January 2024

Dear OkTA Members and Transit Friends,

Thank you for your continued support of the Oklahoma Transit Association. We are already working on the spring legislative season and are advocating for your transit at home and in the Nation's Capital. We are excited to work with you in 2024 and hope that you will continue supporting our mission.

Our efforts, along with those of the amazing transit champions of ODOT and the OK Legislature aim to ensure that the upcoming legislative session is equally successful for transit funding, and we hope to see more protection for our transit workers with the passage of SB 1589,

We greatly appreciate your membership dues that help us influence state funding, protect transit workers from driver assault, and bolster national transit-related initiatives.

Also, 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 on human trafficking awareness, driver safety, and public transit awareness in your area.

Stay warm and we look forward to seeing you down the road soon!

Save travels,

Andrea Ball

Executive Director

301.335.2715 mobile

andrea@oktransit.org

OkTA NEWS TO KNOW

OkTA Champions Driver Assault Legislation in Spring Session

Senator John Haste (R), at the urging of the Oklahoma Transit Association (OkTA), is sponsoring a bill in the Oklahoma Senate (SB1589) to increase penalties for those who assault transit workers. The proposed legislation aims to protect public transit employees from harm and ensure they can perform their duties without fear of violence. If the bill is enacted, those found guilty of assaulting a transit worker could face more severe consequences. Judges would sentence guilty offenders using felony guidelines. The OkTA believes the initiative that would prioritize the safety of Oklahoma's transit workers, and we hope it will gain sufficient support to become law statewide, as well as, become a benchmark for other states to follow. The bill language can be found here.

OkTA Heads to the Hill

The Oklahoma Transit Association is heading to Washington D.C. for its annual legislative Fly-In on Capitol Hill. The attendees have a packed schedule, including meetings with the full Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and other transportation associations. OkTA has also requested a meeting with the Secretary of Transportation to discuss innovative programs across the state at a future time. The delegation will be asking legislators to take note of the successes and challenges of the thirty-seven public transit providers in Oklahoma and understand our continued funding concerns and recognize the achievements of several FTA supported pilot programs and projects like the ROC Bus, PICK Transportation, and the Climb-Ride Program. The OkTA will also be advocating for transit-friendly federal transportation regulations and ensure that funding levels match previously authorized commitments in the future, as well as underscore the importance of federal consideration for transit assault legislation.

Please note: OkTA Transit Day will be on March 26th at the OK Capitol in Oklahoma City.

Make plans to join us and visit your legislators too!

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: Human Trafficking Prevention Webinar

FTA is hosting a Human Trafficking Prevention Month Webinar on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 2 p.m. ET. During the webinar, Kristen Joyner of the Southwest Transit Association (SWTA) will facilitate a discussion with Andrea Ball with the Oklahoma Transit Association and Barb Cline with the Prairie Hills Transit (SD) about how their organizations have implemented resources from the Safety4Transit website to prevent crime and human trafficking.

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

Renew Today!

Mobility Management Programs Update

In 2023- 4 mobility management programs were launched through ODOT’s FTA 5310 funding allocation, and 1 mobility management program through the Tulsa Transit direct FTA funds resulting in a total of 5 mobility management programs.

In 2024- additional mobility management programs are in the pipeline through agencies including EMBARK in the OKC area, COEDD in the central rural area, Grand Gateway in the NE region, and LATS in Lawton.

For a list of current mobility management programs, the latest version of the Oklahoma Mobility Management Program Map is available on the statewide information website.

Submitted by Olivia Hook, ODOT

TRANSIT IN THE NEWS

Oklahoma Transportation Task Force Tackles Long Term Funding Solutions

Commissioners to Consider Appointments to New Chisholm Trail MPO

Oklahoma Explores New Funding for Transportation Through the "Fair Miles" Pilot Program

Tulsa Transit Celebrates 2 Million Riders on Fixed Route System

First Look: Canoo Vehicle Delivered to Oklahoma Department of Transportation

ODOT Employees Receive Raises in 2024

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!

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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