Learn more and travel less while earning credits toward the Florida Commuter Choice Certificate.  Online class is in session every Wednesday from 12:00pm to 1:15pm EDT (except where noted).  Register online for one or more courses today.  The courses are free for Florida residents and only $25 per credit for out-of-state residents.

Sign up for announcements of training courses via email.

For more information, contact Jennifer Iley at iley@cutr.usf.edu or 813-974-6898.

 *No online training session on the following Wednesdays: May 8, June 27, and July 18.

*Class Schedule is subject to change due to instructor availability.

The 2012 Florida Commuter Choice Summit, sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation, and hosted by the Center for Urban Transportation Research, was held April 12 and 13, 2012 at the University of South Florida Marshall Student Center in Tampa. The Summit is an annual event that includes innovative presentations on Transportation Demand Management topics and updates from the seven FDOT districts.  Recipients of the Florida Travel Choices Awards and Road Scholar (Commuter Choice) Certificates will be recognized at an awards ceremony. Use the links below to download PDF copies of the presentations featured at the event.

April 12, 2012

Recognition Programs for Employers – How to Get Employers and Politicians Excited About TDM. Both Commuter Assistance Program (CAP) staff and the employers they assist want others to know that the work they do is important and that they are making a difference for their organization. CAPs partner with employers to find transportation solutions that will not only make their company more successful, but improve the economic vitality and quality of life for their community. Recognition programs can help meet these needs and in doing so, motivate everyone involved in the TDM process. During this innovative session, attendees heard from a District that is recognizing and rewarding employers and from employers getting recognized for their efforts in return.

1. Best Workplaces for Commuters for Florida Commuter Assistance Programs – Julie Bond, CUTR
2. Getting Local Officials Excited about Commuter Assistance: Program Ambassadors Program and Best Workplaces for Commuters – Christine Diaz-Pagan, Commuter Services of Southwest Florida/URS
3. Best Workplaces for Commuters: The Tindale-Oliver Experience (Creative Ways to Market the Program to Employees – Laura Everitt, Tindale Oliver & Associates, Inc.
4. Leave the Car Parked in the Driveway: Achieving Alternative Methods of Transportation – Erin Bryce and Stan Frank, City of North Port, FL

Federal Initiatives in Support of TDM. Demand management continues to evolve from responding to hot button topics of the day like energy crisis and expanding the focus beyond commuters to a more systematic integration of TDM in the way transportation agencies will operate in the future. Internationally recognized TDM expert, Eric Schreffler, shared his perspectives of where demand management is headed in the US and abroad.

Snap, Crackle, and TDM Pop Marketing. This session was designed to learn more about basic strategies to help invigorate your promotional marketing efforts, including an overview of FDOT-supported resources. This session provided tools to help you re-imagine your approach to marketing with an emphasis on marketing aesthetics and visual branding. – Jeff Horton, The Marketing Institute, Florida State University

April 13, 2012

Commuter Choice Certificate Graduates

2012 Florida Travel Choices Awards

Bus Rapid Transit and Managed Lanes: Miami and Minneapolis have implemented managed toll lanes on their interstate highways through a USDOT funded program known as the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) Program. The Miami project is known as the I-95 Express Lanes, and the Minneapolis project is known as the I-35W MnPass Lanes. A portion of the UPA funds were set aside for enhanced bus service in the managed lanes. Brian Pessaro (CUTR) presented on what impacts these managed lanes have had on bus service. Registered 3+ carpools, vanpools and hybrids are allowed to use the 95 Express lanes in Miami toll-free. Robyn Chiarelli (FDOT) presented on the toll-free usage of the lanes, and the marketing and outreach efforts that have been implemented to support the goal of reducing traffic congestion on I-95.

1. Bus Rapid Transit and Managed Lanes – Brian Pessaro, CUTR
2. Managed Lanes Experience of South Florida’s 95 Express – Robyn Chiarelli, Florida Department of Transportation District 4

Show Me the Money – Show Me the Results: This presentation reported on progress of the ongoing effort to estimate the aggregate effects and effectiveness of six of Florida’s Commuter Assistance Programs. The focus was on the chain of interactions from recruiting customers to matching them into carpools and vanpools; customer satisfaction; and on measures of performance (reductions in vehicle trips, emissions, and fuel use). – Ed Hillsman, CUTR and Michael Wright, Florida Department of Transportation

With funding from the Florida Department of Transportation, South Florida Commuter Services (SFCS) (http://www.1800234ride.com/) has created a financial incentive program to reward and motivate commuters to use alternative modes of transportation who are using the 826/836 interchange.  For example, all registered carpool groups that qualify for the 826/836 incentive plan will receive a monthly incentive, per carpooler through January 2013.  Plus those qualifying groups will be automatically enrolled in the emergency ride home program.  To qualify for incentives, your route to work must travel through the 826/836 incentive zone.  Use the SFCS 826/836 INTERACTIVE MAP to determine if your route to work travels through the incentive zone.  Simply enter your home and work addresses and click the Show Route button.  In addition, the map will provide you with information on potential carpool partners and current/future construction activities.   For more information, visit http://www.1800234ride.com/section/826836_Reconstruction_ProjectIncentive_Program/223/.

Program

Electronic Copy of Summit Program

Embassy Suites Information

Embassy Suites Tampa – USF is located at 3705 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.  Their telephone number is 813-977-7066.

Driving Directions to USF Embassy Suites

Summit Location Information

The Summit will be in the USF Marshall Center’s  Oak Room (MSC 3707) on the third floor.  Map of USF Marshall Center. 

Driving Directions to USF Campus Information Center (parking pass pick-up) with directions to USF Marshall Center

Transportation

USF’s Marshall Center is an easy walk from the Embassy Suites.  Walking Map to USF Marshall Center *The walking map begins at Alumni Drive.  From the Embassy Suites on Spectrum Boulevard, you will need to navigate through parking lots and grass to reach Alumni Drive.

Embassy Suites offers a free shuttle anywhere on campus. Inquire at the front desk and allow 10-15 minutes extra if you plan to take the shuttle.

The Bull Runner is USF’s on-campus transportation system.  You may ride the Bull Runner using your visitor pass (included in your welcome bag). Again, to reach the Bull Runner stops, you will need to navigate through parking lots and grass. Use BullTracker to find out exactly when the shuttle will arrive at your stop. *Route E runs from the Engineering stop in front of the CUTR building to the Marshall Center. From the Marshall Center back to CUTR/Embassy Suites area, use Route A to the Research&Development stop.   Bull Runner Routes Map

Parking on Campus

Visitor Parking Map *The USF Marshall Center is circled in red on the map, and blue arrows point to the designated visitor parking areas in the Crescent Hill Parking Garage, Lots 3B, 3C, or 3D. Parking passes need to be picked up at the Campus Information Center, circled in green on the map.

USF Smoking Policy

USF limits smoking on the USF Tampa campus to designated smoking areas only to help reduce the risks of secondhand smoke and help to ensure a healthier environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. This new policy will cover CUTR and all buildings, grounds, parking lots and any property under the control of the USF Tampa campus. If you are a smoker, we respectfully ask that you abide by the USF Smoking Policy. We have provided a map for your convenience so you will know of the designated smoking areas on campus. Designated Smoking Areas  

Note: Embassy Suites is not covered by the USF Smoking Policy, but may have its own policy.

The 2012 Florida Commuter Choice Summit, sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation, and hosted by the Center for Urban Transportation Research, will be held April 12 and 13, 2012 at the University of South Florida Marshall Student Center in Tampa. The registration fee is $75 for Florida participants, and $150 for participants outside the state of Florida.

Overnight accommodations are available at USF Embassy Suites, for $130 per night, plus tax. Reserve a room online or call (813) 977-7066 and request the Florida Commuter Choice Summit rate.

The Summit is an annual event that includes innovative presentations on Transportation Demand Management topics and updates from the seven FDOT districts.  Recipients of the Florida Travel Choices Awards and Road Scholar Certificates will be recognized at an awards ceremony. Review the tentative agenda.

To register, complete the form below and click Send!. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with payment instructions.  

Learn more and travel less while earning credits toward the Florida Commuter Choice Certificate or our new Social Marketing in Transportation Certificate.  These online classes are in session every Wednesday from 12:00pm to 1:15pm EST (except where noted).  Register online for one or more courses today.  The courses are free for Florida residents and only $25 per credit for out-of-state residents.

Sign up for announcements of training courses via email.

For more information, contact Jennifer Iley at iley@cutr.usf.edu or 813-974-6898.

*Class Schedule is subject to change due to instructor availability.

The first 4 courses for the Spring 2012 Online Training schedule are now open for registration.

*A new Social Marketing and Transportation certificate will debut later in the Spring 2012 semester - more details to follow soon.

Learn more and travel less while earning credits toward the Florida Commuter Choice Certificate.  Class is in session every Wednesday from 12:00pm to 1:15pm EDT (except where noted). For more information, contact Jennifer Iley at iley@cutr.usf.edu or 813-974-6898.

*Class Schedule is subject to change due to instructor availability.

Courses are FREE for Florida residents. Non-Florida residents pay $25 for each session. Payments are accepted online via Mastercard, Visa, American Express, or electronic check.

The Florida Department of Transportation has identified three (3) areas of the State of Florida as “Areas of Critical Concern.” These three areas include twenty-eight (28) of Florida’s thirty-two (32) rural counties:

1. Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Liberty Counties (and a small area within Walton County)

2. Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee Counties (and small areas within Collier and Palm Beach Counties)

3. Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor and Union Counties More