The meeting will be held November 10 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Arkansas Transit Association Center.

At this meeting we will present an estimate of unmet transit need for the state, based on populations in need of public transit and the amount of public transit service currently being provided. We will also be discussing options to begin to meet that need that have arisen from our discussions with each of the eight Regional Advisory Committees.

7th Annual Federal Transit Adminstration (FTA) Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference

April 10-12, 2012

Hyatt Regency Miami

400 SE 2nd Ave.

Miami, FL 33131

To register please visit:

http://transit-safety.fta.dot.gov/DrugAndAlcohol

The Mile High City…Beautiful Denver, Colorado and the Denver RTD will host SWTA’s 32nd Annual Conference and Expo.

When: February 12-15, 2012

Overview Agenda:

Pre-conference Ski Trip is planned for Sunday morning, February 12.

The Annual conference begins with a Meet-n-Greet on Sunday afternoon, February 12, sponsored by Veolia.

Training sessions, technical tours and the opening general session are planned for Monday, February 13. The day will end with an Opening Reception in the EXPO hall.

On Tuesday, February 14, we will mix general sessions in the morning and afternoon with dedicated Expo time, then end the day with our annual Awards Dinner and evening of entertainment. Don’t forget that February 14 is I love Transit Day!!

Wednesday, February 15 will feature a morning with FTA and we’ll hear from the 8 SWTA state’s Executive Directors. We’ll end before noon.

Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown

SWTA has negotiated a room rate of $109 until January 22, 2012. The link will be provided once you have registered. Don’t wait, reserve your room today, as soon as you register for the conference.

Special Information about making the most out of your trip to Denver:

• Whether you have a few hours, a few days or a week in the Mile High City, here are some suggested itineraries & trips

• For those who like to do your homework before you travel, take a look at Denver in Depth

• High Altitude Tips for Denver

Register NOW

Attendees Register Now: registration is in Early Bird mode. Only $249 until December 5th. Group registration is available. After December 5th all registrations will be $299 for members and $399 for non-members

Exhibitors: registration and expo registration will be available November 15. Email SWTA today to be included in informational updates.

Sponsors: we are taking sponsorship applications now. You must be a member to be a sponsor. Email Kristen at kjoyner@swta.org or call 615.390.6863 if you’d like to sponsor the conference and expo.

Transportation Training Opportunities November, 2011 – February, 2012

All "OPEN" classes will be held at the Arkansas Transit Association’s Training Center in North Little Rock.

Please register for classes on our website by clicking the link here, "Open" Class Registration.

You can also check out the descriptions of all classes (Class Descriptions) or see if and when the Training Coordinator is in your part of the state by clicking on the Calendar (Russ' Training Calendar).

Effective March 2, 2009, ATA has implemented a new invoicing policy for all “open” classes. Agencies will now be invoiced for ALL employees registered for such classes. Exceptions will be made when a representative from the organization calls to cancel the registration BEFORE the class begins.

* WHILE SUPPLIES LAST… Any agency that sends staff to an “Open” Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Class or that sets up a CPS class at your facility will receive a FREE copy of Simple Steps to Child Passenger Safety DVD.

Arkansas Transit Association to host and sponsor

Advanced Mobility Device Securement
ATA Training Center, North Little Rock
July 12-13, 2011

Transit agencies have the responsibility to provide safe transportation and respect the civil rights of all passengers, including those who use mobility devices. In order to fulfill this responsibility, bus operators secure mobility devices and place seat belts on the passengers who use mobility devices as transit seating. This important task is becoming increasingly challenging as operators are confronted with a variety of powered mobility devices that often lack traditional securement points and may not have been addressed in basic securement training. This workshop gives transit professionals responsible for preparing operators an opportunity to address these securement challenges, explore related issues with peers, and enhance their knowledge and skills.

The goal of Advanced Mobility Device Securement Skills Development Workshop is to present, demonstrate, and practice problem-solving skills for securing powered mobility devices. After successfully completing this two-day workshop, participants will be able to:

Ø      Discuss federal requirements regarding securement and seat belt use

Ø      List pre-trip preparation tasks

Ø      Identify mobility device securement equipment

Ø      Determine effective strap securement locations on mobility devices

Ø      Explain the use and placement of seat belts and shoulder belts

Ø      Recognize how proper body mechanics and exercise can reduce the risk of on-the-job injuries

To accomplish these objectives, the workshop integrates lecture, visual aids, participant discussion and learning activities.

The workshop will be held at the ATA Training Center in North Little Rock. Each day’s session will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude by 4:00 PM.

Registration fee is $30.00 for all ATA-member agencies and systems.

Click here to register for the workshop.

Contact our office if you have questions.