Fall Conference on the Horizon in Nashville at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel

The Tennessee Public Transportation Association (TPTA) and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) are excited to host the 2009 TPTA Conference & Expo on October 27-29, 2009, at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel located at 2100 West End Avenue in Nashville. The conference will feature informative workshop topics, dynamic speakers, prominent elected officials, premier manufacturers, and the latest innovative transit equipment and technology.

Put the date on your calendar and we hope to see you in October!
 

TPTA Opens New Downtown Office

The Association opened its new office in the new Music City Central Transit facility in downtown Nashville. The new office is located at 400 Charlotte Avenue, located one block from the Tennessee Capitol. The convenient location makes it a perfect meeting place for Association meetings as well as public transportation meetings with state legislators. Come and visit the new office:
 

Tennessee Public Transportation Association
Located in the Music City Transit Center (Lower Level)
400 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 100
Nashville, TN 37219
Office Phone: 615-256-8782
Office Fax: 615-271-1836
 

TPTA Advocates for Public Transportation in Washington D.C.

More than thirty County Mayors joined forces with Tennessee Public Transportation Association professionals on Capitol Hill in March to advocate for public transportation. The Association asked for a $20 million statewide FY2010 appropriations request for 5309 bus and bus facilities. The 5309 funding is important for every public transportation system to regularly replace buses on an annual basis. Without this funding a lot of systems run the risk of having a large number of buses that the FTA defines as beyond their useful life and in need of replacement. Also, the SAFETEA-LU transportation reauthorization will expire in September of this year, and TPTA is asking for signifigantlly increasing public transportation funding levels.

Becky Harris, TPTA President and Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) Transportation Director, opened the successful TPTA-sponsored Congressional breakfast in D.C. that included remarks and support from Congressman John Tanner and Congressman Zack Wamp. Staff from every Tennessee Congressional office also attended. Historically, the 5309 earmark request has been successful, but the 2009 fiscal year was not funded, making the D.C. trip critical to get the message to our TN Congressional Delegation.
 

Join Transit Professionals on TPTA Day on the Hill

The Association will be advocating for more public transportation at the Tennessee State Capitol. Please come join us as we visit with legislators in Nashville on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. Activities start at 8 a.m. at the Tennessee Legislative Plaza and conclude with a TPTA sponsored legislative reception at 5 p.m. at the offices of Johnson and Poss, located at the Bank of America Building, 414 Union Street, Suite 903.