APA Transportation Planning Division

 

M  I  N  U  T  E  S  

of  the 

B U S I N E S S    M  E  E  T  I  N  G  at  TRB

 

 

January 11, 2004

Washington Hilton, Conservatory Room

28 in attendance (listed below)

 

 

 

Chair Whit Blanton called the meeting to order at 5:35pm and welcomed those present.  Attendees then introduced themselves.

 

  1. Minutes:  The Minutes of the March 31st meeting in Denver were distributed.

 

  1. Chair’s Report:  Whit described the many activities underway from the Airports-in-the-Region initiative, which has gained support from the APA Divisions Council and interest from ACI and FAA. There is a consensus that research on airports has been limited and there are needs and opportunities for major new research efforts, such as a white paper and PAS reports of best practices. We are participating in a TRB session on reauthorization. We are trying to enlist counties and mayors. The 3-hour symposium at the APA National Conference will take place on April 25, 1-4pm. In response to a question from Peter Gertler, Whit explained the structure and status of the TPD Airports Committee itself.

 

Whit wants to start a mentoring program linking students to practicing professionals. This concept is in early stages, open to new ideas, and may be organized by regions or states. Comeaux, Gertler, Guttenplan, Howe, Kuehn, and Schiffer volunteered to help.

 

Nominations for the new FHWA Transportation Excellence Awards (co-sponsored by APA) are being solicited, due Feb.27. TPD will have a member on the jury. Crout, Flood, Steiger (per Howe) and Kuehn volunteered to participate in the selection jury. Awards will probably be made at the upcoming TRB mid-year conference in Park City UT.

 

Whit presented the 2004 Work Program. This includes a survey of membership led by Ruth Fitzgerald to provide guidance on the newsletter, activities, mentoring and certification aimed at preliminary results by National in April.  For Programs, we will propose a transportation theme track for the 2005 National beyond our 2 by-right sessions. The student paper competition will continue. We will participate in at least 3 activities with APA divisions or chapters and at least 1 with outside organizations. The proposed 2004 Budget was reviewed and approved.

 

  1. Airports Committee:  Mike Callahan summarized a proposal for 2-or 3-year inter-divisional collaboration, dated Aug. 20, 2003, with a request for 6k initial funding. Mike’s role as chair has largely been to determine what outside groups and officials we should deal with. The Committee is organizing the symposium mentioned above and a mobile workshop for National. Mike also announced his intention to step down from the chair due to other personal priorities.

 

  1. Student Paper Competition:  Ruth Steiner is continuing to coordinate this activity, which may include separate awards for both undergraduate and graduate students. Whit passed out a solicitation flier. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 2. Comeaux and Kuehn volunteered to help with reviews.

 

  1. Newsletter: Flood and Livingston asked for comments and suggestions on behalf of Ruth Fitzgerald. Whit suggested that the Airports Committee should submit an article in each issue and that other articles could focus on profiles of senior TPD members (active or retired). The next issue will be out in late Feb. or March.  Fabian suggested that there be more information on parking and advanced transit.

 

  1. TEA-21 Reauthorization: Jason Jordan of APA staff reported that there will likely be another extension until past the elections. A Texas congressman has proposed an innovative urban congestion program that would channel funds to MPOs, but Jordan thought it unlikely to be included this year.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.

 

 

 

 

Sign-Ins

 

Richard Arthur                                     ATRA

Janet Bell                                               Jefferson Co. Plng (CO)

Whit Blanton, Chair                             Renaissance

Mike Callahan, Airports Com.            Parsons

Meg Cederoth                                      PB

 

Noel Comeaux                                       Earth Tech

Mike Conwell                                        ATRA/ACPRT

David Crout                                          Tri-Met (Portland)

Bob Dunning                                        ATRA

John Evans                                           Evans Consulting

 

Larry Fabian, Sec.                                TPD/Trans.21

Bill Flanigan                                          ATRA

Peter Gertler                                          PB

Martin Guttenplan                               Fla. DOT

Mike Flood                                            FHI

 

Ian Ford                                                 ATRA

Linda Howe-Steiger                             UCB

Rana Al-Jammal                                    UMass-Amherst

Bob Johnson                                        ATRA

David Kuehn                                        FHWA

 

Ken Livingston                                    FHI

Norm Marshall                                      Smart Mobility Inc.

David Maymudes                                                ATRA

Richard Rolland                                    NW&AK Tribe

Rob Schiffer                                          Cambridge Systematics

 

John Thomas                                        City of Rochester, NU

Roxanne Warren                                  ATRA

Stan Young                                           ATRA