VanStine - Steuben Mobility Dir. "On The Docket" in Albany To Address and Present @ (NYPTA) New York States Largest Public Transit Conference

Its Official - Eddie VanStine Steuben County Mobility Management Director is on the docket! -("NYS DOT REP")

VanStine to Address NYPTA Panel Discussion on Key Points in the Evolution of Mobility Management In New York -

The New York Public Transit Association’s Conference is the largest gathering of public transportation managers and professionals in New York State. Transit professionals from across the state come to the conference each year to learn and preview the latest innovative products and services.

Eddie VanStine From the Institute For Human Services INC. Will Be Bringing in A Few Colleagues from around the state for a 50 Min Panel Discussion to discuss key points and big wins and opportunities that mobility management plays in the planning and evolution of mobility and transit in New York and The US..

This will be an open forum and will Have The President of NYSAMM John Reel and Various other DOT Reps to help answer Questions.

The Final List Of Panel Members Will be released soon but please Join Us Thursday Morning November 2nd at NYPTA Marriott Wolf Road In Albany as this 50 min forum with be remembered for generations to come and we can for sure say that NYPTA Will never be the same!!!

From The NYPTA WEBSITE:

The New York Public Transit Association’s Conference is the largest gathering of public transportation managers and professionals in New York State. Transit professionals from across the state come to the conference each year to learn and preview the latest innovative products and services.

NYPTA’s partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) has resulted in increased attendance of large and small operators, transit professionals and decision- makers at all levels of these organizations.

From https://nytransit.org/about/nypta-history

NYPTAS History:

Who would have thought, in 1983, of the idea of a statewide organization serving more than 130 local public transportation providers, plus hundreds of private sector manufacturers, vendors, consultants, government agencies and millions of bus and subway riders; pumping millions of dollars into the state economy each year; stimulating job growth and improving the environment?

Actually, the birth of the New York Public Transit Association was less a grandiose idea acted upon than it was the evolution of responses to the collective agendas, issues and needs of the smaller, mostly rural, upstate transit operators. “The problem was upstate public transit authorities were mostly small and operating independently,” said Joseph H. (Joe) Boardman, at that time the Broome County Commissioner of Public Transportation, “and without a common organization.”?

Boardman, Carm Arcuri of the Utica Public Transit Authority, Herb Heckler of Ulster County Rural Transportation, John Insetta, the Director of Transportation for the City of Oneonta, Ithaca City Transit Manager Bernie Carpenter and Tom Freeman of Chemung County Transit were kindred spirits.? They provided a valuable service to their communities but lacked the financial wherewithal of their larger city counterparts.? They had no defined avenue for brainstorming, sharing best practices or learning about new methods and procedures. But they did have one advantage.

Some professional trade associations have adversarial relationships with their governmental counterparts, but the upstate transit operators found a very collaborative partnership with the New York State Department of Transportation.? Bill Acquario was the go-to guy at NYSDOT for transit industry information.? He coordinated two annual statewide transit conferences, shared information and supported the educational goals of the upstate operators. “New York operators wouldn’t necessarily attend the national conference,” Acquario recalled, “but they did attend DOT’s annual conference. It was the impetus for NYPTA.”

The relationship with NYSDOT was beneficial to both sides. Acquario called it “… a very significant event. It (NYPTA) gave credibility to DOT that it could provide for the upstate transit systems. It’s a crucial organization.”

There were other benchmarks along the way.? David Gunn of the MTA and New York City Transit began a dialogue with the upstate systems. “The big breakthrough was when David Gunn of the MTA got involved,” said Boardman. “He could see the small upstate systems represented a large part of the state’s political structure…and the value in working together.” Soon, the Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse transit systems were part of the group.? “There was some trepidation,” admitted past NYPTA President and former Executive Director of the Capital District Transportation Authority Dennis Fitzgerald, “but the MTA’s involvement was a big factor. We decided to go with the NYPTA model.” Westchester and Suffolk Counties were then recruited and, finally, the MTA officially came on board.

Another significant event was the formation of a powerful coalition of industry manufacturers and suppliers.? Led by Gordon Nevison (The Nevison Group), Ed Gallagher (American Seating Company) and Bruce Black (Detroit Diesel Corporation), the coalition became a conduit of information and goodwill among NYPTA members and a tireless supporter of NYPTA’s mission, vision, values and programs.

By the early nineties, NYPTA had established a headquarters in Albany and, under President Karen Rae, enlisted the assistance of professional advocacy and managerial service providers.? Its lobbying efforts became more effective, its communications more strategic, and its educational programs more timely and relevant to its members. It had a plan and a determination to grow the transit industry in New York, and was on its way!