Huntsville Coordinated Planning and United We Ride Workshop

On February 27 and 28, FTA Region IV staff conducted a workshop to discuss United We Ride Initiatives and the SAFETEA-LU requirement for the development of coordinated human service-public transportation plans.  The workshop was held in Huntsville, Alabama and attracted over 70 transportation stakeholders from Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, including representatives from the state Department of Transportations (AL, MS, TN), Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS), Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), as well as stakeholders from the local public transit agencies, MPOs, and local governments.  Bob Jilla, Bureau Chief for ALDOT Transportation Planning and Modal Programs, Irene Collins, Commissioner for the ADSS, and Charles Carr, Director of Public Transportation for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, were also in attendance.  It should also be noted that this workshop was the first of it's type nationwide.

Topics discussed during the workshop included:

• United We Ride Technical Assistance Tools presented by JoAnn Hutchinson
• Mississippi Statewide Coordinated Plan Approach presented by Charles Carr
• Statewide Coordinated Plan: Alabama Regional Councils presented by John Sorrell
• Local Approaches: Birmingham MPO Presentation presented by Darrell Howard
• SAFETEA-LU Guidelines & Coordinated Planning Guidance presented by Jamie Pfister and James Garland

For any questions regarding this workshop or these topics, please contact Jamie Pfister or James Garland at jamie.pfister@dot.gov or james.garland@dot.gov