UTCA Hosts National Research Workshop

For Federal Transit Administration

UTCA is co-sponsoring one of three national Federal Transit Administration (FTA) workshops.  The workshops have several purposes:

·   To bring together university transportation centers (UTCs), the FTA, and transit providers.

·   To discuss joint interests in research projects that support the national strategy for surface transportation research.

·   To identify cooperative opportunities to work on commonly held critical transit needs.

The UTCA-FTA Workshop will be held May 14, 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham.  Two transit research themes will be addressed:

·   United We Ride Human Service Transportation and Mobility Management

·   Disaster, Response, Recovery & Security

In Birmingham, FTA representatives, transit providers, and UTC researchers will become acquainted with the others’ capabilities, needs, and resources during morning presentation sessions.  During separate afternoon breakout groups, attendees will be asked to produce practical research agendas for the two themes and to identify potential partners in mutually-beneficial working groups.

FTA Deputy Administrator Ms. Sherry Little will make opening remarks. UTCA’s Dr. Jay Lindly is organizing and directing the workshop, and UTCA’s Dr. Dan Turner will serve as facilitator during the “Disaster, Response, Recovery, & Security” afternoon session. 

UTCA and FTA have issued invitations to all UTCs to attend this workshop, with the goal of defining the nation’s transit research agenda for two high priority topics.  UTCA is proud of the role that it is filling in helping the transit community reach its full potential.