Our Vision

Summer/Fall 2014
Volume XX
Nos. 1 & 2
Our Vision
To be a recognized leader and
innovator in the provision of
support services to ensure
efficient, effective, safe and
coordinated use of mass transit
resources (for public benefit).
Our Mission
To assist in meeting the mass
transportation needs of South
Carolina’s citizens by providing
statewide transportation
planning and research;
administration of state and
federal funds and assistance
programs; evaluation of existing
and proposed programs and
of coordination of mass transit
programs.
Inside This Issue
TASC becomes South Carolina
Alliance for Mobile
Infrastructure ....................................1
The COMET expands services to
students in Columbia ......................2
City of Seneca ready to roll out
electric buses to public ...................2
News You Can Use ..........................3
SPARTA’s Luis Gonzalez named
to Top 40 Under 40...........................3
Regional COG wins award for
rides program ....................................4
Updates on ongoing projects..........4
TASC becomes South Carolina Alliance
for Mobile Infrastucture.
Over the past year, the Transportation Association of South Carolina sought
and secured the services of a public relations consultant to assist it in changing
not only its image but its message as well.
The firm that was selected, Chernoff Newman, did just that and first
announced the new image and direction at the annual TASC Training Event held
back in March. The Transportation Association of South Carolina is now the
South Carolina Alliance for Mobile Infrastructure. Not only is this a brand
new name to remember but the message and focus of the association is taking
on a new emphasis also.
That message, as developed by Chernoff Newman, is one that zeroes in on
transit’s importance in connecting people to business and industry, job training
and supporting economic development. To achieve this new focus, the Alliance
will now strive to become a more active participant at any table where the role
of both fixed and rolling infrastructure is being discussed within that context.
Simply put, this means that the Alliance wants to ensure that it develops
working relationships with the major stakeholders that transit can assist. That
includes involvement with such stakeholder groups as the South Carolina
Chamber of Commerce (and through them, major business leaders); the
leadership of the SCDOT (in order to advocate for transit’s place at the table
when transportation infrastructure is under discussion); and a seat at the table
with the South Carolina Interagency Transportation Coordination Council.
Even with its new direction and name, the Alliance will continue to
provide and be involved in some of the same services and benefits as before.
For example, sponsoring the annual conference and training event; the
statewide driver and mechanics roadeo; providing other opportunities for
peer networking; providing news on pending legislation which affects transit in
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People in TRANSITion .....................5
FYI (training opportunities) ............7
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South Carolina; and being a collective voice to promote and
advocate for transit-friendly legislation in our state.
With its new slogan of “Moving Transportation
Forward”, the Alliance truly wants to be a major force for
advancing the efficient and effective use of our state’s mobile
infrastructure which are the vehicles that provide public
transportation in South Carolina every day.
Bob Schneider, the new president of the Alliance and
the executive director of The COMET, the transit agency
serving the greater Columbia metropolitan area, sums up
well what the organization’s new focus is all about, “Mobile
infrastructure is essential to keeping our cities and states
healthy. Our (transit) fleets and facilities must remain upto-date and it is time we recognize that in our investments
in our fixed and rolling infrastructure. What’s unique is that
our infrastructure is mainly mobile: we can move hundreds
of people through one traffic signal to relieve congestion….
we can solve a lack of parking in a downtown area…..we can
make bridges and roads last longer by reducing wear and
tear.”
To visit the Alliance’s new website, go to
www.scmobileinfrastructure.org
The COMET expands services
to students in Columbia
With another new school year beginning in the Midlands
of South Carolina, the Central Midlands Regional Transit
Authority, known as The COMET, has begun new services
aimed at helping the area’s students get to and from school.
In mid-August, The COMET started operating the
Garnet Route which will transport students from the
University of South Carolina’s main campus to several
student apartment complexes in the southeastern parts of
Columbia. The route will run every 20 minutes.
Another route (Route 201) will start in September, 2014
and will link downtown Columbia with the Rosewood area,
a residential neighborhood that is very popular with college
students.
In addition to these new services, The COMET will bring
back its Gamecock Express. This is a gameday shuttle bus
that will transport both students and other football fans
from various locations downtown and near the main campus
to the stadium and return. A ticket is only three dollars and
allows riders to avoid the hassles of finding places to park.
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Other institutions of higher learning, besides the USC,
that have new transit routes include Benedict College, Allen
University, Columbia College, the USC School of Medicine
campus, the Lutheran Seminary and both campuses of
Midlands Technical Education College.
According to The COMET’s Executive Director Bob
Schneider, the system’s routes should also appeal to other
students such as those who attend area high schools, middle
schools and even elementary schools. Students who are
16 to 18 years old can ride at half fare and those under 16
years old, with a fare-paying adult, can ride free according to
Schneider.
Previously, The COMET did not make a big pitch to
students in the Midlands area it serves. Now there is a
concerted effort to try and attract more students to the
transit system. Even The COMET’s website has a new link
touting the advantages to students of using the bus services.
You can read all about it at www.catchthecomet.org
---- Information for this article from “The COMET Reaches Out to
Students”, by Al Dozier, Free Times, August 20-26, 2014.
City of Seneca ready to roll out electric
buses to public
Starting on September 3, 2014, the City of Seneca
allowed members of the public to try out its new all-electric
buses for the first time. One Proterra bus was originally set
to roll out in passenger service back in January, 2014 but
several glitches developed which cut short its deployment.
This final phase of putting an additional three buses into
active service is to ensure that they can all meet the
demands of passenger service. (See TRANSITLINES, Fall/
Winter 2013-14 issue, “Seneca’s new bus hits the streets”,
page 3). A more formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
new service will be scheduled at a later date.
In mid-July, drivers from Clemson Area Transit, the
contract operator of Seneca’s buses, completed their
refresher training on the new buses after which the buses
themselves began a series of scheduled field tests. “With any
new technology, it is essential to conduct extensive testing
and some of that testing must take place on location,” said
Steve Clermont, a program manager with the Center for
Transportation and the Environment (CTE). CTE is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization that facilitates programs to
develop technologies and implement solutions for energy
and environmental sustainability. They are assisting Seneca
with their electric bus project by testing all operational
aspects of the buses; evaluating the results and making
recommendations.
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Funded by a Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
TIGGER grant awarded in 2011, (See TRANSITLINES, Fall/
Winter 2011-12 issue, “City of Seneca first in SC to operate
all-electric buses”, page 5) the grant period extended from
October, 2011 to December, 2014.
Seneca City Administrator Greg Dietterick is optimistic
about the new start-up. He says, “ The city has been
providing transit for seven years now”. And he added
…..”we look forward to seeing electric buses that run
cleaner and more efficiently on domestic power. This is a
unique opportunity for Seneca and we sincerely appreciate
Proterra’s efforts at making this a success. They have been a
tremendous partner throughout this process.”
Al Babinicz, the CEO of Clemson Area Transit, stated
that “CATbus is committed to delivering high quality transit
service to our community with reliable and safe buses.” Al
went on to state, “The electric buses represent the most
advanced technology in the transit industry. We are excited
about the opportunity to operate the only all-electric bus
system in the nation, operating electric buses made in South
Carolina. What we are seeing today is part of an extensive
and planned testing protocol to ensure that these buses can
effectively operate within our CATbus service area.”
The Proterra buses that will serve Seneca are designated
as the EcoRide model and they are completely batteryoperated, zero emissions vehicles which can be charged at
a special charging station in ten minutes or less. Proterra,
Inc. is located in Greenville, SC and started production of its
all-electric buses in 2010. (See TRANSITLINES, Spring 2011
issue, “Greenville site of new bus manufacturing plant”, page
6).
--- Information for this article from “Seneca ready to test electric buses
in passenger service”, news release from Ed Halbig, Director of Planning and
Development, City of Seneca, SC, August, 2014.
NEWS YOU CAN USE!
Have you seen the
National RTAP’s “2 the
Point Training” cards?
This is one of their
latest FREE products for
training drivers/operators. Designed for short, refresher
training “on the go”, these cards have information and
a quiz on a range of topics (bloodborne pathogens,
passenger safety, ADA sensitivity, etc.) critical to know
SPARTA’s Luis Gonzalez named
to Top 40 Under 40
Mass Transit magazine recently
announced its selections for this
year’s Top 40 Under 40 list. General
Manager Luis R. Gonzalez with the
Spartanburg Area Regional Transit
Agency (SPARTA) in Spartanburg,
South Carolina was among those
selected. The Top 40 Under 40 listing
is published by Mass Transit magazine
to honor those professionals who have made significant
contributions to the public transit industry in North
America. Luis will be featured in the September/October,
2014 issue of the magazine highlighting the reasons for his
selection. See the article at http://www.masstransitmag.com/
article/11617628/top-40-under-40-2014-luis-gonzalez
Luis began his transit career as an operator for the
University of Massachusetts. While there, he was promoted
from operator to trainer. He later became a driver supervisor
and a dispatcher. After graduation, Luis joined First Transit in
2004 and held interim positions at Cape Cod; Manchester,
New Hampshire; and Northampton and Springfield,
Massachusetts. These positions were held by Luis while he
was in the First Transit Management Associate Program.
In November, 2004, Luis was promoted to assistant
general manager of SPARTA and served in that capacity for
six years. He was named as the general manager in August,
2010 by SPARTA and First Transit, the management company
which operates SPARTA’s bus system.
Luis has been instrumental in bringing hybrid bus
technology to the SPARTA system with the inclusion
of this technology in the new low-floor buses that the
system purchased. Ridership in the Spartanburg area and
satisfaction with the service are both on the rise as a result
of his strong management and customer service skills.
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in transit operations. At National RTAP’s website, there
are instructions for printing out the cards as well as
a spreadsheet for tracking driver training. If you have
any questions about “2 the Point Training” cards and/or
would like a copy of the cards, go to http://webbuilder.
nationalrtap.org/2thePointTraining.aspx. You may also
call the National RTAP’s toll-free phone number at
888-589-6821. National RTAP is a program of the
Federal Transit Administration dedicated to creating rural
and tribal transit solutions through technical assistance,
partner collaboration and FREE training materials.
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While being very being active with the South Carolina
Alliance for Mobile Infrastructure (formerly TASC), Luis
continues to participate in federal and state meetings and
learning opportunities. He has been quoted as saying, “I
would like to see public transit used as the main mode of
transportation throughout the country and to see the choice
rider be the majority of the passengers on the vehicle.”
SPARTA is a system with eleven buses and eight fixed
routes and one downtown transfer center/terminal serving
the City of Spartanburg, SC.
---- Information from Mass Transit magazine article dated
September 22, 2014.
Regional COG wins award for assisted
rides program
A new ride program, operated by volunteers, has
earned national recognition for a South Carolina council
of governments. The Waccamaw Regional Council of
Governments (WRCOG) headquartered in Georgetown,
South Carolina, has garnered a 2014 Innovation Award from
the National Association of Development Organizations
(NADO).
The program gives elderly and disabled residents
opportunities to get to medical appointments; make trips to
the pharmacy and grocery stores; and even attend church
services throughout Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg
Counties. Rides are offered to those aged 60 and up or age
21 or over for individuals with disabilities. A mobility manager
uses Ride-Scheduler, a web-based software program, to
match riders with volunteer drivers. The software helps
make the program affordable and enables the completion of
tasks that would otherwise require more staff members.
Sarah Smith, the executive director of the WRCOG,
said, “We have to come up with new programs delivered
with volunteer assistance to meet the demands of the
communities we serve. This program is a wonderful benefit
to our community because we have so many seniors and
people with disabilities in need who don’t have access to
transportation, especially in the rural areas of our region.”
For more information about the award-winning assisted
rides program at WRCOG, visit their website at www.wrcog.
org or contact Mobility Manager Trina Cason at (843) 4362110 or e-mail at [email protected]
-----Information from a press release by WMBF News by
Mary Edwards, September 14, 2014.
Updates on Ongoing Projects
Statewide Multi-Modal Transportation Plan
The South Carolina Department of Transportation
Commission gave approval in late August for staff to begin
a 30-day public comment period for the final draft of the
Statewide Multi-Modal Transportation Plan (SMTP). The
series of seven public comment meetings started in early
September with the first one being held in Columbia, SC.
The remaining six meetings were in Florence, Greenwood,
Greenville, Rock Hill, Orangeburg and Charleston. Each
session began at 5:00 PM and ended at 7:00 PM.
Meetings utilized an open house format with a
presentation given at the beginning of each event.
Participants were able to walk through an exhibit station
to review exhibits after each presentation. Project team
members, including SCDOT staff from the Office of Planning,
the Office of Public Transit, and the consultant team, were
positioned at the stations to answer questions following
the presentations. Attendees had an opportunity to submit
questions using interactive computer stations as well.
Comments from the public were accepted until the close of
business on September 25, 2014
The SMTP is updated every five years to reflect the
latest information on travel and growth trends, goals and
objectives, infrastructure conditions, future deficiencies,
estimated funding, and strategies to move South Carolina
forward. This latest draft has a horizon year of 2040. There
are six separate plans that make up the overall SMTP.
They are an interstate plan; a strategic corridor plan; a rail
plan; a freight plan; a strategic safety plan; and a public and
human service transportation coordination plan. As a vital
component of this last plan, there are also ten regional
transit and coordination plans.
Please visit SCDOT’s website at www.scdot.org/inside/
public_comment_multimodal.aspx. to review the draft
plans. In the next issue of TRANSITLINES, this update will
include information on the number and type of responses
received for the public and human service transportation
coordination plan of the SMTP.
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Vehicle Utilization Review and Vehicle
Needs Assessment
This project was re-bid because the original solicitation
yielded no responses from offerors. This time around,
the Office of Public Transit received two responses. The
purpose of the review is to assist the SCDOT’s OPT in
making decisions regarding vehicle replacements and/or
expansions to ensure appropriate fleet size and utilization
is maintained. This, in turn, will serve to improve the overall
fleet management program in the state. To accomplish
the purpose, the contractor selected will conduct a
comprehensive evaluation of current fleet utilization by
inspecting vehicles purchased with OPT-administered funds
to determine current condition, utilization, and spare ratio. In
the scope of work, the selected contractor will be required
to assess each agency’s vehicle needs and make projections
on future needs out to a ten year horizon. The contractor
will also assist SCDOT/OPT to determine how the vehicles
are being utilized
The scope is divided into two lots. An offeror may bid
on “Lot A” which includes the public transit vehicles/agencies
in the upstate or on “Lot B” which includes the vehicles and
agencies in the lower part of the state or bid on both if they
have the capacity to handle each lot.
An evaluation panel met earlier in September to
make a selection based on the proposals received and a
responsive offeror was chosen. However, the solicitation is
now going through the protest phase because one of the
contractors has protested the selection. As of the time of
this publication, no final resolution has been reached.
People in TRANSITion
In July, Samontra Carter left her position as the
executive director of Senior Services, Incorporated of
Chester County (SSICC). Jennifer Davis has assumed the
role of interim excecutive director of the agency. Jennifer
has managed the agency’s public transportation program
(Chester County Connector) as well as performed various
administrative and financial functions during her eight years
of employment with Senior Services, Incorporated of
Chester County.
Transit Director Jennifer Glover-Hawkins is no longer
with the Fairfield County Transit System (FCTS). Financial
Program Manager Elizabeth Bankhead has assumed the
duties as interim director until a permanent selection for the
position is made. Elizabeth has been with the system for
about two years.
Mary Lou Franzoni was appointed, in August, as
the new executive director of the Lowcountry Regional
Transportation Authority (LRTA) d.b.a.Palmetto Breeze. She
has served in various positions at several transit systems
around the country during her thirteen year tenure with
First Transit, the management company that operates the
Palmetto Breeze service. Most recently, Mary Lou served
as the general manager for Escambia County Area Transit
in Pensacola, Florida. Prior to that, she was the general
manager for the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky
(TANK). Mary Lou began her transit career by assisting
with the start-up and growth of Blacksburg (Virginia) Transit
in the 1980s after she graduated from Virginia Tech. She
was recently quoted as saying, “I am excited to have the
opportunity to work with the folks at Palmetto Breeze and
look forward to continued improvements to the system.”
In July of this year, Palmetto Breeze welcomed
Keven Leavell as the new assistant general manager of
operations. Keven’s prior experience includes working as
a transportation specialist and lead driver with the Jasper
County School District. He was also the operations and
safety supervisor for a First Transit shuttle operation in
Savannah, Georgia. Keven is a certified behind-the-wheel
trainer; a certified classroom instructor; and a certified PASS
trainer. In addition, he volunteers for a local fire department.
Originally from the Atlanta area, Keven has lived in Jasper
County for many years. When he isn’t working, his two
children keep him very busy. Keven enjoys watching football
and spending time with his children in his spare hours.
The new mobility manager at Palmetto Breeze is Jessica
D. Johnson who joined the team in June, 2014. Her role
includes being responsible for route planning; community
outreach; and coordinating trips, among other miscellaneous
duties. Jessica graduated from South Carolina State
University with a bachelor’s of science degree in physics and
a master’s of science degree in transportation planning. Her
graduate studies focused on the feasibility of using mileagebased user fees to supplement funding for transportation
systems. Jessica is originally from York County, South
Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with
family and reading and traveling.
Also new at Palmetto Breeze is Mark Stanley who
was hired as the assistant general manager in charge of
maintenance. He was brought on board in April of this year.
Mark joined First Transit after twenty years of experience as
a maintenance control officer in the U.S. Army from which
he retired in early 2014. Mark graduated from Central Texas
University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
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Gregory Brackin has joined
Charleston Area Regional Transit
Authority (CARTA)/Transdev (Transdev
is the new name of Veolia Transportation,
the management company that operates
CARTA services) as fixed route
operations manager. Gregory is a 20-year transit veteran
with a very strong operational background. His most recent
assignment was at Gwinnett County Transit where he held
the position of general manager. During his time there,
Gregory oversaw the operation of seven express routes
and five local routes in the Atlanta metro region. He was
responsible for 150 employees and a fleet of 90 buses.
Gregory began his public transit career as an operator
and gradually increased his experience and responsibilities.
He subsequently served as a dispatcher, superintendent
of operations, operations manager, and interim general
manager during his fifteen year career at Hillsborough Area
Regional Transit (HART) in Tampa, Florida. Prior to this,
Gregory also served a stint in the U.S. Army.
CARTA/Transdev has a new
paratransit operations manager who is
Nate DeGrafenreid. Nate started his
career in public transportation as an
operator in Baltimore, Maryland. After
relocating to Mesa, Arizona in 2004, he
spent eight years performing multiple roles
until he reached the position of assistant general manager of
paratransit and safety. Nate’s most recent assignment was
with the Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) in Long Island,
New York. While there, he managed a fleet of 95 vehicles
and 125 operators. Nate brings a wealth of experience and
professionalism to his new duties at CARTA/Transdev.
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This summer, the Office of Public
Transit said goodbye to Regional
Program Manager Brenda Perryman.
She has accepted a position with the
Birmingham/Jefferson County (Alabama)
Transit Authority as director of grants
and procurement. Brenda will also be
responsible for the agency’s National Transit Database
(NTD) reporting. The staff of OPT wish Brenda all the best
and great success in her new responsibilities.
The first of September, the OPT
welcomed Janet Jones as the new regional
program manager for the Appalachian,
Pee Dee, Catawba and Upper Savannah
regions of the state. Janet came to us
from the SCDOT’s IT Services where she
was an information consultant for sixteen
years. Prior to that, she served as a procurement manager
with the SCDOT Procurement Office. Janet’s new duties
entail assisting the MPOs, COGs and transit agencies in the
four regions with the development and review of short
and long-range transit elements and plans. She will also
interpret and develop polices and guidance and provide
technical assistance to local, regional and other officials in the
implementation of planning programs. In addition, she will
review and recommend approval of federal and state grant
funding requests. A graduate of Limestone College with a
bachelor’s degree in computer information technology, Janet
also has an associate’s degree in telecommunications system
management from Midlands Technical College. Janet makes
her home in Columbia, SC.
FYI - Training Opportunities
OCTOBER 28-30, 2014
CCTM & CTPA RE-CERTIFICATION TRAINING
COLUMBIA, SC
NOVEMBER 17-19, 2014
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE TRAINING
ATLANTA, GA
This class is for those who are currently either a Certified
Community Transit Manager (CCTM) or a Certified Transit
Program Administrator (CTPA) who need to meet the
re-certification requirement of 20 hours of instruction within
the 3-year certification period. The re-certification training
will be held at the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority
(The COMET) headquarters in Columbia. Classes begin
each day at 9:00 a.m. and last until 4:30 p.m. Among the
subject areas to be covered for both certifications are: human
resource management; financial management; operations
management; transit development; and procurement and
contracting. Additionally, transit grants management is
presented to only those being re-certified as a CTPA. Three
out of the five subject areas for CCTMs will be covered and
four of the six subject areas will be covered for the CTPAs. The
training is being conducted by the Community Transportation
Association of America (CTAA). Registration deadline is
October 17, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. For further information and/
or for a registration form, contact Curtis Sims, Jr. at SCDOT’s
Office of Public Transit at [email protected] or telephone at
(803) 737-0071.
This training is designed to assist DBE transit agency staff
and FTA regional staff with developing and implementing
policies and procedures consistent with USDOT’s revised
DBE regulations, 49 CFR Part 26 and USDOT guidance.
The course will provide a basic understanding and working
knowledge of the USDOT DBE regulations and guidance.
Attendees will be provided with the tools necessary to design
and implement a DBE program in their organizations or
agencies. Those who should attend this training include: DBE
managers; general managers; procurement managers and staffs
of state DOTs, transit agencies, and MPOs as well as transit
vehicle manufacturers. Please note that this class is oriented
towards FTA grantees and focuses on transit related DBE
issues. Non-transit grant recipients and non-transit modal
operators should not attend this training. Cost is $450.00
for contractors, consultants, and non-USA transportation
or government agencies. It is free for all other entities/
agencies. For further information, contact Myrna Sirleaf at
(848) 932-6040 or e-mail at [email protected].
NOVEMBER 12-13, 2014
NOVEMBER 19-20, 2014
NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE (URBAN REPORTING)
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY
CONTROL IN TRANSIT
WASHINGTON, DC
WASHINGTON, DC
The goal of this course is to help transit professionals
learn the necessary skills for reporting urban data to the
NTD internet reporting website.The training is intended for
transit professionals whose responsibilities include some or
all of the following related to the National Transit Database:
reporting; statistical compilation; or other financial duties and
activities. This is an introductory level course. Content is
geared for people with little or no experience using the NTD
reporting system. The two-day course covers all aspects
of completing a full NTD report, from the perspective of
someone who is unfamiliar with NTD reporting. If your
system is planning on requesting a small systems waiver, you
should not sign up for this course, as most of the material
will not be relevant to you. Additionally, anyone covered
by the Rural NTD Reporting System should not sign up
for this course. Lastly, Safety and Security Reporting is not
covered in this course but is covered by a separate webinar/
course. Cost is $300.00 for contractors, consultants, and
non-USA transportation or government agencies. It is free
for all other entities/agencies. For further information,
contact Fran Conti at (848) 932-6047 or e-mail at
[email protected]
The purpose of this course is to provide an overview
of the essential components of quality assurance and
quality control in transit agencies. The course will also
review and expand upon the FTA’s Quality Management
System Guidelines and address the various perspectives for
quality relative to capital development, transit operations,
maintenance or vehicle acquisition. Also covered will be the
benefits of implementing a quality management system and
strategies to implement quality processes in at least one
of the functional areas mentioned above. This course is
offered to current and new transit professionals that engage
in federally funded activities. It should prove particularly
beneficial for grantees, FTA staff, consultants, contractors,
and vendors. Cost is $300.00 for contractors, consultants,
and non-USA transportation or government agencies. It is
free for all other entities/agencies. For further information,
contact Myrna Sirleaf at (848) 932-6040 or e-mail at
[email protected].
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