#### ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.5798611111111112in" height="0.5395833333333333in"}

#### 

#### *Transit Research Update -- September 2008* 

# *Contents*

*To view any article listed, use the mouse and control/click on the
title.*

[SPECIAL](#special)

[**First French-American Workshop On Public Transportation & Innovative
Financing -- Workshop Report, Executive Summary**
...[2](#first-french-american-workshop-on-public-transportation-innovative-financing-workshop-report-executive-summary)](#first-french-american-workshop-on-public-transportation-innovative-financing-workshop-report-executive-summary)

[**Transport Expertise**
....[2](#transport-expertise)](#transport-expertise)

[FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER](#from-the-tri-research-corner)

[**Conference Call with the U.S. Embassy in Panama, September 8, 2008**
...[3](#conference-call-with-the-u.s.-embassy-in-panama-september-8-2008)](#conference-call-with-the-u.s.-embassy-in-panama-september-8-2008)

[**Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners. -- Final Report**
...[4](#bus-rapid-transit-a-handbook-for-partners.-final-report)](#bus-rapid-transit-a-handbook-for-partners.-final-report)

[**Bus Transit Safety Quarterly Newsletter - August 2008**
...[5](#bus-transit-safety-quarterly-newsletter---august-2008)](#bus-transit-safety-quarterly-newsletter---august-2008)

[**Effects of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel**
...[5](#effects-of-tod-on-housing-parking-and-travel)](#effects-of-tod-on-housing-parking-and-travel)

[**Evaluation of Advanced Parking Management Systems for Transit**
...[5](#__RefHeading___Toc211157175)](#__RefHeading___Toc211157175)

[**Performance Measurement, Demand Management, and Issues of Major U.S.
Cities**
...[6](#__RefHeading___Toc211157176)](#__RefHeading___Toc211157176)

[**Seasonal Variation in Traffic Congestion: A Study of Three U.S.
Cities -- August 2008**
...[6](#seasonal-variation-in-traffic-congestion-a-study-of-three-u.s.-cities-august-2008)](#seasonal-variation-in-traffic-congestion-a-study-of-three-u.s.-cities-august-2008)

[**Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Research Tools Final Report**
...[6](#transit-signal-priority-tsp-research-tools-final-report)](#transit-signal-priority-tsp-research-tools-final-report)

[**Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies: A Focus on
Hydrogen**
...[7](#transitions-to-alternative-transportation-technologies-a-focus-on-hydrogen)](#transitions-to-alternative-transportation-technologies-a-focus-on-hydrogen)

[**Transportation Implications of Emerging Economic Development Trends**
...[7](#transportation-implications-of-emerging-economic-development-trends)](#transportation-implications-of-emerging-economic-development-trends)

[RESEARCH NEWS & INFORMATION](#research-news-information)

[**AASHTO National Transportation Product Evaluation Program for**
...[7](#aashto-national-transportation-product-evaluation-program-for)](#aashto-national-transportation-product-evaluation-program-for)

[**Flashing Arrow Panels and Portable Changeable Message Signs**
...[7](#flashing-arrow-panels-and-portable-changeable-message-signs)](#flashing-arrow-panels-and-portable-changeable-message-signs)

[**Congress Weighs Boosting Funds for Mass Transit**
...[8](#congress-weighs-boosting-funds-for-mass-transit)](#congress-weighs-boosting-funds-for-mass-transit)

[**Deutsche Bahn: Implementing A Successful Strategy**
...[8](#deutsche-bahn-implementing-a-successful-strategy)](#deutsche-bahn-implementing-a-successful-strategy)

[**4th Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference, April 7 -
April 9, 2009 in Nashville, TN**
...[8](#__RefHeading___Toc211157186)](#__RefHeading___Toc211157186)

[**Findings and Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Advanced Parking
Management Systems for Transit -- T3 Webinar**
...[9](#findings-and-lessons-learned-from-an-evaluation-of-advanced-parking-management-systems-for-transit-t3-webinar)](#findings-and-lessons-learned-from-an-evaluation-of-advanced-parking-management-systems-for-transit-t3-webinar)

[**FBI Creates Knowledge Wiki**
...[9](#fbi-creates-knowledge-wiki)](#fbi-creates-knowledge-wiki)

[**FOSE 2009 Exposition and Conference, March 10-12, 2009**
[9](#fose-2009-exposition-and-conference-march-10-12-2009)](#fose-2009-exposition-and-conference-march-10-12-2009)

[**HART Must Return \$710,000 to Hillsborough County**
\...[10](#hart-must-return-710000-to-hillsborough-county)](#hart-must-return-710000-to-hillsborough-county)

[**SEPTA Riders Like New Train Car on Display**
...[10](#septa-riders-like-new-train-car-on-display)](#septa-riders-like-new-train-car-on-display)

[**Successes in Stewardship Newsletter: September 2008**
...[10](#successes-in-stewardship-newsletter-september-2008)](#successes-in-stewardship-newsletter-september-2008)

[**Transit Ridership Surges Nationally in Second Quarter**
...[10](#transit-ridership-surges-nationally-in-second-quarter)](#transit-ridership-surges-nationally-in-second-quarter)

[**Top 5 e-Government Sites Revealed**
...[11](#top-5-e-government-sites-revealed)](#top-5-e-government-sites-revealed)

***==============================================================================================================================***

## SPECIAL

### First French-American Workshop On Public Transportation & Innovative Financing -- Workshop Report, Executive Summary

September 5, 2008 *- Transport Expertise* released a workshop report
"*First French-American Workshop On Public Transportation & Innovative
Financing"* on its Website. You can download the Executive Summary
directly from the website or order a free copy by email or through the
contact form:

\[http://en.transport-expertise.org/index.php/company/contact-us/\].
Executive Summary Online
\[<http://en.transport-expertise.org/index.php/2008/09/05/first-french-american-workshop-on-public-transportation-innovative-financing-33/>\].

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA1) of the United States
Department of

Transportation (U.S. DOT), the French Trade Office2 of the French
Embassy in the

United States, and the French Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable
Development, and Land Planning3 organized a two days workshop, from July
6 - July 8, 2008, on how to develop effective mass transit systems
through private investment and innovative

financing. The event and site visits were held in Lyon-Charbonnières and
Saint

Etienne, France.

*U.S. Delegation Chief Sherry Little, FTA Deputy Administrator*
graciously welcomed Representative John Mica4 (R-FL) and Representative
Loretta Sanchez5 (D-CA).

The conference report is divided in three main parts: (1) General
overview of the French practices and evolutions in the Public-Private
Partnerships (PPP) field; (2) Summary of each presentation from the five
sessions; and (3) French regulatory and bibliographical references to
help understand the complexity of Public-Private Partnerships. This
two-day seminar demonstrated that PPPs have been successful in several
sectors of infrastructure, and is a viable option in urban transport
projects, providing important side benefits through renewed initiatives.
Online
\[<http://www.transport-expertise.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/20080905-execsum-ppp-en-md.pdf>\]

### Transport Expertise 

*Transport Expertise* is an innovative and unique website dedicated to
the "transport sphere"; providing its readers with topical news,
studies, and analysis using a comparative "touch of French-American way
of thinking" on how transport is managed on both continents. Website URL
\[<http://www.transport-expertise.org/index.php/spread-the-word-about-transport-expertise/>\]

## FROM THE TRI RESEARCH CORNER 

### Conference Call with the U.S. Embassy in Panama, September 8, 2008

At the request of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST),
the FTA Office of Research Management (TRI-30) coordinated a Conference
Call with the U.S. Embassy in Panama, Monday, September 8, 2008, 9:00 am
-- 12 Noon.  The purpose of this conference call was to provide guidance
and expertise to help Panamanian stakeholders better understand the
coordinated effort and resources needed to strengthen the overall
capacity of Panama's transportation system, and to develop a
comprehensive Intermodal Plan for Panama's two major corridors (Panama
City/Colon Corridor, and East-West Corridor). 

**AGENDA**

>  9:00 A.M   Opening Remarks - Rita Daguillard, Moderator
>
> 9:05 A.M.  Welcome -- Frederick Eberhart, 
>
> 9:10 A.M.  Opening Remarks -- Nicholas R. Kuchova, Panama Moderator 
>
> Introduction of Panamanian Participants
>
>  
>
> **Presentations**
>
> 9:20 -- 9:45 A.M      William M. Lyons - *Integrated Approaches to
> Regional Transportation  Planning*
>
> 9:45 -- 10:05 A.M.  Steve Feigenbaum, *Case Study -- Service Planning
> in a Rapidly Changing Environment*
>
> 10:05 -- 10:25 A.M. Walter Kulyk -- *Bus Rapid Transit & ITS
> Technology*
>
> 10:25 - 10:45 A.M.  Charles Goodman - *Planning, Federal Perspective*
>
> 10:45 - 11:05 A.M. Albert Hernandez, P.E*.- Miami-Dade* *Case Study*
>
> 11:05 - 11:20 A.M. Dennis Hinebaugh -- *National Bus Rapid Transit
> Institute*
>
> 11:30 -- 12 NOON  Q & A - Panamanian Participants
>
>  Closing Remarks -  Both Moderators

** **

The challenge for USDOT, as stated in DOT Team Report---*How can Panama
comprehensively plan an intermodal transportation system that will
support Canal expansion, Panama's economic development, and its vision
of Panama's global role in the future*?

*Good projects result from good planning* was the focus of this
conference call. TRI-30 brought together a team of experienced U.S.
transportation planners and experts from government, academia, and the
transit industry to meet the transportation planning capacity building
needs of Panamanian stakeholders. This six-member U.S.Team made
presentation on subject areas of interest to the Panamanian participants
such as---Integrated Approaches to Regional Transportation Planning,
Miami Dade Case Study, National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, Planning
and others.

### Rehab International with South Korean Group

The Korean Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
(KSRPD) is conducting a study on the impact of the Anti-discrimination
Act on the realization of rights of persons with disabilities in the
United States. The coordinator of international cooperation of KSRPD has
requested to meet with Michael Winter in regards to their international
study program called "Global Challenges for Young Persons with
Disabilities," which aims to assist young adults with disabilities in
building their capacity in dealing with disability issues both on the
national and international level, in order for them to become
influential figures in promoting a better society for persons with
disabilities in the future. Contact \[Michael Winter@dot.gov\]

### 4th Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference on April 7 - April 9, 2009 in Nashville, TN

Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will be hosting the 4th Annual Drug
and Alcohol Program National Conference on April 7 - April 9, 2009 in
Nashville, TN. This free three-day conference will include speakers from
the FTA, the Office of the Secretary\'s Office of Drug and Alcohol
Policy and Compliance (ODAPC), FTA auditors, FTA Drug and Alcohol MIS
Program and Newsletter staff, the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI),
and professionals from the DOT Drug and Alcohol testing industry.

This year, the first day of the conference will be dedicated solely to
Beginner Drug and Alcohol Program Manager (DAPM) Training. This session
is geared to new DAPMs and those DAPMs seeking basic refresher training.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED in order to attend this session. The
opening remarks and all other sessions are on Wednesday, April 8th and
Thursday April 9th. Register Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/DrugAndAlcohol/Training/NatConf/default.asp>\]

## FEDERAL RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

### Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners. -- Final Report

Mineta Transportation Inst., San Jose, CA. Coll. of Business.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a maturing mode with proven operational
experience in many parts of the world. BRT is universally accepted,
offers a potentially cost-effective transportation mode that bridges a
capital cost gap between regular bus service and light rail transit, and
can deliver services with features that normally are found only with
rail service. Many systems have been evaluated in the United States and
from around the world. This handbook draws on those experiences and
pulls them together to clarify the service and infrastructure
characteristics that define BRT. This is not a technical manual.

This document aims to inform Caltrans staff and others what elements
constitute a BRT system, while addressing Caltrans' role with its
partners considering BRT features as an alternative on or supplement to
the State Highway System. Lessons learned from BRT case study
experiences in California are summarized. This handbook also is

intended for use by Caltrans professionals, elected officials, local
jurisdictions, transit operating and planning agencies, and the general
public to understand Caltrans' role in BRT development, both on and off
the State Highway System. To aid in the understanding, the respective
roles and responsibilities for the various partners are outlined.
Finally, technical information about many BRT and rapid bus projects in
California, along with a summary of international experiences, are
included in the Appendix. Read Online

\[[http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/BRT2006/BRT_06_02%20book.pdf](http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/BRT2006/BRT_06_02 book.pdf)\]

### Bus Transit Safety Quarterly Newsletter - August 2008

New initiatives are underway for the Model Transit Bus Safety and
Security Program. In partnership with the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Public
Transportation Association (APTA), and the Community Transportation
Association of America (CTAA), FTA has developed a fresh approach to
deliver its voluntary program to all bus transit agencies across this
Nation.

*The Transit Bus Safety Newsletter,* dated August 2008, provides an
overview of the bus safety's new program direction, including program
components such as guidelines for excellence, agency self-assessment,
training, and a resource library. Other features in the newsletter
include highlights of the State DOT Transit Bus Safety and Security
workshop held on March 3-5 in Dallas, TX; a new bus safety training
initiative that will offer new bus safety training programs; a spotlight
on onboard vehicle safety equipment; accident handling procedures;
industry accident and incident trends; and components of security and
emergency preparedness including threat and vulnerability assessments
and suspicious objects on a vehicle. Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/Safety/Bus.asp>

### Effects of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel

TRB's *Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 128: Effects
of TOD on Housing, Parking, and Travel* explores the demographics of
transit-oriented development (TOD) residents and employers, and their
motives for locating in TODs.  The report also examines the travel
characteristics of residence before and after moving to a TOD and ways
to increase transit ridership among these residence.  In addition, the
report reviews the potential effect of land-use and design features on
travel patterns, transit ridership, and the decision to locate in a TOD.
Online \[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_browse.asp?id=1>\]

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc211157175 .anchor}**Evaluation of Advanced Parking
Management Systems for Transit**

The Federal Transit Administration released the publication entitled
*Evaluation of Transit Applications of Advanced Parking Management
Systems.* The United States Department of Transportation\'s ITS Joint
Program Office and the Federal Transit Administration recently completed
this independent evaluation of advanced parking information systems
deployed in Chicago, Illinois and Montgomery County, Maryland. The
report documents quantifiable system impacts in terms of parking
utilization, transit ridership, traffic circulation, and customer
satisfaction. The evaluation also includes institutional issues and
lessons learned by the project stakeholders throughout deployment and
operation of these systems. The findings in the report include the
impact of the system on ridership and parking utilization, on mode
choice, and on circulation within and between lots, as well as the
overall impact of the system on customer satisfaction. Study results
indicate that it is unclear whether the parking management systems
increased parking utilization or transit rider ship, or whether they
reduced circulation within and between park-and-ride lots.  The results
do indicate that customers are satisfied with the sign locations and
accuracy and would like to see similar signs at other locations. More
Online

\[<http://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/ParkingManagementEvaluationReport.pdf>\].

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc211157176 .anchor}

**Performance Measurement, Demand Management and Issues of Major U.S.
Cities**

*TRB\'s Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation
Research Board, No. 2046* includes 11 papers that explore travel time
reliability measures, performance measures of freeway operations,
communicating performance measures and results to citizens,
incorporating transportation demand management into the land development
process, evaluating urban parking policies, and reassessing on-street
parking. This issue of the TRR also examines employee transportation
benefits in high transit mode share areas, compressed workweek choices,
removal of inner city freeways, how civil engineering students choose a
specialization, and a teaching laboratory for an integrated land use and
transportation course. Online
\[<http://trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9471>\]

### Seasonal Variation in Traffic Congestion: A Study of Three U.S. Cities -- August 2008 

The U.S. Research and Innovative Technology Administration\'s Bureau of
Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released a Technical Report that
explores congestion patterns during a 3-year period in Chicago, Los
Angeles, and Houston by estimating the changes in monthly congestion
during the year, the differences occurring in morning and evening
congestion, and differences in weekend and weekday congestion. Online
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9472>\]

### Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Research Tools Final Report

This report presents the results of a research project that addresses
*Transit Signal Priority (TSP) deployment issues*.  The report reviews
"National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation
Systems Protocol (NTCIP) 1211 Signal Control and Prioritization (SCP)
standards," defines five SCP scenarios, and describes how the SCP
scenarios can be applied differently based on TSP priority and operating
policies. An overview of TSP systems is provided including centralized
TSP, two discrete TSP systems based on loop detection and Global
Positioning System (GPS) technologies, and an Adaptive Transit Signal
Priority (ATSP) system. A comparison of the different TSP deployments,
and guidance on the necessary infrastructure required to implement these
TSP systems, are also provided.  The report discusses TSP evaluation
methodologies such as recommended measures of effectiveness (MOE's) and
data required for performing a quantitative assessment.  Evaluations of
a number of TSP deployment sites are documented to demonstrate how the
benefits of TSP to transit and the impacts of TSP to traffic operations
are assessed using the recommended approaches.  Finally, the report
provides guidance on TSP planning and analysis methods, such as
simulation and regional modeling tools.  The report is available Online:
\[<http://www.dot.ca.gov/newtech/researchreports/reports/2008/tsp_research_tools_final_report.pdf>\]
FTA contact: <Steven.mortensen@dot.gov>\], Senior ITS Engineer, Office
of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, 202-493-0459

### Transitions to Alternative Transportation Technologies: A Focus on Hydrogen

The Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES), part of the
National Academies' Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
(DEPS), has released a report that *estimates the maximum practicable
number of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that could be deployed in the
United States by 2020 and beyond, together with the investments, time,
and government actions needed to carry out this transition*.  The report
also examines the consequent reductions in U.S. oil consumption and
emissions of carbon dioxide that could be expected.  In addition, the
report compares those reductions with the potential impact that the use
of alternative vehicle technologies and biofuels might have on oil
consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Read More Online
\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?ID=9310>\]

### Transportation Implications of Emerging Economic Development Trends

NCHRP Research Results Digest 327, August 2008. This report focuses on
economic development trends and how transportation relates to these
trends. It provides practical information that could be used to relate
transportation investment with economic development. The literature
reviewed and the experts interviewed are from the fields of site
selection, labor analysis, logistics, and economic, rural, and real
estate development. The focus was on the following subject areas:
Business production, inventory, and logistics and distribution trends
and practices; Site selection for research and practices; Labor market
considerations; Urban and rural development practices; and International
trade and global market trends and implications.

## RESEARCH NEWS & INFORMATION

### AASHTO National Transportation Product Evaluation Program for 

### Flashing Arrow Panels and Portable Changeable Message Signs 

This 2008 Evaluation Program Final Report titled -*Flashing Arrow Panels
and Portable Changeable Message Signs*\--was prepared by the North
Carolina Department of Transportation for voluntary review by the AASHTO
National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP). The NTPEP
was established by the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The program pools the professional
and physical resources of the AASHTO member departments in order to test
materials, products, and devices of common interest. The primary goals
of the program are to provide cost-effective evaluations for the states
by eliminating duplication of routing testing by the states; and to
reduce duplication of effort by manufacturers who produce and market
commonly used proprietary, engineered products." NTPEP report 7006.1
presents the *Field Performance Evaluation Results of the* *Flashing
Arrow Panels and Portable Changeable Message Signs.* Online [NTPEP
Report -- 7006.1 Field Performance Evaluation Results of Flashing Arrow
Panels (Arrowboards) & Portable Changeable Message Signs
(PCMS)](http://www.ntpep.org/ProfileCenter/Uploads/PCMS-Report-70061(Final).pdf)

### Congress Weighs Boosting Funds for Mass Transit 

Link to story in *The Wall Street Journal*. WASHINGTON \-- Momentum is
building in Congress to increase funding for public transportation as
transit agencies struggle to accommodate increased demand from Americans
seeking to escape high gas prices.

[\[]{.underline}[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122092597953413373.html](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122092597953413373.html )
[\]]{.underline}

![](media/image2.png){width="4.0625in" height="1.9590277777777778in"}

** **

### Deutsche Bahn: Implementing A Successful Strategy 

The Deutsche Bahn (DB) has been a pace maker on the European rail
market. After many years of reforms, the national railway company now
appears as a model for all European railroads to stick to. DB managed to
make its freight rail operations profitable. Now other national railway
companies such as SNCF are attempting to adapt similar strategies. This
document purports to analyze the path followed by the DB and gets back
on the national railway company strategy\'s key points that led to
success.

This report presents background information regarding the European
Union's move to reverse the declining trend, of the early 1990s, in the
European rail market share. It discusses the European Union's launch of
a set of political measures to re-boost the rail sector. The idea was to
liberalize the market, pep-up the rail sector, open operations to new
rail providers to develop internal competition and thus put an end to
monopolistic situations. The report also discusses step-by step
directives that lead to success, along with efficiency of the reforms,
and much more. Online

\[<http://en.transport-expertise.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/200806-study-db-rail-strategy-sample.pdf>\]

[]{#__RefHeading___Toc211157186 .anchor}**4th Annual Drug and Alcohol
Program National Conference, April 7 - April 9, 2009 in Nashville, TN**.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will be hosting the *4th Annual
Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference,* April 7 - April 9, 2009
at the Nashville Convention Center, 601 Commerce Street. Nashville,
Tennessee  37203.

This free three-day conference will include speakers from the FTA, the
Office of the Secretary\'s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and
Compliance (ODAPC), FTA auditors, FTA Drug and Alcohol MIS Program and
Newsletter staff, the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), and
professionals from the DOT Drug and Alcohol testing industry.

The first day of the conference will be dedicated solely to Beginner
Drug and Alcohol Program Manager (DAPM) Training. Pre-registration is
REQUIRED in order to attend this session. The opening remarks and all
other sessions are on Wednesday, April 8th and Thursday April 9th.
Register Online
\[<http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/DrugAndAlcohol/Training/NatConf/default.asp>\]

### Findings and Lessons Learned from an Evaluation of Advanced Parking Management Systems for Transit -- T3 Webinar

**Date:**   October 21, 2008\
**Time:**  1:00--2:30 P.M. ET\
**Cost:**  All T3s are free of charge\
**PDHs:**  1.5\
[Register
On-line](http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/res_t3_register.asp?EventID=T3Topic5)\
[Contact the T3 Administrator](mailto:T3@dot.gov;tonya.miller@dot.gov)

The United States Department of Transportation\'s ITS Joint Program
Office and the FTA recently completed an independent evaluation of
advanced parking information systems deployed in Chicago, Illinois and
Montgomery County, Maryland. The final report, \"Evaluation of Transit
Applications of Advanced Parking Management Systems\", documents
quantifiable system impacts in terms of parking utilization, transit
ridership, traffic circulation, and customer satisfaction. This T3
Webinar will present background on these advanced parking management
projects as well as the findings of the national evaluation. The
findings include the impact of the system on ridership and parking
utilization, on mode choice, and on circulation within and between lots,
as well as the overall impact of the system on customer satisfaction.
More Online \[<http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov/t3/s081021_parking.asp>\]

### FBI Creates Knowledge Wiki

By [Ben
Bain](http://www.fcw.com/cgi-bin/udt/fdc.collector?client_id=fcw&form_id=maileditform&link_id=8&title=FBI creates knowledge wiki&author=Ben Bain&address=http%3A//www.fcw.com/online/news/153926-1.html&summary=Bureaupedia will let agents and analysts share their expertise with others.)
09/26/2008

The FBI is testing a new collaborative internal Web site, or Wiki,
called *Bureaupedia* that will enable users to create an encyclopedia of
lessons learned, best practices and subject-matter expertise. Officials
see Bureaupedia as a knowledge management tool that will let agents and
analysts share their experiences to ensure that their accumulated
insight remains after they retire. The project is a collaborative effort
between FBI's chief knowledge officer and chief technology officer. More
Online

\[<http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153926-1.html>\]

### FOSE 2009 Exposition and Conference, March 10-12, 2009

You\'re invited to register now for FOSE 2009 - *Where Federal Power
Meets Future Power* \[[http://www.FOSE.com](http://www.FOSE.com/)\].
FOSE 2009 will be held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center -
Washington, DC. At FOSE 2009---You will see hands-on demonstrations of
hardware, security/biometrics, wireless and mobility, networking and
infrastructure, storage, communications, internet software and
services - and so much more. You will discover the mission-critical
solutions essential for your success with free education and showfloor
destinations like the Security and DoD pavilions and the FOSE Data
Center. Expo registration is complimentary for government employees and
government contractors. REGISTER NOW: FACE1
\[<http://www.1105info.com/t.do?id=1686474:10193165>\]

### HART Must Return \$710,000 to Hillsborough County 

By Mark Holan. St. Petersburg Times

FLORIDA - The county\'s transit agency must return nearly \$710,000 for
failing to start up seven new flexible bus routes in Brandon and
Seffner. Hillsborough County Administrator Pat Bean earlier this month
rejected the agency\'s June request to keep the money for a less
ambitious flexible service program in two communities. Plans called for
using 12- to 15-passenger shuttle vans to pick up and drop off riders at
any location within designated areas. More Online
\[<http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/archives_topnews.jsp?siteSection=3>\]

### SEPTA Riders Like New Train Car on Display

Thaddeus Robinson rolled his wheelchair off SEPTA\'s new railcar,
grinning.

\"It\'s much better than the old cars,\" said Robinson, of West
Philadelphia, after a brief tour of the **Silverliner V prototype** that
went on display yesterday at Suburban Station. \"It\'s much easier to
get on and off. The hardest thing on the trains now is getting in and
making that side turn. This is perfect.\" Commuters who checked out the
mock-up on Track 0 were generally enthusiastic, though they won\'t be
able to board a real one for at least a year. \"It\'s a big step up. I
can\'t wait to use them,\" Brandon Shaw said. \"They have much bigger
windows. I appreciate that.\"

Online
\[<http://www.masstransitmag.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=3&id=7088>\]

### Successes in Stewardship Newsletter: September 2008 

\[<http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9465>\]

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released the latest
issue of its Successes in Stewardship monthly newsletter, which
highlights current environmental streamlining practices from around the
United States. This issue explores the opportunity for state
transportation agencies to reduce their total emissions and even earn
revenue by changing vegetation-management practices in their owned
rights-of-way.

*Note:* The August issue of FHWA\'s \"Successes in Stewardship\"
Newsletter is now available at:
\[<http://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/strmlng/newsletters/sep08nl.asp>\]

This issue\'s feature story is: \"Carbon Sequestration Along Highway
Rights of Way: Piloting a Concept\"

### Transit Ridership Surges Nationally in Second Quarter 

WASHINGTON (AP) 09/08/08--- The nation\'s public transportation systems
logged a 5.2 percent jump in ridership in the second quarter, according
to industry figures to be released Tuesday, as record-high gas prices
pushed people to take millions more trips on buses and rail systems.
Riders made a total of 2.8 billion trips on the nation\'s subways,
buses, commuter railroads and light-rail systems from April to June,
according to the Washington-based American Public Transportation
Association. That\'s up from 2.7 billion in the same period last year.
By contrast, transit ridership increased 2.1 percent for all of 2007, a
more typical growth rate. Online

<http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZIdarM-w5cHE3JfVlifDmW0COcQD932VKF80>

### Top 5 e-Government Sites Revealed

The Brookings Institution has ranked the top federal Websites, with
USA.gov coming out on top. Brookings ranked 61 government sites based on
their effectiveness at using interactive features to engage the public
and provide services. The top five:

-   USA.gov, General Services Administration.

-   USDA.gov, Agriculture Department.

-   GSA.gov, GSA.

-   Usps.com, U.S. Postal Service.

-   IRS.gov, Internal Revenue Service.

The bottom slot on the list included the Websites of various federal
courts, the Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Election
Commission. The e-government initiative has been one of the most
successful elements of the President's Management Agenda according to
some analysts. More Online
\[<http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153661-1.html>\]

###