March/April 2024

Dear OkTA Members and Friends,

I wanted to express our gratitude for your ongoing support of the Oklahoma Transit Association and allowing us to promote and support the important work that you do daily!

We are working hard to advocate for your transit needs both at home and in our Nation's Capital.

We are excited to continue working with you throughout 2024 and beyond, and we hope that you will continue to support our mission by renewing your membership in the OkTA.

Together with the incredible transit champions of ODOT and the OK Legislature, we are striving to ensure that the upcoming legislative session is equally successful for transit funding.

Lastly, we would like to invite you to consider including the ROC Bus at your next event. The ROC Bus is an excellent addition to any festival, meeting, or event, and we would be delighted to educate and train attendees on important topics such as human trafficking awareness, driver safety, and public transit awareness in your area.

We hope you stay warm and we look forward to seeing you down the road soon!

Safe Travels,

Andrea Ball

Executive Director

301.335.2715 mobile

andrea@oktransit.org

ODOT Seeks Input for the State Contract Changes

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is seeking opinions, input, and "wants" from the public transits for the State Contract. The contract, that is set to expire on April 30th is used to purchase vehicles. The current version is also used by several other states.

ODOT has requested that interested parties submit their feedback on the current contract and suggestions for improvements or changes that could be made to better suit the needs of the state by April 7th.

The vehicles covered under the contract include vans, buses, other special-use vehicles, and includes available options, so all input is appreciated.

Interested parties can submit their feedback to OkTA by email at andrea@oktransit.org and we will compile it. The agency has not yet announced when the new contract will be reviewed, renewed or sent out for bid, but is expected to take into account the feedback and suggestions received from the public transits during the process.

OkTA NEWS TO KNOW

OkTA Participated in OK Transit Day on March 26

On March 26, the Oklahoma State Capitol hosted "OK Transit Day," an event dedicated to promoting public transportation and increasing awareness of its benefits.

The Oklahoma Transit Association (OkTA) invited all transit agencies, vendors, and statewide partners to engage in discussions with key legislators. Participants were also encouraged to arrange meetings with their legislators to discuss the significance of transit funding in their regions and the utilization of state-revolving funds within their communities.

OkTA highlighted public transit's role in enhancing mobility, mitigating traffic congestion, and improving the quality of life for citizens who relied on transit to get to shopping, medical appointments, and activities. Both the public and legislators were welcome to explore the various transit vehicles displayed outside the Capitol building, including buses, vans, and the ROC bus, which represented the diverse transit options available to Oklahomans.

Attendees met with several key legislators throughout the day. Pictured below include meetings with Senator John Haste, ODOT Director Tim Gatz, and Rep. Nicole Miller who was also recently named Vice Chair of NCSL Transportation Committee. She also is chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee on Transportation, has been named vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Transportation Committee. The board and advocacy committee also met with ODOT Leaders in the afternoon to brainstorm and collaborate on new ideas to support transit.

RENEW YOUR OkTA MEMBERSHIP

Your membership in the Oklahoma Transit Association helps protect and improve transit in our state and we appreciate your support and participation. 2023 was a very productive year for the organization and our future is exciting!

Our biggest victory on behalf of ALL Oklahoma Transit Agencies was maintaining the doubling the state revolving fund allocation for a second year in a row! This allocation of $10.7 million dollars will allow public transits in Oklahoma to have access to more match funding and not leave federal dollars on the table. We are already hard at work engaging with our state legislators to ensure this funding continues in 2024, as well as, working to sponsor a bill to address driver assaults with more severe penalties on a state level.

This chart reflects the transit increases in the last two years because of the efforts of the OkTA. Join us and let's keep doing this, together!

FTA Addresses Transit Worker Fatigue

To improve the transit community’s understanding of the effects of fatigue in the workplace, FTA published a new Fatigue Resources for Transit Operations resource webpage. This resource webpage is designed for the transit community, including bus and rail transit workers (drivers, maintenance staff, etc.), agency management and other transit professionals.

Fatigue-related resources include articles, videos, reports, websites, guides, and more, in the following categories:

Understanding Sleep
Causes
Symptoms and Warning Signs of Fatigue
Effects
Transit Employees
Transit Employers

Renew Today!

TRANSIT IN THE NEWS

City of Broken Arrow Launch Transit Program to Provide Affordable Transportation

Federal Transit Funding & Legislation 201: Understanding the Formula Programs

Attorney General Drummond Issues Opinions Involving ODAT, OTA Leadership

Cherokee Nation, Pelivan Transit Partner to Offer Discounted Rideshare Service to Cherokee Citizens

Federal Transit Administration - De-Escalation Training Resource Directory

THE ROC IS ROLLING...

The ROC Bus has been continuing its mission to provide training and support in various locations across Oklahoma. The most recent stop was at the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma Transit Program in Weatherford. The ROC team of Jackie Gritz and Jill Snyder was able to conduct the training inside the maintenance bay, which provided a warm and comfortable learning environment. No matter the temperatures outside, the ROC Bus is committed to ensuring that individuals and organizations have access to the tools and training they need!

Watch our Facebook Reel from our Trip to the Texas Transit Association!

Have a public event coming up in your area? Invite the ROC Bus!

ROC Brochure Link

OkTA COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED

Interested in Volunteering?

OkTA is seeking committee members! OkTA has a several committees that help drive transit forward in Oklahoma and would love your help! Most committees take no more than 1-2 hours per month and meet via Zoom. If you are interested, please contact the OkTA office to learn more or sign up!

ROC Bus Committee
Advocacy Committee
Communications Committee
Finance Committee
Grants Committee
Education Committee
Convention Committee
Membership Committee

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

Click here to learn more about the committees.

NOMINATE A DRIVER DOING GOOD!

In this day and age, a kind word and a steady presence is especially meaningful and is the mark of quality customer service. Professional drivers know that their job has the potential to change a person’s day for the better. 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 admin@oktransit.org.

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