00724934

Component

Each year the International Transit Studies Program (ITSP) of the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) sponsors international study missions to provide U.S. transit managers with an opportunity to observe transit operations abroad and the role public transit plays in other countries. The objective of the program is to expose the next generation of transit leaders to new ideas and to encourage a multimodal "mobility management" approach to transportation. The first study mission was in September 1994. The Eno Transportation Foundation, Inc., is administering the ITSP under contract to TCRP. The ITSP has two elements. First, study missions to other countries are organized for 10 to 15 participants. In most years, there will be two study missions. Prospective participants are asked to submit a recommendation letter from an authorized nominator, a curriculum vitae, and a written statement describing the benefit they and their organizations will receive. A committee that includes individuals who took part in the previous study mission selects candidates, who are approved by the project oversight panel. Study missions last approximately two weeks and are preceded by a briefing at which participants receive background information on topics such as demographic patterns; cultural, legal, and political differences between the host countries and the United States; and transit system statistics. The second element of ITSP is travel awards for individuals who attend conferences outside of North America. As much as two-thirds of travel expenses can be paid through ITSP for qualified candidates who are delivering a paper at an overseas conference. Applications are accepted throughout the year. As of this writing, five awards have been made. The remainder of this article provides information from past ITSP study missions.

English

p. 6-11

1996-7

TR News

Photos (4)

Awards; Study tours

International Transit Studies Program

Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation

TRIS, TRB

Aug 22 1996 12:00AM

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