MPC
Research Projects (2006-07)

Project Title

Tribal Transit Coordination Workshop

University

North Dakota State University

Project Investigator

Carol Wright, NDSU
carol.wright@ndsu.edu

External Project Contact

David Leftwich, NDDOT
(701)328-4334

Project Objective

Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of transit systems that operate on North Dakota's four major Indian reservations by presenting a two-day workshop on coordination to system administrators, transit operators, social service agency representatives, and medical providers whose clients use public transit.

Project Abstract

This project involves the sharing of information on coordination mandates, the benefits of coordination, coordination partners, how to initiate coordination, sustaining coordination, and tribal decision making processes specifically geared for transit systems that serve Indian reservations. This information will be presented to system administrators, transit operators, and potential coordination partners in a hands-on, two-day workshop that will result in specific coordination options for all involved systems. The end result of the workshop will be more effective and efficient transit coordination on each of North Dakota's four major Indian reservations.

Task Descriptions

1. Review SURTC's coordination plan completed for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and make revisions necessary to develop a presentation specifically designed for systems that serve the rest of North Dakota's Indian reservations. (October - December, 2006)
2. Identify tribal leadership, individuals who are involved with the operations of transit systems which serve North Dakota Indian reservations, social service agency representatives, medical providers whose clients use public transit, and those whose involvement in the workshop would result in the greatest benefits for the respective systems. (January - April, 2007)
3. Identify panel participants who can contribute knowledge of coordination mandates, existing coordination efforts, and specific needs for coordination on or near North Dakota's Indian Reservations. (January-May 2007)
4. Make meeting room and lodging arrangements for the workshop. (April-May, 2007)
5. Extend invitations to targeted transit systems and related individuals. (May-June 2007)
6. Visit a minimum of two tribal transit projects to get first-hand knowledge of transit operations and potential coordination partners. (May-June 2007)
7. Finalize workshop plans and arrangements and host the workshop. (May-June, 2007)
8. Post related workshop materials on SURTC's website. (May-June, 2007)

Milestones, Dates

Starting Date: October 1, 2006
Ending Date: June 30, 2007

Yearly and Total Budget

$20,249

Student Involvement

None

Relationship to Other Research Projects

SURTC has been involved with other tribal coordination efforts and has helped individual transit systems prepare coordination plans. SURTC also prepared a transit coordination plan for the Turtle Mountain Reservation in north central North Dakota. The proposed workshop represents the unique melding of these efforts to develop a training opportunity that is specifically geared to development of coordination between transit systems on and near the reservations and entities that rely on the provision of transportation for their clients.

Technology Transfer Activities

This is a technology transfer project. No new research will be conducted, but the proposed workshop will draw on previous experiences and recent related projects to develop and present a workshop that will transfer related knowledge to a specifically targeted market of reservation-area transit system administrators and operators.

Potential Benefits of the Project

The most immediate benefit of this effort will be the transfer of knowledge regarding coordination to tribal leadership representatives, administrators and operators who are involved with the provision of transit services to the residents of North Dakota's four major Indian reservations, social service agency representatives, and medical providers whose clients use public transit. This transfer will hopefully result in more cooperative, well-coordinated, efficient and effective transit system operations, to the benefit of service users and transit operators.

The 2005 Federal Highway Bill (SAFETEA-LU) requires a human service coordination plan for all transportation providers who receive FTA funding, including Native American tribal entities. SAFETEA-LU provides earmarked funds to address transportation problems on Indian reservations. The need to develop corresponding program guidelines may delay the distribution of these funds for 1-2 years. Completing this technology transfer effort now will position these systems to take more immediate advantage of expanded federal funding when it becomes available and should result in the more efficient expenditures of related funds.

The success of this technology transfer project could also result in the presentation of similar workshops in other regions of the country.

TRB Keywords

Transit, Tribe, Rural, Reservation, Coordination Plan