311 guidelines become effective and how we dictate and/or implement the 5311 Program. Important NOTICE for Kentucky Medicaid Recipients and Medical Providers - Regarding NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION .... Read more .....