[nfbmi-talk] Information and links about Accessible Transportation

Thu Jul 21 14:00:37 UTC 2011

Welcome to Extra, Easter Seals Project ACTION's monthly newsletter.

The news this month:

ESPA News

ESPA Launches Viewpoints Pathways to Accessible Transportation Blog
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=o1wfAxo6k3pnHnzru7Tpdw..

ESPA is pleased to announce the launch of its blog, Viewpoints - Pathways
to Accessible Transportation! Viewpoints  features the various
perspectives of ESPA staff and guest bloggers about current issues in
accessible transportation. For 23 years and counting, ESPA has been and
continues to be dedicated to promoting pathways to accessible
transportation, working with our partners in the transportation and
disability communities. Join us as we explore the latest steps along the
path to accessible transportation for all and subscribe to our blog!

Upcoming Training

Customer Service Monitoring and Feedback for Fixed-Route and Paratransit
- Webinar
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=OWZlpozvP4qv3q7Ow5QpzA..

On August 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPA will host a free webinar,
Customer Service Monitoring and Feedback for Fixed-Route and Paratransit
Services. This webinar will focus on how transportation providers can
work with a disabilities advisory board to develop a feedback survey for
transit customers with disabilities. The session will provide a broad
overview of the customer-service-monitoring process and how it can be
used to improve transportation operations and customer services. For more
information, contact ESPADistanceLearning at easterseals.com. Registration
deadline: August 5.

Crossing Solutions at Roundabouts and Channelized Right-Turn Lanes for
Pedestrians with Visual Impairments - Webinar
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=7MQ2KN4T6P4XXKhrz96miA..

On August 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPA will partner with the
Transportation Research Board to present a webinar on a newly released
report by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program on navigating
roundabouts and channelized right-turn lanes for pedestrians who have
visual impairments. The webinar will feature panelists who will evaluate
accessibility at a complex intersection and discuss the impacts of site
geometry and operational characteristics on site accessibility.
Professional engineers that attend the entire webinar session may receive
credit for one professional development hour. For more information,
contact ESPADistanceLearning at easterseals.com. Registration deadline:
August 12.

Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration - Online Course
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=_NWfSnGbN5vEO5uN2k1EOg..

Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration (FTTA), ESPA's new online
course, will run for the second time starting August 15. FTTA gives
learners the opportunity to learn more about essential administrative
issues, such as creating job descriptions and developing budgets. The
course format is flexible, allowing participants to work at any hour of
the day or night. For more information, contact the course instructor,
Kristi McLaughlin, at ftta at easterseals.com or (800) 659-6428. Application
deadline: August 8.

Industry News

FTA Providing Funding for Improving and Increasing Transit Workforce
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=g0mCqWm_2bwu2DiAhSqgzQ..

On June 9, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $3 million
from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support programs around
the country that train, hire, develop and retain transit workers. "This
money will help train young people just out of high school or college and
help those already in transit jobs move ahead," Secretary LaHood stated.
Twelve programs from across the nation successfully competed for the
"Innovative Workforce Development" dollars. A complete list of successful
proposals can be found on the FTA website.

$175 Million Livability Grants for Transportation Announced
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=aYsm2hGdEtrVL4VysRj54g..

On June 16, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the
availability of up to $175 million in livability grants to help urban,
suburban and rural communities develop transit options to better connect
people to where they live, work and play. Up to $150 million of the
livability funding being announced comes from the Bus and Bus Facilities
Program, which provides money to purchase or replace buses and to build
bus-related facilities, and the remaining funds come from the
Alternatives Analysis Program, which provides money to help communities
evaluate and select the best transit options to meet their transportation
needs. Applications due: July 29.

FEMA Conference on Community Emergency Management
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=zWQbk_Rgwz0qbY2daq3nLA.. 

Join the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the second annual Getting
Real conference, Getting Real II- Promising Practices in Inclusive
Emergency Management for the Whole Community, September 12-14 in
Washington, DC. The conference will identify promising practices that
strengthen a community's capacity to prepare for, respond to, recover
from and mitigate the impact of disasters and will emphasize inclusion,
integration, dignity, independence, accessibility and self-determination
for individuals with disabilities before, during and after an emergency.
Proposals for presentations highlighting promising practices for
inclusive emergency management are now being accepted. For questions,
email FEMA-Disability-Integration-Coordination at dhs.gov. Proposals due:
August 1.

Interim Notice of Funding Availability for TIGER Discretionary Grants
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=DScwwJm_vzCpAgFMAG-3eQ..

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an interim notice of
funding availability for the National Infrastructure Investments, or
"TIGER Discretionary Grants." The notice includes selection criteria and
pre-application and application requirements for these grants as well as
information on how to submit comments on the proposed selection criteria
and guidance for awarding funds. Prospective applicants are encouraged to
look through Frequently Asked Questions, webinars and other guidance at
the Application Resources
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=RtkPH8Wg1iv-IJ1qd5SZ5Q..
web page. Comment deadline: July 18. Preapplication deadline (opening by
August 23): October 3. Final application deadline: October 31.

Free Web Application for Building Websites
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=5DiFt8hlOuFNApQ0o5nsqQ..

The National Rural Transit Assistance Program has recently released a
free application, Website Builder, that allows rural transit systems to
create easy-to use, maintainable websites. No prior programming or HTML
knowledge is needed. To access the Website Builder application, go to
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=nmnU9l-0-AtEQsAKJXow-w..
and create a Cloud account. Call (888) 589-6821 for more information. 

Website on Current Olmstead News
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=_sFT8KTKE5h3YKnc-xdL5w..

In 2009, on the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the
case of Olmstead v. L.C., President Barack Obama launched The Year of
Community Living and directed the Administration to redouble enforcement
efforts. The Supreme Court's ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. requires states
to eliminate unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities and to
ensure that people with disabilities receive services in the most
integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Visit
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=3oO5DGPoM8qlpZOoo75HVQ..
for current news and more.

Research

Report on Providing Matching Funds
http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=nUxd8dd_Q-nWbaJHobonZQ..

The Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research
Program has recently released Research Results Digest 353: Identification
of State and Local Matching Fund Requirements for State-Administered
Federal and Non-Federal Public Transportation Programs. This report
documents the policies adopted by the states to provide matching funds
for state-administered federal and non-federal public transportation
grant programs. It also includes a set of tables with information on
current state and local matching fund percentage requirements for each
urban and rural federal program and the local matching fund requirements
for each non-federal public transportation program administered by each
state.

Did you miss last month's Extra? Previous issues are available on the
website.

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=LG_ffBidAZykYUb5LUcmrQ..

The electronic editions of the latest and archived issues of Update,
ESPA's biannual newsletter, are also available online. To be added to the
surface mailing list, please sign up online at www.projectaction.org. Or,
call ESPA at (202) 347-3066 or toll-free at (800) 659-6428.

http://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/R?i=ZMRvxgx_4aaOoaj_kmiqwA..

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