Please remember FTSB has moved when mailing in your KPTA dues. 

The address is below. 

Pam Shepherd, Executive Director

Federated Transportation Services of the Bluegrass, Inc.

2308 Frankfort Ct., Lexington, KY  40510

859-233-0066 Phone

859-233-1668 Fax

Thanks so much for all the members support of KPTA.

From the desk of ...

Vickie S. Bourne, Executive Director,

Office of Transportation Delivery

Please post this information on the KPTA web site:

Roanoke, Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling DOT Funds

On January 17, 2012, Diane Holdren of Roanoke, Virginia, pled guilty in United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia to one count of willfully and knowingly embezzling money from the United States Department of Transportation.  In 2006, Valley Metro, the business entity that manages the Roanoke City bus service, was awarded over $80,000 in grant funds from FTA to replace furniture at the company's downtown Roanoke administration building.  Valley Metro hired Ms. Holdren to complete the project.  

In her plea, Ms. Holdren admitted she fabricated and submitted multiple bids of furniture vendors to Valley Metro in relation to the project.  She admitted to fabricating and inflating all vendor bids, thus guaranteeing that Valley Metro would have to pay more than the true costs associated with the project. Following Valley Metro's acceptance of the b ids, Ms. Holdren submitted inflated invoices related to the bids that included inflated and nonexistent shipping costs. 

Subsequently, Valley Metro paid the furniture vendors directly based on the inflated bills it had received from Ms. Holdren.  The vendors then issued checks to Ms. Holdren for the difference between the true costs and the costs paid by Valley Metro that were based on the defendant's deceptions.  The total loss caused by the defendant's actions is between $80,000 and $120,000.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 30, 2012. 

This is a joint investigation with the United States Postal Inspection Service.

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 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               Civil Rights Division

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011                                                                          (202) 514-2007

WWW.JUSTICE.GOV                                                                       TDD (202) 514-1888

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ADA SETTLEMENT

WITH INTERCITY BUS COMPANY, MEGABUS

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced a comprehensive settlement agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with intercity bus service providers Megabus USA LLC., and Megabus Northeast LLC., which are located in Chicago and Elizabeth, N.J., respectively.  The Justice Department initiated its investigation of Megabus as part of its ongoing review of the private transportation industry.  In particular, the department has been investigating accessibility of private transportation operations for individuals with disabilities.    

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Megabus will ensure that all of the vehicles in its intercity service are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids.  Megabus will also alter its online reservation services so that passengers with disabilities are able to access schedule information and make reservations in the same manner and using the same reservation system as other passengers.  Megabus will pay a $55,000 civil penalty to the United States, and $12,500 in damages to a complainant who was not permitted to use the ramp on a passenger bus, and who was forced to transfer out of his wheelchair rather than be secured in the wheelchair, as required by federal regulations, during his trip from New York, to Baltimore.  The United States credits Megabus for their cooperation throughout the investigation and their willingness to address the deficiencies identified.

“Commercial passenger buses are an affordable and growing sector of the transportation industry, and making sure that they are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities is a necessary part of integrating individuals with disabilities into all aspects of American life,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “The department is committed to vigorously enforcing the transportation requirements of the ADA.”

Title III of the ADA prohibits specified private transportation providers like Megabus from excluding persons with disabilities, including persons with mobility impairments, from full and equal enjoyment of the services provided.   Anyone interested in learning more about federal disability rights statutes can call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301, 800-514-0383 (TTY), or access the ADA website at www.ada.gov.

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 FTA Proposing to Change Average Passenger Weight For Bus Testing

FTA is proposing to change the average passenger weight from 150 lbs to 175 lbs for vehicle testing regulation purposes.  In addition, FTA is proposing to change the floor space occupied per standing passenger from 1.5 to 1.75 square feet.  Comments about these changes must be received no later than May 13, 2011.

Please click here to see the Federal Register for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Patricia Monahan

Executive Director

National RTAP

Phone: 888-589-6821                

pmonahan@nationalrtap.org            

www.nationalrtap.org

 NATIONAL Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF NEWLY REVISED TRAINING MODULE, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR RURAL TRANSIT DRIVERS

December 2010, Waltham, MA – National RTAP announced the release of a newly revised free training module, Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers.   

 The Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers module contains a Learner’s Guide, a Self-paced eLearning Course Disc, an Instructor’s Guide, and a disc with videos and a trainer’s PowerPoint presentation. These materials can be covered in a single day, or over a series of days. The module is presented in stand-alone units designed to meet a multitude of transit agency requirements.   It can be used in a classroom setting or by a single student, and is appropriate for both new and experienced transit drivers.   

The Emergency Procedures Module builds on the foundation established in the National RTAP training Module Safety Training and Rural Transit (START), and offers the most current training on preparedness for hazards and threats that may be encountered as a transit operator.  This training module also offers targeted training on the Seven Steps of Crisis Management, in addition to quick tips and quizzes designed to give the best comprehensive information possible on emergency procedures.  

How transit drivers respond to emergencies can have a direct impact on their health and safety as well as that of passengers and the public at large.  It is vital that transit staff have the proper training to respond to incidents and accidents, problem passengers, acts of nature, and other potential emergencies.  

Patti Monahan, Executive Director of National RTAP, says: “Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers has always been a popular item in the National RTAP Resource Library, and we are pleased to release this newly updated and expanded version of the module.  The module is very flexible and will be a great resource for all small transit providers”.   

Emma Featherman-Sam, Chair of the National RTAP Review Board and Oglala Sioux Tribe Transit Coordinator, noted “Oftentimes, rural transit agencies lack the resources, staff and time to send anyone to a training of this type.  I am happy to be part of an organization that is truly meeting the needs of these agencies.  These modules can be used by staff at their pace and at any time they can spare and the best part - it is FREE!"         

Bill Telovsky, Vice Chair of the National RTAP Review Board, and New York State Department of Transportation’s RTAP Manager also adds, “This modern, multi-media training resource will enhance safety and security training for all rural transit providers.   “   

The Emergency Procedures training module is available now and is free of charge. 

National RTAP is a program of the Federal Transit Administration administered by the Neponset Valley Transportation Management Association and serves as the national arm for the Rural Transit Assistance Program.  The mission of National RTAP is to improve mobility in all rural, small urban and tribal communities across the country through technical assistance.  Since its inception in 1987 National RTAP has developed and distributed training materials, provided technical assistance, generated reports, published best practices, conducted research and offered Peer Assistance with the goal of improved mobility for the millions of Americans living in communities with populations under 50,000.

If you’d like more information about this product, or to schedule an interview with Patti Monahan, please contact Pam Russell DiGiovanni at 888-589-1122 or email Pam at prussell@nationalrtap.org