Transportation Advocacy
and Selected Research Organizations
National
Selected Research Centers and Institutes
- Transportation Research Board (TRB)
- Center for Transportation Excellence
- Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
- Institute for Transportation Studies (ITS)
- Mineta Transportation Institute
- National Center for Metropolitan Transportation Research
- Victoria Transportation Policy Institute
- Volpe National Transportation Center
Transportation Specific Professional Organizations
Transportation Specific Government Organizations
Advocacy
General
- Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP)
- Alliance for New Transportation Charter
- TransAct: The Transportation Action Network
- Tea3.org
- American Road and Transportation Builders Association
- Center for Appropriate Transport
Highway
- American Automobile Association (AAA)
- American Highway Users Alliance
- International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
- National Motorist Association
- National Partnership for Quality Highways
- The Road Information Program
ITS
Passenger Rail
- All Aboard
- American Passenger Rail Coalition
- National Association of Railroad Passengers
- The National Corridor Initiative, Inc.
- United Rail Passenger Alliance
Transit
- American Public Transit Association (APTA)
- Advanced Transit Association
- Community Transportation Association of America
- Community Transportation Development Center
- National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates
- Rail Transit Environment Coalition
Carpooling and TDM
Bicycling and Walking
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
- Bikes Belong Coalition
- League of American Bicyclists
- National Center for Bicycling and Walking
- Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center
- Thunderhead Alliance
- America Walks
- Walkable Communities, Inc.
Anti-Car
Miscellaneous
- Great American Station Foundation
- National Station Car Association
- Rails to Trails Conservancy
- Reconnecting America
State of California
- California Commuters Alliance
- California Transit Association
- Rail Passenger Association of California
- Train Riders' Association of California
- Transportation California
Los Angeles Region
- Automobile Club of Southern California
- Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition
- Southern California Transit Advocates
- The Transit Coalition
- Friends of Red Line
- Friends of the Green Line
- Friends 4 Expo
- Bus Riders Union (BRU)
- Citizens Organized For Smart Transit
- Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
- Friends of Southern California Highways
- 710 Freeway Coalition
Transportation Organization Descriptions and Websites
National
Selected Research Centers and Institutes
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Transportation Research Board is a unit of the National Research Council, which serves the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Nation Academy of Engineering. It involved in 1974 from the Highway Research Board, which was created in 1920. TRB is a multipurpose transportation research organization covering the whole spectrum of transportation related issues ranging from construction to operations and from marine transport to transit. Over 400 committees, task forces and panels composed of more than 4,000 professionals in the transportation and related fields, carry out TRB’s research program. These professionals serve without compensation and include administrators, engineers, planners, social scientists, lawyers and educators. The result of TRB’s research efforts and projects are numbers reports and articles. The Federal Government, various organizations and individuals support TRB. TRB is located in Washington D.C.
In addition to TRB’s general research, TBR also administers the National Cooperative Highway Research Programs (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). NCHRP was founded 1962 and is sponsored by NAS and individual State Departments of Transportation who are members of Association of State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO) in cooperation with FHWA. Its purpose is to conduct research on acute problems pertaining the planning, construction operation of highways. Likewise, TRCRP is the transit counterpart to NCHRP. It was established in 1992 and is sponsored by FTA, NAS and the Transit Development Corporation, the research arm of APTA. Booth cooperative research programs publish numerous reports and articles through TRB.
Website: http://www.nas.edu/trb/index.html
Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE)
CFTE is a non-partisan policy research center created to serve the needs of communities and transportation organizations nationwide. The purpose of the center is to provide research materials, strategies and other forms of support on the benefits of public transportation, particularly light rail transit.
Website: http://www.cfte.org
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP)
The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy was set up in 1985, to promote environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide. It tends to emphasize bicycling, walks and anti-sprawl programs. ITDP is based in New York City.
Website: http://www.ITDP.org
Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS)
The Institute of Transportation Studies is general-purpose transportation research and education institute for the University of California with centers at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UCLA. It is a part of the University Transportation Center Program sponsored by USDOT and its funding is from USDOT and Caltrans. It was founded in 1988 and its theme is transportation system analysis and policy. The flagship center is at UC Berkeley and the smallest center is at UCLA.
Websites: http://www.its.berkeley.edu http://www.its.ucdavis.edu http://www.its.uci.edu http://www.sppsr.ucla.edu/res_ctrs/its/index.html
Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI)
The Mineta Transportation Institute is a transportation policy institute located at San Jose State University campus. It was created by Congress as part of Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and designated University Transportation Center in 1998. MTI is named for Norman Y. Mineta, the current Secretary of Transportation for USDOT and the former congressman for the San Jose Area.
Website: http://transweb.sjsu.edu
National Center for Metropolitan Transportation Research (METRANS)
METRANS is transportation research and education institute based out of the University of Southern California (USC) and California State University Long Beach (CSULB). METRANS focus areas include transit, goods movement and highway infrastructure. It is a part of USDOT’s University Transportation Center program and its funding is from USDOT and Caltrans. METRANS specialty is goods movement and global logistics. It was formed in 1998 with a University Transportation Center grant from Congress.
Website: http://www.metrans.org
Victoria Transportation Policy Institute (VTPI)
The Victoria is an independent general-purpose transportation policy research institute based in Victoria, British Columbia Canada. They fund their operations with research grants and consulting work. The institute advocates solving transportation problems through congestion pricing, Travel Demand Measures (TDM), bicycling and pedestrian oriented projects. VTPI makes extensive use of cost-benefit analysis to support their work. They issue a large number of papers where many of them are available on their website. Todd Litman is the director.
Website: http://www.vtpi.org
Volpe National Transportation Center
Volpe National Transportation Center is a general-purpose transportation & logistics research organization based out of United States Department of Transportation. It is a fee for service organization that primarily serves USDOT but also to other federal, state, local and international entities. It does not receive any funding from the US Government. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Center was founded in 1970 and named after its founder – John Volpe, President Nixon’s Secretary of Transportation in the 1970’s.
Website: http://www.volpe.dot.gov
Transportation Specific Professional Organizations
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
The Institute of Transportation Engineers is an international association of professionals of engineers, planners and related professionals involved in transportation. ITE was founded in 1930 and 15,000 members in 80 countries. ITE has local chapters and 11 transportation specialty councils such as transit, freight movement and transportation planning. ITE offers seminars, publications, meetings, etc. It is headquarter in Washington, D.C.
Website: http://www.ite.org
Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)
Women’s Transportation Seminar is a national professional organization for women in the transportation field. WTS was founded in 1977 and now has over 3,500 nationwide – both men and women. It is headquarter in Washington, D.C. and has local chapters through out the country including on in Los Angeles. WTS provides its members with professional development programs, speaker series, job bank, etc.
Website: http://www.wtsnational.org
Transportation Specific Government Organizations
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. AASHTO offers books, journals, newsletters, software, etc. It tends to emphasize highway and ITS projects. AASHTO also produces numerous manuals and standards for classifying doing certain tasks as they relate to highways and so forth. AASHTO also does lobbying and seems to work with local communities on certain projects. WASHTO is the western region of AASHTO, which includes California. AASHTO was founded in 1914 as the American Association of State Highway Officials in order to serve as a nation forum for between state highway officials and the federal transportation officials with respect to highway issues and legislation.
Website: http://www.aashto.org
Advocacy
General
Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP)
STPP is a national advocacy group promoting progressive transportation policies and urban form and was founded in 1990. It has national, state and local chapters. Its funding consists of foundation grants and individual contributions. It’s board and steering committee is made up of representatives from other advocacy and professional organizations. It advocates transportation policies and projects that emphasize moving people as oppose to cars and compact efficient urban forms. Its sister organizations include Transportation Action Network, Alliance for New Transportation Charter and Tea3.org. It has also has ties to the Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition. The president is David Burwell and they maintain full time professional staff. STPP is headquartered in Washington D.C.
Website: http://www.transact.org
American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association is a national advocacy and trade group representing the transportation construction industry. Their mission is advocating strong federal investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure to meet public demand for safe and efficient travel and shipment of goods. They conduct lobbying, educational campaigns, marketing, professional development, etc. ARTBA is headquartered in Washington D.C and has statewide chapters. ARTB is over 100 years old.
Website: http://www.artba.org
Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT)
The Center for Appropriate Transport is advocacy organization committed to community involvement in manufacturing, using, and advocating sustainable modes of transportation. The Center was founded in Eugene, Oregon in the fall of 1992. It tends to emphasize bicycling, walking, transit, etc.
Website: http://www.efn.org/~cat/
Highway
American Automobile Association (AAA)
The American Automobile Association is multipurpose association comprised of regional automobile clubs for car owners and highway users. For its members, AAA provides travel services include maps, tour books, travel agents, insurance, magazines, used car information, emergency roadside assistance and so forth. AAA is also the biggest non-government related advocacy group for highway users. They maintain their own researchers, analysts and lobbyists. The club for the Los Angeles region is the Southern California Automobile Club (see separate entry).
Website: http://www.aaa.com
American Highway Users Alliance
The American Highway Users Alliance is a national highway advocacy group for highways. It was found in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference and is located in Washington D.C. It lobbies Washington for legislation and appropriations, organizes grass root campaign efforts, promotes highway safety, issues position papers, etc. The Alliance members include a variety of AAA chapters, car and truck companies, various transportation and government agencies, oil companies and related highway industry groups.
Website: http://www.highways.org
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA)
The international Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association is an international trade group representing toll road industry. They maintain professional staff and is located in Washington D.C.
Website: http://www.ibtta.org
National Motorists Association (NMA)
The National Motorists Association is a national highway advocacy group. NMA deals with a large variety of such a vehicle emissions, traffic calming and freeway carpool lanes. It is against freeway carpool lanes, traffic calming and mandatory vehicle emission inspection programs. NMA lobbied for the elimination of the 55 mph speed limits on freeways. NMA was founded in the early 1980’s and is located in Wisconsin.
Website: http://www.motorists.org
National Partnership for Quality Highways (NPQH)
The National Partnership for Quality Highways is a coalition of private and public sector organizations involved in the highway constriction industry. It advocates for continuous quality improvement in planning, design, construction and maintenance of highways. NPQH works to improve cooperation between federal, state, local agencies and academia, highway safety and work safety programs, outreach, marketing, publications and so forth. NPQH originally started out as the National Quality Initiative in 1991 with a demonstration grant from FHWA. It evolved into the Partnership in 2000. Sample members include AASHTO, FHWA, the Asphalt Institute and ARTBA.
Website: http://www.npqh.org
The Road Information Program (TRIP)
The Road Information Program is a national highway advocacy group. It was established in 1971 and is based in Washington D.C. Trip produces position papers and statistics about highway use, investment and why it is important to spend more money improving our roadway system.
Website: http://www.tripnet.org
ITS
ITS America stands for the Intelligent Transportation System of America. Its mission is to foster public/private partnerships to increase the safety and efficiency of surface transportation through application of advance technologies. The US Congress mandated it in 1991 to coordinate the development and deployment of ITS systems in the United States. It also serves as an information-clearing house for ITS items. ITS America’s membership includes government agencies, ITS industry companies, ITS professionals, individuals and advocacy groups. ITS America is located in Washington D.C.
Website: www.its.org
National Associations Working Group for ITS (NAWG)
National Associations Working Group for ITS is a coalition of federal, state, local and transportation service providers. It is concerned with understanding the concepts, practices and applications of intelligent transportation systems. NAWG provides informational materials to enable different entities to make informed decisions on what do with ITS. It also facilitates the ITS Cooperative Deployment Network (ICDN) which a shared Internet resource for information, meeting, events, etc.
Website: www.nawgits.com
Passenger Rail
All-Aboard is a citizen based advocacy group for intercity rail. It seems to be a part of Railspot, a railroad enthusiast group.
Website: www.all-aboard.railspot.com
American Passenger Rail Coalition (APRC)
APRC is a national organization of rail equipment suppliers and businesses advocacy group for intercity passenger rail travel. It was founded in 1994.
Website: www.aprc.org
National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP)
NARP is a national citizen advocacy group promoting Amtrak and intercity travel via rail in general. There are regional chapters organized by state clusters. It is located in Washington D.C. and its president is Alan Yorker.
Website: www.narprail.org
The National Corridors Initiative, Inc. (NCI)
The National Corridors Initiative, Inc. is a non-profit corporation advocacy group for better intercity rail. They believe that the nation’s system of intercity travel needs to be better integrated and intercity rail should be the core. Naturally, they particularly favor building a high-speed rail network with under utilized freight train routes with strong connections to metropolitan transit systems. They appear to be based in Boston and was founded in 1989. James P. RePass is the president and CEO. NCI employs five staff persons and was formally the Northeast Corridor Initiative prior to 1989.
Website: http://www.nationalcorridors.org
United Rail Passenger Alliance (URPA)
United Rail Passenger Alliance is a national advocacy group for the preservation and expansive of the Nations passenger rail system. Unlike other advocacy groups, it is a non-paying membership non-profit organization chartered under Minnesota State Law. URPA concentrates on developing position papers, organizes grass roots campaigns and influencing federal legislation. It was founded in the 1980’s and derives its funding from member donations.
Website: www.unitedrail.org
Transit
American Public Transit Association (APTA)
American Public Transit Association is a national association promoting transit. Its members consist of transit officials, public officials, government agencies, transit operators, companies involved with transit related business and individuals. APTA is based in Washington D.C. and was founded in 1882. They offer a variety of programs ranging from research to public outreach. The Transit Development Corporation (TDC) is APTA’s research operation.
Website: www.apta.org
Advanced Transit Association (ATRA)
Advance Transit Association is an organization that promotes investigation and the development of advance transit technologies and strategies. Its board consists of industry and academic professionals. They tend to emphasize automated people movers (APMs) and Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems especially form low to medium density urban areas.
Website: www.advancedtransit.org
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)
CTAA is an organization dedicated towards bringing together community members to identify mobility challenges and design transit solutions since 1989. Its board is made up of representatives from other advocacy, professional and transit professionals. CTAA is organized around multi-state regional chapters and their local office. CTAA offers training certificate ranging from transit advocacy organizing to running bus lines. They even offer small grants for developing transit service primarily aimed at rural and small urban areas. Plus it also engaged in advocacy and policy work. It maintains full time professional staff and is based in Washington D.C.
Website: www.ctaa.org
Community Transportation Development Center
Community Transportation Development Center is a transit advocacy and training support group. It sponsors transit industry professionals, transit labor unions and public interest groups. It was founded in April 2001 and is based in Washington D.C.
Website: www.transportcenter.org
National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA)
The National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates is a national coalition representing local transit coalitions who support increased federal investment in public transportation. To date, only Bart Reed’s Transit Coalition is a member for the LA County Area.
Website: www.napta.net
Rail Transit Environment Coalition (Rail TEC)
Rail Transit Environment Coalition is an advocacy group promoting the increased use of existing standard gauge rail track right-of-way for commuter and freight rail service. Rail Tec is concerned about the about the adverse impacts automobiles and trucks have on the environment and land use patterns. They believe that that the best and most cost effective way to reduce these impacts is by increasing and expanding rail for hauling freight and commuting in tandem with increased bicycle commuting. Richard Stowe heads Rail TEC and is located in San Juan Capistrano.
Website: www.railtec.org
Carpooling and TDM
Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
ACT is a national advocacy group promoting carpooling and TDM measures. It has both state and regional chapters. Its board is made up representative from various industry professionals and interest groups. The organization is located in Washington D.C. and appears to have links to Florida State University. Much of ACT’s work is with Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) and it sponsors the TDM Institute.
Website: www.cw2k.capweb.net/act or www.tmi.cob.fsu.edu/act/
Americans Against Traffic Calming
Americans Against Traffic Calming is an advocacy group dedicated toward fighting traffic calming initiatives. It is based out of Austin, Texas. The website is not specific as to who are the primary sponsors are, etc. Some of their primary supporters appear to include emergency response people and the handicapped.
Website: http://www.io.com/~bumper/ada.htm
Bicycling and Walking
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP)
APBP is apparently a professional association of pedestrian and bicycle professionals. They have ties with the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center.
Website: www.apbp.org
Bikes Belong Coalition is bicycle advocacy group made up of bicycle industry professionals who derive their income from bicycle related products and services. In addition to lobbying the Federal Government and working with related advocacy groups, Bikes Belong runs a small grant program to advocates to secure government funding for Bikes Belong is located in Boston and have five people on staff. bike facilities.
Website: www.bikesbelong.org
The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. It has 300,000 members including 40,00 individuals and 600 affiliate organizations. The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880 and is located in Washington, D.C.
Website: www.bikeleague.org
National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW)
The National Center for Bicycling and Walking is an information and resource organization for creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities. This organization is a part of the Bicycle Federation of American, which was founded in 1977. It is not a membership organization and its revenue comes from consulting, grants and contracts. NCBW is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has offices in Middlebury, Vermont and Missoula, Montana. One its programs is the Active Living Technical Assistance Center (ALCTAC).
Website: www.bikefed.org
Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center (PBIC)
The PBIC is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility. PBIC serves anyone interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement and the health community. The Center is a program of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). The bulk of its staff comes from the Safety Research Center and the program was founded in 1999. PBIC’s is funded with grants from the USDOT and the Center For Disease Control and sponsored by a variety of USDOT departments and pedestrian/bicycling advocacy groups. The board of directors is comprised of industry professionals and advocates. Partnership for a Walkable America is also associated with the Highway Safety Center.
Website: www.walkinginfo.org
Thunderhead Alliance is coalition of 35 state and regional bicycle advocacy groups. It operates out of Prescott, Arizona.
Website: www.ThunderheadAlliance.org
America Walks is a national coalition of local walking advocacy groups. It operates out of Portland, Oregon.
Website: www.americawalks.org
Walkable Communities is a non-profit corporation that helps neighborhoods, small towns, cities, etc. to become more walkable and pedestrian friendly. They are located in High Springs Florida and were founded in 1996. They have two full time staff persons and they hire out consultants and other staff as needed for various projects. So in essence, they are a non-profit consulting firm. Dan Burden is the director.
Website: www.walkable.org
Anti-Car
Car Busters is an international advocacy group promoting a car free world. Consequently, it supports, public transit, walking bicycling, etc. It publishes papers and launches campaigns. It was founded in 1997 and is headquarter in the Czech Republic.
Website: www.carbusters.ecn.ez
Citizens for Sensible Transportation (CST)
Citizens for Sensible Transportation is an advocacy group that tries to help people build better communities with less traffic and reduced alliance on the automobile. CST is primarily against freeways, street widenings and for alternative modes such as rail, buses, bicycles, etc. They are based in Portland Oregon and was founded in 1989.
Website: www.fst.org
Miscellaneous
Great American Station Foundation
The Great American Station Foundation was created in 1996 to revitalize communities through new construction or conversion and restoration of existing rail passenger stations, and the possible conversion of historic non-railroad structures to active station use. Hank Dittmar is the president. It is located in Las Vegas New Mexico and has strong ties to the Surface Transportation Policy Project. Its members consist of individuals, public interest groups and public agencies. As part of its advocacy work, it offers small grant program for transit-oriented development, station restoration and related activities.
Website: www.stationfoundation.org
National Station Car Association
National Station Car Association is an advocacy promoting the use if electric vehicles for accessing rail stations – urban, commuter and intercity.
Website: www.stncar.com
Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy (RTC)
Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy is a national organization that promotes the conversion of abandoned rail lines to hiking and bridal paths along with connecting corridors. It was founded in 1986 and has over a hundred thousand members.
Website: www.railtrails.org
It is a project being sponsored by Great American Stations Foundation (see separate entry) aimed at redefining our national policies regarding intercity travel. The sponsors would like to see a system wide network of multi-modal hubs with air travel dedicated to trips greater than 500 miles in length and ground modes such as trains and buses for trips less than 500 miles. The co-directors are Hank Dittmar who is with Great American Stations Foundation and Scott Bernstein who is with Center for Neighborhood Technology.
Website: www.reconnectingamerica.org
California
California Commuters Alliance (CCA)
California Commuters Alliance is a statewide advocacy group for improving California’s transportation system with an emphasize on highways.
Website: www.calcommuters.org
California Transit Association
California Transit Association is a transit advocacy group for California. It was founded in 1965 and it has 230 members comprised of government agencies, individuals, transit operators, industry manufactures, and industry suppliers. California transit has events, conferences, advocacy campaigns, and a magazine. A major program of theirs is the Odyssey 20/20. It is located in Sacramento.
Website: www.caltransit.org
Rail Passenger Association of California (RailPac)
RailPac is an advocacy group for expanding and improving the passenger rail system including commuter rail in California and Nevada. RailPac is a division of Citizens for Rail, Inc. in Oceanside California.
Website: www.railpac.org
Train Riders' Association of California (TRAC)
The Train Riders Association of California (TRAC) was founded in March of 1984 as a citizen lobby and later incorporated as a California 501 (c)4 non-profit Corporation by founders Roger Hooson, Erik Lange, Dan Lovegren and Richard Tolmach. TRAC’s subsequent activism and interest in various rail-related legislative proposals lead to an early alliance with the Planning and Conservation League (PCL), that had been separately promoting passenger train service as part of its own program. The two organizations were convinced that because of the congestion, sprawl and increasing environmental degradation being caused by the State Government’s over-commitment to roadway travel, Californians would welcome and support a program designed to improve California’s system of passenger trains.
Website: www.calrailnews.com
Transportation California is a statewide advocacy group for improving California’s transportation system. Its primarily emphasizes highways but also wants to see a balance of mass transit and carpooling. California Transportation initially formed in 1990 to support Propositions 108 and 111 and has since then gone to work on other initiatives such as Proposition 42, which recently passed. It is located in West Sacramento and its membership consists of trade associations, contractors, labor unions, engineering groups, and local transportation agencies involved in the transportation industry along with some individuals.
Website: www.transportationca.com
Los Angeles Region
Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC)
The Automobile Club of Southern California is the American Automobile Association (AAA) club for southern California. Among its many functions, it is involved in general transportation advocacy including issuing position papers, lobbying, research and participating on government sponsored technical advisory committees.
Website: www.aaa-calif.com
Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition (SCTLC)
Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition is advocacy group for promoting efficient land use coordinated with new and existing transportation infrastructure. Its membership comprises of various local advocacy groups, associations and public interest organizations. The Surface Transportation Policy Project, Southern California Transit Advocates and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition are some of its members. SCTLC engages in outreach, policy analysis, coalition building for various issues, and is heavily involved with SCAG’s Visioning Process for the 2003 RTP. Katherine Perez is its executive director and Jim Bickhart is policy director. SCTLC was founded in 2000 and is located in Azusa. SCTLC is a project of Community Partners and it’s funding comes grants from the James Irvine Foundation, Environment Now, Westside Urban Forum and British Petroleum (formally Arco).
Website: www.sctlc.org
Southern California Transit Advocates (SO.CA.TA)
Southern California Transit Advocates is a local citizen advocacy group for expanding and improving transit throughout the five County Region of Los Angeles. SO.CA.TA issues positions papers, lobbying, public education and outreach, and information dissemination. Their members often sit on government sponsored citizen advisory committees. SO.CA.TA are strong supporters of MTA.
Website: www.socata.lerctr.org
The Transit Coalition www.transitcoalition.org The Transit Coalition is a broad based group of concerned citizens mobilized to passionately demonstrate community support for the economic development and continuing operation of improved transportation. Its objectives are education and outreach activities that highlight congestion relief opportunities and mobility alternatives that will allow the area to move forward to reach full potential as a dynamic, culturally advanced and livable world-class region.
Friends of the Red Line www.friends4theredline.com Despite some construction problems and the route being changed for various reasons over time, the Red Line has been an unbridled success and represents the backbone of Los Angeles's transit system. The group, Friends of the Red Line is dedicated to improving Red Line service and eventually expanding the subway.
Friends of the Green Line www.fogl.org Recognizes the Green Line as a fundamental component of MTA rail network, which serves Los Angeles County commuters who not only want to be connected to Downtown Los Angeles but who want to travel to areas that are remotely-located from Downtown Los Angeles. Group supports efforts to connect the Green Line and other traffic/rail modes or routes. Thus, in addition to a direct LAX connection, we support extensions to Norwalk, the South Bay, the Westside and the Valley.
Friends 4 Expo www.friends4expo.org Friends 4 Expo Transit is an independent group of citizens supporting the Exposition light rail transit line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The Expo Line will serve Westside and downtown jobs; four colleges; Staples Center, Exposition Park and the Coliseum; the busiest beach in California; and over 800,000 people living within two miles. It will link to L.A.'s growing rail network, plus provide a park and bike trail along the tracks.
Also related the to the above group of local transit advocacy websites is www.brutruth.com which seeks to provide the "other side of the story" to that promulgated by the BRU. An additional source of information about the BRU is GuideStar, the national database of non-profit organizations. Users can view any non-profit organization's annual IRS form 990 filing which details sources of funding, investments, financial statements, its board of directors and executive salaries. BRU is a program of the Labor Community Strategy Center. Their Employer's Indentification Number (EIN) is 95-4201669.
The Bus Riders Union (BRU)
The Bus Riders Union (BRU) is a transit advocacy group dedicated to reducing overcrowding on Metro buses. The BRU was founded around 1994 by Eric Mann as a project of the Labor/Community Strategy Center, of which Mann is the Director. Essentially, the BRU believes that Metro bus service should be frequent and extensive as possible, while enabling most patrons to have a seat on the majority of trip with minimal fares. Because they view this as a civil rights issue, they sued MTA in 1995 in Federal Court over these issues and entered into a consent decree agreement gaining concessions on fares prices, bus passes, expanded bus service and improved bus frequency on the most crowded lines.
Website: www.busridersunion.org
Citizens Organized For Smart Transit (COST)
Citizens Organized for Smart Transit is a transit advocacy group dedicate toward stopping the Burbank-Chandler Busway in favor of a comprehensive rapid bus system for the San Fernando Valley. Tom Rubin and Diana Lipari who is also COST’s chairman founded COST around 2002. Recently, COST filed a court challenge against the EIR for the Project and lost.
Website: www.stopthebusway.org
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC)
The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a bicycle advocacy group for improving the bicycling environment for Los Angeles County. Currently, they are engaged in four campaigns – increasing funding for local bikeway projects, completely the LA River bikeway to Downtown Los Angeles, ensuring local, county and regional plans contain strong bike components in their transportation plans, educating the public on cycling issues. LACBC was founded in 1998 and is located in Downtown Los Angeles.
Website: www.labikecoalition.org
Friends of Southern California Highways (FoSCH)
Friends of Southern California Highways is advocacy for improving and expanding the freeway system in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Imperial Counties.
Website: www.fixtraffic.org
710 Freeway Coalition is a coalition of civic groups, cities, labor groups and chambers of commerce promoting the completion of the I-710 Freeway. It was founded in 1993 and is located in Pasadena.
Website: http://www.710gap.com
Thanks S.C./Planning!
Transportation Advocacy and Selected Research Organizations
National
Selected Research Centers and Institutes
- Transportation Research Board (TRB)
- Center for Transportation Excellence
- Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
- Institute for Transportation Studies (ITS)
- Mineta Transportation Institute
- National Center for Metropolitan Transportation Research
- Victoria Transportation Policy Institute
- Volpe National Transportation Center
Transportation Specific Professional Organizations
- Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITS)
- Women’s Transportation Seminar
Transportation Specific Government Organizations
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Advocacy
- Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP)
- Alliance for New Transportation Charter
- TransAct: The Transportation Action Network
- Tea3.org
- American Road and Transportation Builders Association
- Center for Appropriate Transport
- American Automobile Association (AAA)
- American Highway Users Alliance
- International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association
- National Motorist Association
- National Partnership for Quality Highways
- The Road Information Program
- ITS America
- National Associations Working Group for ITS
- All Aboard
- American Passenger Rail Coalition
- National Association of Railroad Passengers
- The National Corridor Initiative, Inc.
- United Rail Passenger Alliance
- American Public Transit Association (APTA)
- Advanced Transit Association
- Community Transportation Association of America
- Community Transportation Development Center
- National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates
- Rail Transit Environment Coalition
- Association for Commuter Transportation
- Americans Against Traffic Calming
- Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
- Bikes Belong Coalition
- League of American Bicyclists
- National Center for Bicycling and Walking
- Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center
- Thunderhead Alliance
- America Walks
- Walkable Communities, Inc.
- Car Busters
- Citizens for Sensible Transportation
- Great American Station Foundation
- National Station Car Association
- Rails to Trails Conservancy
- Reconnecting America
- California Commuters Alliance
- California Transit Association
- Rail Passenger Association of California
- Transportation California
- Automobile Club of Southern California
- Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition
- Southern California Transit Advocates
- The Transit Coalition
- Friends of the Red Line
- Friends of the Green Line
- Friends 4 Expo
- Bus Riders Union (BRU)
- Citizens Organized For Smart Transit
- Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition
- Friends of Southern California Highways
- 710 Freeway Coalition
Transportation Organization Descriptions and Websites
National
Selected Research Centers and Institutes
Transportation Research Board (TRB) - Transportation Research Board is a unit of the National Research Council, which serves the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Nation Academy of Engineering. It involved in 1974 from the Highway Research Board, which was created in 1920. TRB is a multipurpose transportation research organization covering the whole spectrum of transportation related issues ranging from construction to operations and from marine transport to transit. Over 400 committees, task forces and panels composed of more than 4,000 professionals in the transportation and related fields, carry out TRB’s research program. These professionals serve without compensation and include administrators, engineers, planners, social scientists, lawyers and educators. The result of TRB’s research efforts and projects are numbers reports and articles. The Federal Government, various organizations and individuals support TRB. TRB is located in Washington D.C.
In addition to TRB’s general research, TBR also administers the National Cooperative Highway Research Programs (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). NCHRP was founded 1962 and is sponsored by NAS and individual State Departments of Transportation who are members of Association of State Highway and Transportation Official (AASHTO) in cooperation with FHWA. Its purpose is to conduct research on acute problems pertaining the planning, construction operation of highways. Likewise, TRCRP is the transit counterpart to NCHRP. It was established in 1992 and is sponsored by FTA, NAS and the Transit Development Corporation, the research arm of APTA. Booth cooperative research programs publish numerous reports and articles through TRB.
Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE) - CFTE is a non-partisan policy research center created to serve the needs of communities and transportation organizations nationwide. The purpose of the center is to provide research materials, strategies and other forms of support on the benefits of public transportation, particularly light rail transit.
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) - The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy was set up in 1985, to promote environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide. It tends to emphasize bicycling, walks and anti-sprawl programs. ITDP is based in New York City.
Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) - The Institute of Transportation Studies is general-purpose transportation research and education institute for the University of California with centers at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine and UCLA. It is a part of the University Transportation Center Program sponsored by USDOT and its funding is from USDOT and Caltrans. It was founded in 1988 and its theme is transportation system analysis and policy. The flagship center is at UC Berkeley and the smallest center is at UCLA.
Websites: http://www.its.berkeley.edu, http://www.its.ucdavis.edu, http://www.its.uci.edu, http://www.sppsr.ucla.edu/res_ctrs/its/index.html
Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) - The Mineta Transportation Institute is a transportation policy institute located at San Jose State University campus. It was created by Congress as part of Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and designated University Transportation Center in 1998. MTI is named for Norman Y. Mineta, the current Secretary of Transportation for USDOT and the former congressman for the San Jose Area.
National Center for Metropolitan Transportation Research (METRANS) - METRANS is transportation research and education institute based out of the University of Southern California (USC) and California State University Long Beach (CSULB). METRANS focus areas include transit, goods movement and highway infrastructure. It is a part of USDOT’s University Transportation Center program and its funding is from USDOT and Caltrans. METRANS specialty is goods movement and global logistics. It was formed in 1998 with a University Transportation Center grant from Congress.
Victoria Transportation Policy Institute (VTPI) - The Victoria is an independent general-purpose transportation policy research institute based in Victoria, British Columbia Canada. They fund their operations with research grants and consulting work. The institute advocates solving transportation problems through congestion pricing, Travel Demand Measures (TDM), bicycling and pedestrian oriented projects. VTPI makes extensive use of cost-benefit analysis to support their work. They issue a large number of papers where many of them are available on their website. Todd Litman is the director.
Volpe National Transportation Center - Volpe National Transportation Center is a general-purpose transportation & logistics research organization based out of United States Department of Transportation. It is a fee for service organization that primarily serves USDOT but also to other federal, state, local and international entities. It does not receive any funding from the US Government. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Center was founded in 1970 and named after its founder – John Volpe, President Nixon’s Secretary of Transportation in the 1970’s.
Transportation Specific Professional Organizations
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) - The Institute of Transportation Engineers is an international association of professionals of engineers, planners and related professionals involved in transportation. ITE was founded in 1930 and 15,000 members in 80 countries. ITE has local chapters and 11 transportation specialty councils such as transit, freight movement and transportation planning. ITE offers seminars, publications, meetings, etc. It is headquarter in Washington, D.C.
Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) - Women’s Transportation Seminar is a national professional organization for women in the transportation field. WTS was founded in 1977 and now has over 3,500 nationwide – both men and women. It is headquarter in Washington, D.C. and has local chapters through out the country including on in Los Angeles. WTS provides its members with professional development programs, speaker series, job bank, etc.
Transportation Specific Government Organizations
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It represents all five transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, rail and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system. AASHTO offers books, journals, newsletters, software, etc. It tends to emphasize highway and ITS projects. AASHTO also produces numerous manuals and standards for classifying doing certain tasks as they relate to highways and so forth. AASHTO also does lobbying and seems to work with local communities on certain projects. WASHTO is the western region of AASHTO, which includes California. AASHTO was founded in 1914 as the American Association of State Highway Officials in order to serve as a nation forum for between state highway officials and the federal transportation officials with respect to highway issues and legislation.
Advocacy
General
Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) - STPP is a national advocacy group promoting progressive transportation policies and urban form and was founded in 1990. It has national, state and local chapters. Its funding consists of foundation grants and individual contributions. It’s board and steering committee is made up of representatives from other advocacy and professional organizations. It advocates transportation policies and projects that emphasize moving people as oppose to cars and compact efficient urban forms. Its sister organizations include Transportation Action Network, Alliance for New Transportation Charter and Tea3.org. It has also has ties to the Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition. The president is David Burwell and they maintain full time professional staff. STPP is headquartered in Washington D.C.
American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) - The American Road and Transportation Builders Association is a national advocacy and trade group representing the transportation construction industry. Their mission is advocating strong federal investment in the nation's transportation infrastructure to meet public demand for safe and efficient travel and shipment of goods. They conduct lobbying, educational campaigns, marketing, professional development, etc. ARTBA is headquartered in Washington D.C and has statewide chapters. ARTB is over 100 years old.
Center for Appropriate Transport (CAT) - The Center for Appropriate Transport is advocacy organization committed to community involvement in manufacturing, using, and advocating sustainable modes of transportation. The Center was founded in Eugene, Oregon in the fall of 1992. It tends to emphasize bicycling, walking, transit, etc.
Highway
American Automobile Association (AAA) - The American Automobile Association is multipurpose association comprised of regional automobile clubs for car owners and highway users. For its members, AAA provides travel services include maps, tour books, travel agents, insurance, magazines, used car information, emergency roadside assistance and so forth. AAA is also the biggest non-government related advocacy group for highway users. They maintain their own researchers, analysts and lobbyists. The club for the Los Angeles region is the Southern California Automobile Club (see separate entry).
American Highway Users Alliance - The American Highway Users Alliance is a national highway advocacy group for highways. It was found in 1932 as the National Highway Users Conference and is located in Washington D.C. It lobbies Washington for legislation and appropriations, organizes grass root campaign efforts, promotes highway safety, issues position papers, etc. The Alliance members include a variety of AAA chapters, car and truck companies, various transportation and government agencies, oil companies and related highway industry groups.
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) - The international Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association is an international trade group representing toll road industry. They maintain professional staff and is located in Washington D.C.
National Motorists Association (NMA) - The National Motorists Association is a national highway advocacy group. NMA deals with a large variety of such a vehicle emissions, traffic calming and freeway carpool lanes. It is against freeway carpool lanes, traffic calming and mandatory vehicle emission inspection programs. NMA lobbied for the elimination of the 55 mph speed limits on freeways. NMA was founded in the early 1980’s and is located in Wisconsin.
National Partnership for Quality Highways (NPQH) - The National Partnership for Quality Highways is a coalition of private and public sector organizations involved in the highway constriction industry. It advocates for continuous quality improvement in planning, design, construction and maintenance of highways. NPQH works to improve cooperation between federal, state, local agencies and academia, highway safety and work safety programs, outreach, marketing, publications and so forth. NPQH originally started out as the National Quality Initiative in 1991 with a demonstration grant from FHWA. It evolved into the Partnership in 2000. Sample members include AASHTO, FHWA, the Asphalt Institute and ARTBA.
The Road Information Program (TRIP) - The Road Information Program is a national highway advocacy group. It was established in 1971 and is based in Washington D.C. Trip produces position papers and statistics about highway use, investment and why it is important to spend more money improving our roadway system
ITS
ITS America - ITS America stands for the Intelligent Transportation System of America. Its mission is to foster public/private partnerships to increase the safety and efficiency of surface transportation through application of advance technologies. The US Congress mandated it in 1991 to coordinate the development and deployment of ITS systems in the United States. It also serves as an information-clearing house for ITS items. ITS America’s membership includes government agencies, ITS industry companies, ITS professionals, individuals and advocacy groups. ITS America is located in Washington D.C.
National Associations Working Group for ITS (NAWG) - National Associations Working Group for ITS is a coalition of federal, state, local and transportation service providers. It is concerned with understanding the concepts, practices and applications of intelligent transportation systems. NAWG provides informational materials to enable different entities to make informed decisions on what do with ITS. It also facilitates the ITS Cooperative Deployment Network (ICDN) which a shared Internet resource for information, meeting, events, etc.
Passenger Rail
All-Aboard - All-Aboard is a citizen based advocacy group for intercity rail. It seems to be a part of Railspot, a railroad enthusiast group.
American Passenger Rail Coalition (APRC) - APRC is a national organization of rail equipment suppliers and businesses advocacy group for intercity passenger rail travel. It was founded in 1994.
National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) - NARP is a national citizen advocacy group promoting Amtrak and intercity travel via rail in general. There are regional chapters organized by state clusters. It is located in Washington D.C. and its president is Alan Yorker.
The National Corridors Initiative, Inc. (NCI) - The National Corridors Initiative, Inc. is a non-profit corporation advocacy group for better intercity rail. They believe that the nation’s system of intercity travel needs to be better integrated and intercity rail should be the core. Naturally, they particularly favor building a high-speed rail network with under utilized freight train routes with strong connections to metropolitan transit systems. They appear to be based in Boston and was founded in 1989. James P. RePass is the president and CEO. NCI employs five staff persons and was formally the Northeast Corridor Initiative prior to 1989.
United Rail Passenger Alliance (URPA) - United Rail Passenger Alliance is a national advocacy group for the preservation and expansive of the Nations passenger rail system. Unlike other advocacy groups, it is a non-paying membership non-profit organization chartered under Minnesota State Law. URPA concentrates on developing position papers, organizes grass roots campaigns and influencing federal legislation. It was founded in the 1980’s and derives its funding from member donations.
Transit
American Public Transit Association (APTA) - American Public Transit Association is a national association promoting transit. Its members consist of transit officials, public officials, government agencies, transit operators, companies involved with transit related business and individuals. APTA is based in Washington D.C. and was founded in 1882. They offer a variety of programs ranging from research to public outreach. The Transit Development Corporation (TDC) is APTA’s research operation.
Advanced Transit Association (ATRA) - Advance Transit Association is an organization that promotes investigation and the development of advance transit technologies and strategies. Its board consists of industry and academic professionals. They tend to emphasize automated people movers (APMs) and Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems especially form low to medium density urban areas.
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) - CTAA is an organization dedicated towards bringing together community members to identify mobility challenges and design transit solutions since 1989. Its board is made up of representatives from other advocacy, professional and transit professionals. CTAA is organized around multi-state regional chapters and their local office. CTAA offers training certificate ranging from transit advocacy organizing to running bus lines. They even offer small grants for developing transit service primarily aimed at rural and small urban areas. Plus it also engaged in advocacy and policy work. It maintains full time professional staff and is based in Washington D.C.
Community Transportation Development Center - Community Transportation Development Center is a transit advocacy and training support group. It sponsors transit industry professionals, transit labor unions and public interest groups. It was founded in April 2001 and is based in Washington D.C.
National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates (NAPTA) - The National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates is a national coalition representing local transit coalitions who support increased federal investment in public transportation. To date, only Bart Reed’s Transit Coalition is a member for the LA County Area.
Rail Transit Environment Coalition (Rail TEC) - Rail Transit Environment Coalition is an advocacy group promoting the increased use of existing standard gauge rail track right-of-way for commuter and freight rail service. Rail Tec is concerned about the about the adverse impacts automobiles and trucks have on the environment and land use patterns. They believe that that the best and most cost effective way to reduce these impacts is by increasing and expanding rail for hauling freight and commuting in tandem with increased bicycle commuting. Richard Stowe heads Rail TEC and is located in San Juan Capistrano.
Carpooling and TDM
Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) - ACT is a national advocacy group promoting carpooling and TDM measures. It has both state and regional chapters. Its board is made up representative from various industry professionals and interest groups. The organization is located in Washington D.C. and appears to have links to Florida State University. Much of ACT’s work is with Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) and it sponsors the TDM Institute.
Americans Against Traffic Calming - Americans Against Traffic Calming is an advocacy group dedicated toward fighting traffic calming initiatives. It is based out of Austin, Texas. The website is not specific as to who are the primary sponsors are, etc. Some of their primary supporters appear to include emergency response people and the handicapped.
Bicycling and Walking
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) - APBP is apparently a professional association of pedestrian and bicycle professionals. They have ties with the Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center.
Bikes Belong Coalition - Bikes Belong Coalition is bicycle advocacy group made up of bicycle industry professionals who derive their income from bicycle related products and services. In addition to lobbying the Federal Government and working with related advocacy groups, Bikes Belong runs a small grant program to advocates to secure government funding for Bikes Belong is located in Boston and have five people on staff. bike facilities.
League of American Bicyclists - The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. It has 300,000 members including 40,00 individuals and 600 affiliate organizations. The League was founded as the League of American Wheelmen in 1880 and is located in Washington, D.C.
National Center for Bicycling and Walking (NCBW) - The National Center for Bicycling and Walking is an information and resource organization for creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities. This organization is a part of the Bicycle Federation of American, which was founded in 1977. It is not a membership organization and its revenue comes from consulting, grants and contracts. NCBW is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has offices in Middlebury, Vermont and Missoula, Montana. One its programs is the Active Living Technical Assistance Center (ALCTAC).
Pedestrian and Bicycling Information Center (PBIC) - The PBIC is a clearinghouse for information about health and safety, engineering, advocacy, education, enforcement and access and mobility. PBIC serves anyone interested in pedestrian and bicycle issues, including planners, engineers, private citizens, advocates, educators, police enforcement and the health community. The Center is a program of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). The bulk of its staff comes from the Safety Research Center and the program was founded in 1999. PBIC’s is funded with grants from the USDOT and the Center For Disease Control and sponsored by a variety of USDOT departments and pedestrian/bicycling advocacy groups. The board of directors is comprised of industry professionals and advocates. Partnership for a Walkable America is also associated with the Highway Safety Center.
Thunderhead Alliance - Thunderhead Alliance is coalition of 35 state and regional bicycle advocacy groups. It operates out of Prescott, Arizona.
America Walks - America Walks is a national coalition of local walking advocacy groups. It operates out of Portland, Oregon.
Walkable Communities, Inc. - Walkable Communities is a non-profit corporation that helps neighborhoods, small towns, cities, etc. to become more walkable and pedestrian friendly. They are located in High Springs Florida and were founded in 1996. They have two full time staff persons and they hire out consultants and other staff as needed for various projects. So in essence, they are a non-profit consulting firm. Dan Burden is the director.
Anti-Car
Car Busters - Car Busters is an international advocacy group promoting a car free world. Consequently, it supports, public transit, walking bicycling, etc. It publishes papers and launches campaigns. It was founded in 1997 and is headquarter in the Czech Republic.
Citizens for Sensible Transportation (CST) - Citizens for Sensible Transportation is an advocacy group that tries to help people build better communities with less traffic and reduced alliance on the automobile. CST is primarily against freeways, street widenings and for alternative modes such as rail, buses, bicycles, etc. They are based in Portland Oregon and was founded in 1989.
Miscellaneous
Great American Station Foundation - The Great American Station Foundation was created in 1996 to revitalize communities through new construction or conversion and restoration of existing rail passenger stations, and the possible conversion of historic non-railroad structures to active station use. Hank Dittmar is the president. It is located in Las Vegas New Mexico and has strong ties to the Surface Transportation Policy Project. Its members consist of individuals, public interest groups and public agencies. As part of its advocacy work, it offers small grant program for transit-oriented development, station restoration and related activities.
National Station Car Association - National Station Car Association is an advocacy promoting the use if electric vehicles for accessing rail stations – urban, commuter and intercity.
Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy (RTC) - Rails-to-Trails-Conservancy is a national organization that promotes the conversion of abandoned rail lines to hiking and bridal paths along with connecting corridors. It was founded in 1986 and has over a hundred thousand members.
Reconnecting America - It is a project being sponsored by Great American Stations Foundation (see separate entry) aimed at redefining our national policies regarding intercity travel. The sponsors would like to see a system wide network of multi-modal hubs with air travel dedicated to trips greater than 500 miles in length and ground modes such as trains and buses for trips less than 500 miles. The co-directors are Hank Dittmar who is with Great American Stations Foundation and Scott Bernstein who is with Center for Neighborhood Technology.
California Commuters Alliance (CCA) - California Commuters Alliance is a statewide advocacy group for improving California’s transportation system with an emphasize on highways.
California Transit Association - California Transit Association is a transit advocacy group for California. It was founded in 1965 and it has 230 members comprised of government agencies, individuals, transit operators, industry manufactures, and industry suppliers. California transit has events, conferences, advocacy campaigns, and a magazine. A major program of theirs is the Odyssey 20/20. It is located in Sacramento.
Rail Passenger Association of California (RailPac) - RailPac is an advocacy group for expanding and improving the passenger rail system including commuter rail in California and Nevada. RailPac is a division of Citizens for Rail, Inc. in Oceanside California. RailPac also runs the Train Riders Association of California (TRAC), which is an advocacy group essentially advocating for the same thing. TRAC is located in Sacramento.
Transportation California - Transportation California is a statewide advocacy group for improving California’s transportation system. Its primarily emphasizes highways but also wants to see a balance of mass transit and carpooling. California Transportation initially formed in 1990 to support Propositions 108 and 111 and has since then gone to work on other initiatives such as Proposition 42, which recently passed. It is located in West Sacramento and its membership consists of trade associations, contractors, labor unions, engineering groups, and local transportation agencies involved in the transportation industry along with some individuals.
Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC) - The Automobile Club of Southern California is the American Automobile Association (AAA) club for southern California. Among its many functions, it is involved in general transportation advocacy including issuing position papers, lobbying, research and participating on government sponsored technical advisory committees.
Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition (SCTLC) - Southern California Transportation Land Use Coalition is advocacy group for promoting efficient land use coordinated with new and existing transportation infrastructure. Its membership comprises of various local advocacy groups, associations and public interest organizations. The Surface Transportation Policy Project, Southern California Transit Advocates and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition are some of its members. SCTLC engages in outreach, policy analysis, coalition building for various issues, and is heavily involved with SCAG’s Visioning Process for the 2003 RTP. Katherine Perez is its executive director and Jim Bickhart is policy director. SCTLC was founded in 2000 and is located in Azusa. SCTLC is a project of Community Partners and it’s funding comes grants from the James Irvine Foundation, Environment Now, Westside Urban Forum and British Petroleum (formally Arco).
Southern California Transit Advocates (SO.CA.TA) - Southern California Transit Advocates is a local citizen advocacy group for expanding and improving transit throughout the five County Region of Los Angeles. SO.CA.TA issues positions papers, lobbying, public education and outreach, and information dissemination. Their members often sit on government sponsored citizen advisory committees. SO.CA.TA are strong supporters of Metro.
The Transit Coalition – The Transit Coalition is a broad based group of concerned citizens mobilized to passionately demonstrate community support for the economic development and continuing operation of improved transportation. Its objectives are education and outreach activities that highlight congestion relief opportunities and mobility alternatives that will allow the area to move forward to reach full potential as a dynamic, culturally advanced and livable world-class region.
Friends of the Red Line - Despite some construction problems and the route being changed for various reasons over time, the Red Line has been an unbridled success and represents the backbone of Los Angeles's transit system. The group, Friends of the Red Line is dedicated to improving Red Line service and eventually expanding the subway.
Friends of the Green Line - Recognizes the Green Line as a fundamental component of Metro rail network, which serves Los Angeles County commuters who not only want to be connected to Downtown Los Angeles but who want to travel to areas that are remotely-located from Downtown Los Angeles. Group supports efforts to connect the Green Line and other traffic/rail modes or routes. Thus, in addition to a direct LAX connection, we support extensions to Norwalk, the South Bay, the Westside and the Valley.
Friends 4 Expo - Friends 4 Expo Transit is an independent group of citizens supporting the Exposition light rail transit line from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The Expo Line will serve Westside and downtown jobs; four colleges; Staples Center, Exposition Park and the Coliseum; the busiest beach in California; and over 800,000 people living within two miles. It will link to L.A.'s growing rail network, plus provide a park and bike trail along the tracks.
Also related the to the above group of local transit advocacy websites is www.brutruth.com which seeks to provide the "other side of the story" to that promulgated by the BRU. An additional source of information about the BRU is GuideStar, the national database of non-profit organizations. Users can view any non-profit organization's annual IRS form 990 filing which details sources of funding, investments, financial statements, its board of directors and executive salaries. BRU is a program of the Labor Community Strategy Center. Their Employer's Indentification Number (EIN) is 95-4201669.
The Bus Riders Union (BRU) - The Bus Riders Union (BRU) is a transit advocacy group dedicated toward fighting bus overcrowding on Metro Buses. The BRU was founded around 1994 by Eric Mann and is part of the Labor/Community Strategy Center of which Mann is the Director. Essentially, the BRU believes that Metro bus service should be frequent and extensive as possible, while enabling most patrons to have a seat on the majority of trip with minimal fares. They are against any investment in urban rail, commuter rail and even rapid bus service contending that they only serve affluent white people while ignoring the core market of Metro’s transit service – poor people of color. Because they view this as a civil rights issue, they sued Metro in 1995 in Federal Court over these issues and entered into a consent decree agreement with Metro, gaining concessions on fares prices, bus passes, expanded bus service and improved bus frequency on the most crowded lines. The BRU derives its funding from numerous foundation grants and individual contributions while receiving legal support from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civil rights groups. The BRU is also involved with pro Palestinian activities, and other causes which do not appear directly related to Metro bus service.
Citizens Organized For Smart Transit (COST) - Citizens Organized for Smart Transit is a transit advocacy group dedicate toward stopping the Burbank-Chandler Busway in favor of a comprehensive rapid bus system for the San Fernando Valley. Tom Rubin and Diana Lipari who is also COST’s chairman founded COST around 2002. Recently, COST filed a court challenge against the EIR for the Project and lost.
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC) - The Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition is a bicycle advocacy group for improving the bicycling environment for Los Angeles County. Currently, they are engaged in four campaigns – increasing funding for local bikeway projects, completely the LA River bikeway to Downtown Los Angeles, ensuring local, county and regional plans contain strong bike components in their transportation plans, educating the public on cycling issues. LACBC was founded in 1998 and is located in Downtown Los Angeles.
Friends of Southern California Highways (FoSCH) - Friends of Southern California Highways is advocacy for improving and expanding the freeway system in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Imperial Counties.
710 Freeway Coalition - 710 Freeway Coalition is a coalition of civic groups, cities, labor groups and chambers of commerce promoting the completion of the I-710 Freeway. It was founded in 1993 and is located in Pasadena.