Conference Agenda

Download print-friendly preliminary agenda (pdf, 179 KB)

Download registration brochure (pdf, 938 KB)
We encourage all conference attendees to book their room at the Hilton Wilmington Riverside as soon as possible to ensure availability. Visit the location page for more information.

Roadeo
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3

NC Public Transportation Association and NC Department of Transportation — Public Transportation Division

The 2007 NCPTA/NCDOT-PTD Roadeo is scheduled for June 2-3 at the Wilmington International Airport in conjunction with the North Carolina Public Transportation Conference.

This competition brings the best public transit drivers from across North Carolina to test their skills and abilities in the areas of driving, wheelchair boarding and securement, pre-trip inspection and a written test. Participants will compete in three divisions – Bus, Van Cut-Away and van. Training, practice and preliminary activities begin on Saturday, June 2nd for all Roadeo participants. Competition will be held on Sunday, June 3rd.

Roadeo sign-up methods

Download registration forms in Excel format (36 KB)

By phone:
NCPTA Roadeo Committee Chair Stephen Wright at
404-876.5160

Via e-mail:
stephen.wright@routematch.com

The roadeo will conclude with an awards banquet at the Wilmington International Airport where all drivers and judges will be honored and the top winners in the categories will be crowned.

Roadeo Registration

The registration fee is $75 per participant if registration is received by 5:00pm on Monday, April 30, 2007 and must be received with Roadeo registration forms. (.xls, 36 KB)

The late registration fee is $125 per Roadeo contestant if submitted after April 30, 2007, but before Friday, May 11, 2007. Registrations will not be accepted after May 11, 2007.

View more information: www.nctransit.org/roadeo.html

Agenda
Sunday, June 3

8:00 am – 1:00 pm — NCPT Roadeo, Wilmington Airport
1:00 – 5:00 pm — Golf Tournament, Magnolia Greens Golf Club
4:00 – 9:00 pm — Pre-Conference Registration Exhibitors & Participants
5:00 – 9:00 pm — Exhibitor Set-Up
8:00 – 11:00 pm — Pool Party Reception, Poolside
Sponsored by: Ilderton Conversion Company

Pre-Conference Session
Monday, June 4

8:15 – 10:00 am

Orientation Training for Community Transportation System Directors

Speakers:
Miriam Perry, Director, NC DOT Public Transportation Division
Roger King, Director, RCATS
NCDOT – Public Transportation Division

Community transportation system directors who want to learn more about the various funding programs, reporting requirements and technical assistance offered by the Public Transportation Division should attend this session. Presented by staff of the division, the target audience is directors who have been in their positions for less than three years, but the more seasoned directors are also welcome to attend. Seating is limited, so don’t forget to pre-register for this session!

• State and federal programs and funding criteria
• Transportation coordination – history and importance
• PTD Calendar of Events
• Funding application solicitations/award
• Marketing
• Reporting requirements
• Prohibited use of vehicles
• Important contract clauses
• Who to call for assistance

Opening Session
Monday, June 4

10:15 – 11:30 am

Welcome & Introduction of Speakers

Keith McCoy, President – NC Public Transportation Association

The National Transit Update

Robert Healy, Jr., V.P. of Government Affairs – American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
Chris Zeilinger, Assistant Director for Governmental Affairs, CTAA

Conference Luncheon
Monday, June 4

11:30 am – 12:45 pm

Welcome

Amber Wagner, Interim Executive Director, NCPTA

Introduction of Wilmington Mayor

Albert Eby, Director Wave Transit

Welcome to Wilmington & Introduction of Speakers

Honorable Bill Saffo, Mayor of Wilmington

Speakers:
Lanny Wilson, NCDOT Board of Transportation member
Deputy Secretary of Transit, NCDOT Roberto Canales, P.E.

General Session
Monday, June 4

1:00 – 2:00 pm

“How to Keep Going When You Just Can’t Quit”

Presenter: Glenda Horton Manning

This powerful general session message is designed to motivate and inspire the audience to continue to provide the best quality service for the state of North Carolina. The speaker will place special emphasis on changes in people, process and procedures in transporting people today.

In her down-home, upbeat delivery style, she helps individuals revisit their goal, vision and joy in serving people. You’ll be informed and entertained.

Mrs. Manning is a graduate of Queens University and the Minority Institute of Business, both in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has spent her entire professional life demonstrating “responsive leadership” in the community that provided her academic foundation and social nurturing.

Exhibitor Trade Expo
Monday and Tuesday, June 4-5 Agenda

Monday, June 4

7:00 am – 8:00 am — Breakfast with the exhibitors
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm — Trade Expo and the “NCPTA Remarkable Transit Pursuit”
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm — "Hook & Go" Reception and prize give-away with exhibitors and membership
Awarding of Cash Prizes and Giveaway from Qstraint
Sponsored by: Qstraint

Tuesday, June 5

8:30 – 9:45 am — Concurrent Sessions (detailed below)
9:00 – 12:00 noon — Trade Expo
10:00 – 11:15 am — General Session (detailed below)

This year's North Carolina Public Transportation Conference is expected to attract over 40 different exhibitors from various parts of the country. Come see the latest new products and services in the public transportation industry. Attendees will have several opportunities to browse and visit with exhibitors as a number of activities including the “NCPTA Remarkable Transit Pursuit ” will be staged during Expo hours.

NCPTA Remarkable Transit Pursuit
Monday, June 4

Overview begins at 2:15

NCPTA’s remarkable transit pursuit is here! Come join us during the expo and participate in teams of NCPTA’s very own as they compete for the coveted grand prize. This exciting competition will give attendees a chance to taste the action of the race. Teams (with the help from exhibitors) will have to search for and decipher clues and execute challenges in the race to the grand prize.

Concurrent Sessions
Tuesday, June 5

8:30 – 9:45 am

Transportation Barriers

Moderator:
Ben Garrison, Iredell County Area Transit System
Randy Bass, Cabarrus County
Kim Angel, Macon Area Transit Services

Information to provide a day long conference of interactive activities to assist you in educating your community on the services you provide and seek their input on real or perceived “Barriers to Transportation”.

Emerging Issues in Technology

Moderator:
Debbie Collins, ITRE
Brian Fahey, Triangle Transit Authority
Jason Prescott, Charlotte Area Transit System
John Dorman, NC Emergency Management

Come and learn how TTA and Charlotte are using advanced technology to improve and implement new services.

TTA representatives will share knowledge and experience regarding the choices of telephone systems, agreements and other logistics that went into the live implementation of the Triangle Regional Call Center in March of 2007. Representatives of Charlotte Area Transit will share research findings of the CATS data systems. With electronic fareboxes, automatic vehicle location and automatic passenger counters, CATS has many sources of comparative data to share with us.

Risk Management

Moderator:
Dennis Williams, Alamance County Transportation Authority
Eric Kennedy, Marsh Underwriters
Michelle Love, NCACC

Transit systems face some form of risk every day, from employee injury, vehicle damage or passenger liability. This session will provide an overview on mitigating risks within your transit workplace. Marsh Underwriters will share strategies on how you can improve your system’s safety while reducing your liability.

2:00 – 3:15 pm

SAFETEA LU Coordinated Planning Process/Public Involvement

Moderator:
Miriam Perry, Director, NCDOT – Public Transportation Division
James Garland, Federal Transit Administration, Region 4
JoAnn Hutchinson, Community Transportation Association of America
John Tallmadge, Triangle Transit Authority

How do we maximize the opportunities created by SAFETEA-LU and other agency legislation where transportation programs are authorized and funded? This session will identify how others nationally and statewide are promoting the importance of public transportation and the role that coordination plays and how to carry that process to local stakeholders and policy makers.

Safety Audits

Moderator:
Roger King, RCATS
Peter Albrecht, NCDOT Public Transportation Division

Is your system prepared and ready for its state safety inspection and audit? Representatives from NCDOT and Regional Coordinated Area Transportation System (RCATS) in Randolph and Montgomery counties will share what systems need to have ready for the inspection. They will educate you on what lessons have been learned and how well the current Federal and State DOT safety standards are being met in the state. Preparing transit system safety plans will be discussed with an emphasis on the fundamental practices and documentation that are often overlooked such as tracking maintenance, doing pre-trip inspections, and regular training focused on specific areas.

Alternative Fuel Technology

Moderator:
Pierre Osei- Owusu, Durham Area Transit Authority
Frank LaSala, Allison Transmission
Stephanie Minker, Triangle J Council of Government

Come learn what the transit industry can do to decrease independency on fossil fuels, reduce emissions and improve air-quality. Representatives from Triangle J Council of Governments and Allison Transmission will share their knowledge on the benefits and hurdles of powering transit fleets with alternative fuels and identify opportunities and strategies for increasing alternative fuel use in transit agencies.

General Session
Tuesday, June 5

10:00 – 11:15 am

Limited English Proficiency - Title VI Requirements

Presenter: Narcisa I. Woods, NCDOT Office of Civil Rights and Business Development

As a recipient of Federal financial assistance, North Carolina Department of Transportation has an obligation to reduce language barriers that can preclude meaningful access by Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons to services provided by the Department.

Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Persons with Limited English Proficiency” directs agencies to publish guidance on how their recipients can provide access to LEP persons; improve the language accessibility; and break down language barriers by implementing consistent standards of language assistance.

Annual Awards Luncheon
Tuesday, June 5

11:30 am – 1:00 pm

The North Carolina Public Transportation Association annual awards luncheon will feature the presentation of awards for Distinguished Service, Outstanding Business Leader, Legislator of the Year, safety awards and the prestigious Governor’s Award presented by NCDOT.

NCPTA Annual Meeting and Announcement of New Board of Directors

Sponsored by: Gillig

Technology User Sessions
Tuesday, June 5

3:30 – 5:00 pm

Routematch Software Users Group Meeting

TripMaster Software Users Group Meeting

CTS Software Users Group Meeting

Tuesday Evening Night Out at the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial

5:45 – 10:00 pm

Don’t miss this opportunity to gather together for a spectacular evening on the Cape Fear River under the stars! Join us for food, fun and the opportunity to tour the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial. A riverboat shuttle will depart from the Hilton dock on Tuesday evening beginning at 5:45 and will travel to the USS North Carolina Battleship where participants can enjoy dinner topside on the fantail with a view of Downtown Wilmington.

Sponsored by: National Bus Sales, Champion Bus, and Goshen Coach

After-dinner Speaker

Following dinner Dr. Stuart Robertshaw “Dr. Humor”, the CEO and President of the National Association for the Humor Impaired will share with us what he has learned about the psychological and physiological benefits of humor as it relates to our profession and the workplace.

Roundtable Sessions
Wednesday, June 6

8:30 am – 9:30 am

These small group discussions will include a variety of topics of interest to system managers and planners.

Potential topics include:

• Gathering and using demographic data for planning
  and projecting service needs
• GIS Data Sets and updating local data
• Technology policy and funding
• Automatic Passenger Counters
• Voice Communication
• Maintenance Software Implementation
• Purchasing
• JARC and New Freedom Grants
• Transit Marketing
• Medicaid, Mental Health Restructuring
• Management strategies
• Strategies to obtain employee input
• TLDP Recent Group Projects: Building Resources
• Driver Training
• Boarding and Alighting Studies – NTD Mandatory sampling year
• Simplifying billing structure for community transportation providers

Each session is limited to a maximum of 15 participants. Attendees must sign up at registration table for the session of your choice but participation is on a first come basis.

General Session
Wednesday, June 6

9:30 - 11:00 am

Looking Ahead

Moderator:
Kurt Neufang, Chapel Hill Transit
Mary Clayton, PB America
David Bonk, Town of Chapel Hill
Ted Rieck, TranSystems

This session will highlight upcoming issues in the North Carolina transit industry. Topics include transit advocacy, transit oriented development and rural transportation coordination.

Closing Session
Wednesday, June 6

11:15 – 11:45 am

High Definition TV Prize Giveaway (must be present to win)

Randy Bass, Cabarrus County Transportation System
Dennis Williams, Alamance County Transportation Authority