APA Transportation Planning Division
Business Meeting and Reception
MEETING MINUTES
44 in Attendance *
1. Chair’s Report
Larry Lennon reported that the Transportation Planning Division (TPD) has been very busy in 2007, with its Work Program and Budget approved at the January meeting at TRB and posted on the TPD website. He continued that the Division has held its two annual business meetings (i.e. TRB Annual Meeting and APA National Planning Conference), organized two sessions at National Conference (see Vice Chair’s report), and conducted the annual Student Paper Competition (see below). One newsletter has been published in February 2007 with another due in May. The TPD website has been maintained and a new vendor, Vertical Response, retained for TPD electronic communications.
TPD members have been very active at the National Planning Conference. Noel Comeaux, Chair, Membership Committee, represented the Division in Student Facilitated Discussions held on Sunday, April 15. The discussion, organized by the APA Students Representative Council, focused on careers in transportation. On Monday, April 16, Vice Chair Hilary Perkins moderated a session entitled “Thinking about Congestion” while Chair Larry Lennon moderated a session on Transportation Development Partnerships. On Tuesday April 17, Todd Ashby, TPD Treasurer described TPD activities in the APA Pavilion.
2. Elections Committee
Bernie Au reported on TPD’s recently completed elections for Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. A Call for Nominations was distributed to members on March 20, with nominations due March 27. Ballots were distributed via e-mail, with paper ballots mailed to those individuals who did not receive an e-ballot. The new Executive Committee consists of:
Immediate Past Chair: Larry Lennon
Chair: Noel Comeaux
Vice-Chair: Hilary Perkins
Secretary: David Fields
Treasurer: Todd Ashby
Larry Lennon thanked Bernie Au and Ikroop Kaur for running a successful election, and Whit Blanton, Larry Fabian, and Dan Wong, out-going Immediate Past President, Secretary and Airports Committee Chair, respectively, for their years of service. Whit Blanton continues to serve as Chair of the APA Divisions Council.
3. Past Chair/Division Council Chair Report
Whit Blanton reported that discussions continue regarding AICP certification maintenance and the implementation of additional specialty certifications including one for transportation planning. In response to a question, Whit indicated that the Transportation Planning certification now offered by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) is intended for junior practitioners while APA’s certification will be geared to more seasoned professionals. APA has approved new reporting requirements for divisions including changes to annual work plans and budgets.
4. Vice-Chair’s Report
Hilary Perkins described TPD’s two conference sessions: “Transportation Development Partnerships” and “Thinking about Congestion”.
TPD has contracted with a new vendor (Vertical Response - http://www.verticalresponse.com/) for electronic communications. Vertical Response, currently distributes APA’s Interact, and will now be used for Division communications including newsletters, election notices, calls for proposals, meeting announcements, etc.
5. Treasurer’s Report
Todd Ashby reported that TPD's current balance is about $12,385 and that we are on budget.
6. Newsletter Editor’s Report
Larry Lennon reported for newsletter editor Ruth Fitzgerald who is working on housing in New Orleans. The February issue has been published, and the next issue will be distributed in May. Larry stressed that submissions for future publications are always welcome.
7. Student Paper Competition
Larry Lennon reported for Student Paper Competition Chair Jiang Li. The winners are:
First Prize: "Structured and Spontaneous: Informal and Formal Influences on Traffic Safety in Ha Noi, Viet Nam" by Wendy Tao at UC Berkeley
Second Prize: "Transportation Implications of “Towne Centre” Redevelopment in Hunt Valley, MD" by Heather Strassberger at Rutgers University
Both papers will be published in the TPD newsletter.
Honorable Mention: "Spatial Methodology for Assessing the Distribution of Transportation Impacts Using an Environmental Justice Framework" by Nicholas Klein at U Penn
Honorable Mention: "SAFETEA-LU Earmarks in Minnesota: A Rural Advantage Minnesota’s Other Growing Pork Industry" by Michael Smart, a former U Penn student and now a Ph.D student at UCLA.
8. Membership Committee Chair/Incoming Chair’s Report
Noel Comeaux reported on the findings of the Membership Survey which highlighted the need for a focus on marketing in the future to serve existing members.
9. New Business
Ashraf Jan of the FAA reported on new funding opportunities for communities to conduct airfront planning.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.
* Sign-in sheets on file.