Transit Association Of Alabama

Y’all make sure your drivers are Top Notch!!! I’ve had the pleasure of participating in these classes and they are OUTSTANDING! Ask around.

FTA announced today $13Million in grant funding for Transit-Orented Development Planning. I haven't dug very deep into it, but it looks like eligible activities are varied and numerious. I encourage all our providers to check it out. And your TAA is always here to support your efforts.
https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/pilot-program-transit-oriented-development-planning-fy2022-notice-funding

Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning FY2022 Notice of Funding | FTA Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

An OUTSTANDING ALDOT Application, Invoice & Contract Revenue Procedures training class in Mobile. Great opportunities for increasing local matching funds were presented from various involved entities, from vehicle advertising to additional contract revenues.

Some interesting ideas were kicked around about how to potentially take advantage of these opportunities between your TAA, ALDOT & OPT.

There is a new $93Million NoFo entitled The 2022 Transit Security Grant Program.

These funds may be used for a variety of sustainable, risk-based efforts, including updating emergency management and security plans that are referenced in an Agency Safety Plan (ASP). 

I encourage our provider agencies to investigate this additional funding opportunity. You can click the link below to be taken to the grant webpage.

And as always, your Transit Association is ready to endorse and support your application.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Fiscal Year 2022 Transit Security Grant Program This grant provides funding to eligible public transportation systems (which include intra-city bus, ferries and all forms of passenger rail) to protect critical transportation infrastructure and the travelling public from terrorism, and to increase transportation infrastructure resilience.

Go read the post, courtesy of our friends over at

Your Alabama delegation, consisting of our ALDOT leadership, OPT staff, The Cities of Huntsville and Tuscaloosa; and Baldwin, Blount, Cullman and Madison Counties soaking up the latest knowledge and back-slapping all the movers and shakers in the public transportation industry at the Community Transportation Association of America Expo in Louisville, KY.

More updates to come as the week progresses.

And GOOD LUCK !!! to our State Champion Drivers competing in the National Roadeo this weekend. Be getting lots of rest.

Our friends at Max in Birmingham have a point. I bet you could save some gas money too riding YOUR local transit agency. Just thank about it....that's all we ask. :)

There's no better time for you to try transit! Gas prices are steadily increasing & automobile costs are on the rise. MAX provides quality services to Birmingham, Bessemer, Center Point, Homewood, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Tarrant, Midfield, & the City of Fairfield. 🚌

Riding is easy & affordable. Get a One-Way pass for $1.50 or an All-Day pass for $3.00! 💸 For more info, visit MAXTRANSIT.ORG & download our MyStop app.

AlTrans Mobility Device Securement & Effective Documentation Training at Wiregrass Transit in Dothan. No class to large….no class to small. We care for ALL our professional public transportation operators. This is a great class that helps educate and produce a better prepared and equipped driver who can provide better service AND keep safety in transporting passengers….and drivers at the forefront.

If YOU would like one-on-one, on-site training for Your transit personnel, Please reach out Penny Orr @ [email protected].

Look what our friends at Birmingham's MAX Transit have going on. Very nice and another example of our transit providers bettering the health and welfare of our communities.

Check out our progress! Stations are standing tall at the new BX platforms. Our new Bus Rapid Transit system will include 32 platforms with 2 east & west Transit Centers in the Woodlawn Community & Five Points West Community near Birmingham Crossplex. Learn more about our progress on maxtransit.org & get ready to ride! 🚌

What another great weekend of teaching, learning and sharing among our professional public transportation drivers at the 2022 Alabama State Roadeo sponsored by ALDOT and the UAH Office of Public Transportation and our friends at Alabama ALTRANS. Just some of the highlights from the festivities.

If you missed it this year, we welcome you to consider attending and entering a contestant next year, or just hang out for the fellowship.

Did I mention we award trophies and the winners in each division get to compete in the CTAA National Roadeo or APTA (eligible expenses paid)?…where we happen to hold the record for most National Roadeo Champions from any state. Several past National Roadeo Champions participate in the instruction of our drivers. Who to better teach your drivers the finer points of transit vehicle operation than past national champions? None I dare say.

So, go ahead and put it down on your calendar in ink. The 2023 Alabama State Roadeo @ Lakepoint State Park March 3rd and 4th, 2023. We hope to see you there.

Check out Huntsville Transit on the move. Way to go Director Quisha Bryant and our own TAA VP Transit Manager John Autry!!!

If you have news concerning YOUR agency, please let us know so we can let everybody know….and we all want to know.

Huntsville Transit announces launch of new touchless fare app Huntsville Transit customers will soon be able to purchase fares and board a bus with the few swipes of an app. Beginning Feb. 22, Token Transit will be accepted on all Orbit and Access buses. The app makes it easier for smartphone users to ride while also providing a contactless payment method for....

A cross post from our cohorts at AlTrans. Don't complain about your bus lift not working and stuff if you won't send your mechanics to school. Or in the words of Pink Floyd "how can you have any pudding if you won't eat your meat"? Let your mechanics come get some meat so you can have pudding. I'm going to be at one for sure. Some knowledge might rub off.

Mechanics keep the transit wheels rolling! Transit mechanics and vehicle maintenance personnel are invited to test their skills at the RTAP Vehicle Maintenance Conference & Mechanics Roadeo on April 4 - 5 in Mobile, AL.

Register your mechanics are maintenance personnel here: https://web.cvent.com/event/ad2da371-b728-49c8-8f05-15e890223e85/summary

A new one to follow-up from the Conference: What did Chris Rock find on his face yesterday morning?............Fresh Prints. (Ba-Da-Bing)

If you were at the Conference you know. If you weren't....

Put a bow on a great couple days with transit professionals, learning new strategies, making new friends, and strengthening the public transportation industry in Alabama. They just keep getting bigger and better. We have our work cut out for us next year. But we start planning tomorrow.

Please stay aware of speakers and/or topics that would be of benefit to our membership and please bring them to our attention. Also, we always LOVE to have presentations from our own providers. So, if your agency is doing something noteworthy, please let us know so we can put you on the agenda.

We trust everyone profited from attending. And we will strive to make it ever better in 2023. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated. You helped make it the event it was.

OK girls and boys, it’s here. Alabama’s premier gathering of public transportation professionals. I hope you’re joining us tomorrow if you’re able. Lots of new members are joining us for the first time, both operators and industry. It’s going to be a grand time or networking, learning and fellowship. Hope to see YOU there.

Hello Alabama Transit!!! I got notice from Miss Penny about another round of Mobility Device Securement & Effective Documentation Training sessions to be held at various locations throughout the state. These sessions are being lead by the best transit driver trainer in the country, our own Lenzy Williams (I conceed I may be biased, but he really IS the best). I have attended several of these training sessions and can honestly say it's the best driver training around. Our biggest liabilities can be assisting and transporting the mobility challenged. This course puts a lazer focus on these issues, how to identify potential issues with passengers, potential consequences of improper actions, and most importantly, a thorough discussion of how to address these issues with sensitivity but within agency policies. I hope you take advantage of these opportunities...and you might see me there!

I highly encourage everyone to take a look at the course and it's offerings at http://altrans.org/?page_id=1140

Your TAA participated in a webinar today concerning NTD Non-rail Safety & Security Reporting, presented by the National Transit Institute @ Rutgers University. A few pics are included for effect. If interested, you can review the presentation slides here http://postit.rutgers.edu/uploads/2022%20Safety%20Non-Rail%20Handouts.pdf.

I have participated in several of these NTI webinars and they are very informative. I would encourage you to search out the National Transit Institute....or, just follow our page here as we hope to bring you more timely, helpful information as we move forward.

Had the honor of attending the bridge naming ceremony for Randy Estes, who served as our Master of Ceremonies the past few years. The bridge is over Nances Creek on US-278 in Calhoun County. Randy retired from the Alabama Department of Transportation, the majority of which was spent training bridge inspectors before coming to transit. A fitting tribute. We miss you and Godspeed Randall.

We had the opportunity to attend the Auburn University/ALDOT Transportation Conference in Montgomery yesterday and today. The program included several presentations addressing local multimodal transportation issues. The Conference was highlighted (IMHO) by a presentation by Ms. Charlotte Shaw, “OUR” new Max Transit Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority Executive Director/CEO. I had the privilege of introducing the TAA to Ms. Shaw and see good things together in our future. I’ve always said the TAA can never reach its potential without an active, participating Birmingham. I think we have it. I look forward to enticing Charolette to our joint TAA/AlTrans Conference this March. Y’all please join me in offering a warm welcome to Ms. Charlotte Shaw every chance you get.

A series of Emergency Preparedness one-day training classes for transit drivers are currently being presented at various locations throughout the state by ALDOT, OPT and Crown Consulting. Yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s classes are in Mobile. Check the AlTrans website for a list of upcoming training opportunities. When everything is said and done, public transportation doesn’t exist without our drivers. And Alabama is committed to providing all the resources possible to our drivers to make sure they have the knowledge, skills, abilities AND equipment to provide essential transportation services to our communities. In addition to classroom training, drivers are getting hands-on experience with the proper use of fire extinguishers, seatbelt cutters and emergency exit hatch operations (among others).

Your FY2022 Roadeo Planning Committee making sure our next Roadeo is the best yet. Make plans to grab your best transit driver (and your “not best”….we love em all) and come on to Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula. We’ll leave the light on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9th.

A few pics from our Fall Meeting. I think everybody enjoyed themselves and will leave better prepared to serve our citizens. We look forward to a bigger and better Spring Meeting. We hope to see you there….as a Transit Association of Alabama Member. (Inquire for details).

Hope to see you all this week. Travel safe tomorrow.

A few pics from APTA. I was honored to represent your Association, learn new things and make new contacts. The main one being a sit down meeting with the head of APTA Membership, who is going to help us get connected and on the committees we are interested in. We hope more of our members can join us in the future (especially the Second Annual APTA Dinner) as we continue to build our sense of community. Thank you for allowing me to attend.

Don't forget! The 2022 TAA/ALTRANS Fall Meeting is next week in beautiful Guntersville. Still time to register. (following the link) Hope to see all of you there.
https://web.cvent.com/event/23f45caa-3cd4-4263-ad70-15f2317936bd/summary

FY2022 Transportation Association of Alabama & ALTRANS Fall Meeting FY2022 Transportation Association of Alabama & ALTRANS Fall Meeting. Online registration by Cvent

Privileged to be representing your TAA at the Cullman Area Rural Transit (CARTS) Roadeo this morning. Big fun and fellowship. Pics and vids to come.

Not sure if a Videoconference of your Board or a rerun of Hollywood Squares.

Your TAA participating in the NTI Assault Awareness & Prevention for Transit Operators webinar today.

The TAA wants to make sure all public transportation providers are aware of the new bus & bus facilities NOFO FTA published today. Link below.

https://www.transit.dot.gov/bus-program

Please let the TAA know if you are interested in pursuing this NOFO. The TAA would be super interested and available to offer any assistance possible.

Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program | FTA Provides funding through a competitive allocation process to states and transit agencies to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities. The competitive allocation provides funding for major improvements to bus transit systems that would not...

Good Monday morning, and welcome to a new week. Be careful out there. Folks are depending on you!

Let’s at least get a post up and hopefully start the day with a grin.

Transit Association Of Alabama updated their business hours.

Transit Association Of Alabama updated their website address.

Welcome as we launch the new Transit Association of Alabama identity....and page. We hope this will be a place the public transportation community can gather for information exchange and general fellowship.