Chambers of Commerce and Public Transportation: Perfect Partners
 Successful commerce has always required effective transportation. Typically, in discussions of business and transportation, the transportation of goods and materials is considered paramount. This focus, however, often obscures the significant impact that the transportation of people -- both customers and employees -- can have on commerce, on a company's bottom line and on the overall economic viability of a city and/or region.
Around the country, Chambers of Commerce are often found today at the leading edge of a paradigm shift when it comes to public transportation and harnessing its potential impact on local economies and businesses. Many chambers, in fact, are taking a second look at public transportation and seeing it as a vital tool in attracting and sustaining local businesses.
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The Alliance for Transit Operating Assistance consists of transit agencies and advocacy groups focused on increasing operating assistance for transit systems around the nation.
Members of the Alliance seek to communicate the nature of the current transit operating assistance crisis to policy makers and elected officials and to assist in the development on short- and long-term strategies to ease this investment gap.
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Medicaid Relief to Continue at ARRA Rates
Federal spending on Medicaid will continue at the higher rates established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA, or the "stimulus bill"), under legislation passed by the Senate and the House and signed by President Obama into law.
This temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which is the rate at which the federal government reimburses states for their medical expenses under Medicaid, has been slated to expire Dec. 31, 2010.
However, the budgets in almost every state are such that they simply cannot absorb Medicaid expenses at the lower, pre-ARRA, reimbursement rates. The legislation extends that FMAP increase for six months to June 30, 2011.
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The Insurance Store at CTAA
An Exciting Member Benefit: Take control of your insurance; own it, don't rent it.
For the transportation industry, navigating today's increasingly complex operating environment can be very difficult. The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) understands this and is ready to unveil a new one-stop shop for all the insurance needs of any community or public transportation system: The Insurance Store at CTAA.
The Insurance Store at CTAA offers a diverse menu of insurance and employee benefits products and services available to CTAA members through leading insurance professionals at Arthur J Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. and Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., subsidiaries of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Through group buying power, CTAA members can now get solid coverage, superior customer service, state-of-the-art risk management services and more competitive pricing for themselves and their facilities.
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Transportation to Work Toolkit for the Business Community: Get Started
First and foremost among many Americans' daily transportation needs is getting to and from work. Accessible, reliable, and affordable transportation is key to maintaining employment and thus a critical component of America's economic recovery. Furthermore, for members of the community with specialized transit needs, such as people with disabilities, older workers, youth, and low-income earners, such transportation is the link that actually makes employment possible.
The Transportation Toolkit for the Business Community gives businesses the information they need now to assist their employees in achieving a timely, cost-efficient commute that promotes productivity and job satisfaction. Explore the toolkit's flyers, fact sheets, resources and examples of transportation initiatives undertaken by employers nationwide. Each approach is straightforward to launch and simple to manage.
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An Open Letter to Bus and Motorcoach News
In our country today we find ourselves divided over many issues political, social or economic. For many, today is, like the line from Shakespeare's Richard The Third, "...the winter of our discontent." The entire line reads: "Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York." Those using the phrase often only borrow the first part, rarely the whole line. In this case the whole line and the speech in the play it's taken from remind us that people can make a difference. In our case the examples we saw in West Virginia are our "Dukes of York" in these difficult and often unsettled times.
Earlier today I received in my mail the most recent copy of Bus and Motorcoach News, published by the United Motorcoach Association (UMA). UMA used the term, "Summer of Discontent," to describe the current economic conditions of their segment of our industry...one of these articles dealt with the $77.7 billion bus and rail transit infrastructure deficit identified by USDOT/FTA [blaming] "unfettered federal spending for public rail and transit,"...this seems a very slight analysis of our nations critical infrastructure needs, transit or otherwise.
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Joblinks Employment Transportation--ENCORE!
A virtual conference experience for transportation providers, the business community, workforce development and human services professionals and other community leaders, Joblinks Employment Transportation--ENCORE! is your window into inspiring presentations on employment transportation. Use this site as your portal into a virtual learning experience on how to improve people's access to jobs and job training through improved transportation options.
We've organized Web-based presentations from recent conferences, webinars, and other interactive resources that showcase useful practices from communities just like yours. The best part is that you can design your own conference based on topics that interest you most and then "attend" this customized conference from the comfort of your own desk at a time of your choosing.
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Tappy Grams
Tappy Grams is an electronic newsletter published by the Community Transportation Association of America that describes new and timely publications on transportation-related information.
Preparation and dissemination of this newsletter is an activity of the National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination, and is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.
"Tappy the Penguin" is the long-serving mascot of the National Transit Resource Center and is our symbol of commitment to serving the information needs of the transit and human service communities.
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Important Changes to Medicaid Transportation Benefits
After many ups and downs in the Health Care debate I am pleased to let you know that we were successful in introducing important changes in Medical Transportation. First, the NEMT benefit has been affirmed as an ongoing part of the Health Care Legislation. There will be no further attempts to delete Medicaid funding transportation when Benchmark plans return as part of the proposed Medicaid reforms. Additionally, the primary way to serve those without insurance -- before the legislation passed -- will be through an expanded Medicaid program. Most importantly, the health care legislation provides funding to pay for this vital service. I am sure that you have heard of new mechanisms to provide health insurance to others called, insurance exchanges. These exchanges are designed to create competitive pricing for those covered by more traditional insurance.
The bottom line is that Medical Transportation -- as we have always known it -- emerges from this health care bill as a necessary ingredient for successful health treatment and outcomes. The paradox of having the best health care system in the world, with an inability to get there, is over.
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National Resource Center Blogs
The National Resource Center has three blogs: "Capitol Clips," which provides information on news and events in and around our federal government affecting the delivery and coordination of community and public transportation services, "The Express Stop," which features news about public transit, human services transportation and alternative transportation. And, "NRC Technical Assistance News," with news for and about the Technical Assistance Provider Network.
These publications are produced by the National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination (NRC), housed at the Community Transportation Association. The NRC provides technical assistance and information about public transportation and coordination of transit and medical care, employment, education and services for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
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The Potomac Express
CTAA and RAIL Magazine announce The Potomac Express. This blog will bridge the gaps between our quarterly editions of RAIL and our monthly electronic newsletter, Fast Mail for RAIL. The Potomac Express represents another means to get you the latest in passenger rail while also offering a new interactive medium for you to share your reactions and connect with other passenger rail leaders, experts, advocates and observers.
RAIL Magazine Editor Rich Sampson shares his perspective on the latest news, trends and ideas in passenger rail. Includes discussion on all forms of passenger rail: high-speed and intercity, commuter rail, heavy rail metros and subways, light rail, regional rail, streetcars, trolleys, monorails, people movers and airport rail systems, along with important topics such as rail-oriented development, intermodalism, station facilities, infrastructure and investment.
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The Competitive Edge: Making Community and Public Transit the Best Alternative for Medical Transportation
Today there is never-before-seen complexity in the non-emergency medical transportation field. Limited funding combined with growing patient loads has states seeking intermediaries that can control costs through competition.
Community and public transportation providers must become efficient, safe, costeffective and accountable to maintain these important medical transportation services. The Community Transportation Association, in response to requests from its members, is introducing a new initiative this fall -- the Competitive Edge -- which will give community and public transit providers the tools, resources and benefits they need to make them central players in this new medical transportation environment.
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Fast Mail is the newsletter of the Community Transportation industry. It is a bi-monthly compilation of the latest news and updates from the industry with timely information, resources, and announcements to our members, colleagues and friends.
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