OTA Transit Times

Moving Oklahoma Forward

Issue 2 - February 2023

Dear OTA Members Transit Friends,

OTA is moving forward! We've just returned from Washington, DC, where we visited Capitol Hill (highlights below), and we're on our way to Auroa, Colorado, for the 2023 SWTA Annual Conference & Expo!

OTA is now managing the Oklahoma Mobility Institute! This 501c3 organization has recently added three new members to their board of directors! Congratulations to Olivia Hook, ODOT, Marylin Dillion, PhD, Embark, and Jason Huff with the City of Norman. They join Becky Reynolds, LIFT and Brent Roy, Creative Bus Sales as the leadership group.

OMI is currently seeking an additional board member. If you or someone you work with might be interested in volunteering on mobility and grants, please send me their names.

OTA also has volunteer opportunities available. The OTA committees are looking for 2023 members! If you have an interest in advocacy, communications, finance, membership, and the ROC bus, we need your help! Please email me if you are interested in volunteering for OTA and increasing your professional development.

Have you scheduled your ROC Bus Visit for 2023? We are still accepting requests and would love to visit your area. We can tailor our visit based on your training objectives. We can provide wheelchair securement training, public awareness of transit, and identifying human trafficking situations and reacting appropriately. If you want the OTA to visit in a specific window (during a board meeting, at an festival or public event, etc.), just send me an email to schedule a visit.

Last but not least, we are renewing dues for 2023! if you have any questions regarding your OTA 2023 dues, please email me. We are working on several initiatives on your behalf from an advocacy standpoint, our 2023 Annual Meeting and more! Be part of the OTA Transit Movement!

The OTA is appreciative of your ongoing assistance. We value your contributions and realize how important collaboration is to what we do. We hope to see you at the OTA/CTAA Conference in May!

Andrea

Andrea Ball, Executive Director

301.335.2715 mobile

andrea@oktransit.org

OTA's DC Legislative Fly In Was a Success!

The Oklahoma Transit Association (OTA) traveled to Washington D.C. the first week of February for the OTA annual legislative Fly-In on Capitol Hill. Attendees met with the full Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and other allied transportation associations, including CTAA and SWTA.

OTA members in attendance included OTA President, Ryan Landers of LATS, Gilbert Nuncio of Red River Transit, Charla Sloan with KiBois and Kendra McGeady from Pelivan. Also in attendance were Rich Sampson, Executive Director of SWTA, Laura Corff from Cimmaron Public Transit, OTA Executive Director, Andrea Ball and OTA ROC Bus Intern, Morgan Cook.

Legislators were briefed on our overall transit successes and challenges, on behalf of the thirty-seven public transit providers in Oklahoma, including funding concerns and the achievements of several FTA supported pilot programs and projects, including the ROC Bus, PICK Transportation, and the Climb-Ride Program.

OTA also promoted several policy positions, in concurrence with SWTA, in our meetings, including advocating for transit friendly federal transportation regulations, asking that funding levels match previously authorized commitments in the future, and addressing continued supply chain issues and driver shortages.

We also discussed charter regulation reform, the continued “match gap” challenge felt by our transits to meet federal funding requirements and asked Congress to also explore non-federal match concepts and tribal set asides. We also reminded them of the limitations of rural transit nationally and asked them to not creating blanket policies when it comes to EV vehicles, so we can meet the different needs of our urban, rural and tribal transits.

We are also pleased to report that while we were in town, committee assignments were given and Oklahoma District 4 Congressman, Tom Cole has been appointed to the House Appropriations Committee and Transportation Sub-Committee and Senator Markwayne Mullin has been assigned to the Indian Affairs Committee.

Any OTA member who would like to follow up with a specific Member of Congress may email the OTA office for contact information for the transportation staff member in your respective district or our Oklahoma Senate offices. Learn more about OTA's legislative issues by clicking here. If you have a transportation issue that requires help from your federal Congressional office, we can help connect you! Email andrea@oktransit.org.

This summary was provided by OTA Intern, Morgan Cook. Connect with Morgan by clicking here.

and the OTA Roadeo

Have you Registered for the CTAA OTA EXPO in OKC?

OTA is excited to partner with the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) to present educational and networking opportunities at a conference that will be held in Oklahoma City from May 21–25, 2023. Save your spot by signing up as soon as possible! At the CTAA/OTA Annual Joint Conference and the OTA Roadeo, OTA members are being given a special "OTA Only" discount!

In addition to providing our members from across the nation with an excellent opportunity to learn more about the regional challenges and successes of the Midwest, this conference is a great way for local communities to learn more about the community and public transit industry from a national perspective.

To participate in exclusive new events that bring together transit professionals, new programming with a renewed emphasis on tribal and rural issues, and local tours that will give visitors an inside look at their local transit systems and culture, secure your registration today! To receive our negotiated rate and to reserve a room as soon as possible for this event that is certain to sell out, use the code OTA2023, which is exclusively for OTA members!

OTA MEMBER NEWS

Does your transit have news to share? Tell us about it and we will include it on social media and in the e-news!

TULSA TRANSIT MAKING CHANGES TO IMPROVE

SERVICES FOR RIDERS

Changes are coming to Tulsa Transit in an effort to improve services for riders. Leaders of Tulsa Transit say they are working to adapt to the changes in the travel patterns of the public. News On 6's Autumn Bracey was live on Thursday morning with a look at what riders can expect in the video below.

OTA Debuts ROC Bus Brochure!

The Rolling Oklahoma Classroom (ROC) is an FTA funded grant initiative that provides hands-on mobile training to transit agencies and transit awareness for the public. Training opportunities include human trafficking awareness, mobility issues understanding, wheelchair securement training, transit availability options and career opportunities. Check our our new brochure below.

Brochure Link

Have you Requested Your ROC Bus Visit?

The Rolling Oklahoma Classroom is designed to enhance awareness of public transit options in rural, tribal and urban communities. It will also provide hands-on safety and security training for transit workers and address human trafficking awareness and prevention across the state. It is available to every community, tribal nation, and public event in Oklahoma by request and at no cost. Organizations interested in requesting a ROC Bus can complete the request form or online. Contact the OTA oktransit@oktransit.org for additional information.

DO YOU KNOW A

"DRIVER DOING GOOD"?

The world today good news! In this day and age, a kind word and a steady presence is especially meaningful. Professional drivers know that their job has the potential to change a person’s day for the better. A kind word and reliable transportation are the mark of quality customer service. Help the OTA to recognize these special individuals who go out of their way to care for others! Submit "Drivers Doing Good" stories or photos by sending an email to oktansit@oktransit.org.

"Transit Gets Us There" campaign is starting soon. Share your news about hiring new transit employees with OTA and your post will be published on the website and on our social media. Email your photos, stories, and information to share to oktransit@oktransit.org.

*Submit all of your:

agency news
job announcements
social media posts
historic transit photos

If you have any questions about committees, please contact Andrea Ball at Andrea@oktransit.org

Click here to learn more about the committees on the OTA committee webpage

Education & Training Opportunities

March 12-14 - APTA - Legislative Conference - Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington, DC

March 14 - Automate Your RideSharing Process - Register for webinar

April 11-14 - Texas Transit Association – 2023 State Conference, Expo and Roadeo - Register

April 23-26 - APTA - Mobility Conference, Hilton MN

June 11-13 - APTA - Rail Conference, David L. Lawrence Convention Center & Westin Pittsburgh

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