 |
| CATC Director and WYTRANS Board Member,
Marge Cole. |
and
15 Safe Driver Trainers. These trainers certified 115 transit drivers in
PASS, recertified 38 drivers in PASS, and trained 283 in Safe Driver.
Since WYTRANS trainers began teaching CTAA’s PASS program in 1996, 708
drivers have been trained and 139 have been recertified, a commendable
effort.
Marge Cole was President of WYTRANS in
the mid ’90s and helped the transit program survive the advent of drug
testing. A tremendous effort was put forth by all involved to comply
with this unfunded mandate. While ultimately beneficial and a positive
requirement, the task was almost incomprehensible in the beginning.
After several years of flat funding for
transit, the WYTRANS Board began talking with the WYDOT Transit Staff
about another run at the legislature for more funding from the state. Jeri
Bottenfield, WYTRANS president, led the charge, investing countless
hours in working with legislators, and organizing the WYTRANS members to
develop a bill and get it approved. This bill nearly doubled the
operating funds for the transit program.
 |
| Steve Kurtz and Jeri Bottenfield recognized retiring board
member Ilene Johnson at the 2001 Conference in Casper. |
The Transportation Commission,
WYDOT staff, and legislators all worked together with Jeri and WYTRANS
to approve this funding increase. During the same session,
|
WYTRANS
proposed establishing a fund, from money paid to Wyoming for not having
AMTRAK service, which would be used to generate interest and pay for new
transit vehicles. This fund, roughly $1 million per year, is used to buy
new vehicles for transit. With match from WYDOT, the transit agencies
can purchase new vehicles and only pay a ten percent local match.
My observations about the last fourteen years
of transit in Wyoming are that transit has matured and is providing a
much improved and expanded service to the public. The drivers are better
trained, but still are most concerned about their riders’ well-being.
The managers are much better managers, are more knowledgeable, and
manage better transit operations. They provide more service and better
service than in years past.
The WYDOT Transit Staff, Rich Douglass and
John Black, have always been on the look out for transit program
funding. They have been instrumental in the 5309 program that earmarked
funding of $2.5 million each year for the last two budget years for
construction of bus barns. Many thanks to Senators Enzi and
Thomas for these funds. The next fourteen years will hopefully be
good for the Wyoming Public Transit Program. With an aging population
and more and more handicap access, the challenge to meet the
transportation needs of the state is even greater. |
 Trainer’s
Corner
Faye Nash
What is a cognitive
disability? What are service animals? How many feet from the railroad
track must a transit vehicle stop? What is tail swing? I am being yelled
at over the phone, what should I do? What changes have been made with
the FTA Drug and Alcohol Program?
These questions and many, many more will be
answered at the 15th Annual WYTRANS Conference and Bus Roadeo.
It is very important to keep updated on all information. How better to
do this than attend the conference in Cheyenne, June 18-21. The WYTRANS
trainers will be available to answer any of your questions. Get your
information from the experts. The trainers are always excited to train
at the conference. They are able to meet so many of you from all over
the state.
Registration information will be sent in May.
Informative classes for drivers, dispatchers, and managers will be
offered. Great fun is planned for all. You will not want to miss
anything. Cut this article out and give it to Faye at the conference.
She will give you a prize. J |