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Mobility management training program

WisDOT’s commitment to providing training and technical assistance to mobility managers has resulted in the development and sponsorship of a mobility management training program initiative. Funded with federal program administration money, the focus of the program is to provide training on topics relevant to mobility management activities, and to foster and encourage the development of a mobility manager peer network through which best practices founded on experience, ideas and feedback can be easily and efficiently shared with other mobility managers in the state and throughout the country.

The mobility management training program was developed with the intent of providing up to five one-year recurrences of the curriculum, subject to continued need and the availability of funding. It is comprised of four to five face-to-face workshops, teleconferences in the months that meetings are not held, and the Mobility Management Forum, a Web-based (Google) group with membership at the state and national levels. The Google group facilitates discussion of topics when more information is desired, or issues have been identified and are in need of resolution. A second Google group, WI Mobility Managers, is a limited membership group established to facilitate quick and efficient communication between WisDOT, mobility managers, and the training program contractors.

Primary participants in the training program are Wisconsin’s existing mobility managers . It is highly recommended that new mobility managers who are funded by grants under the programs administered by WisDOT participate to the maximum extent possible in order to take advantage of the training and resources provided by the program. 

Other individuals with an interest in mobility management may be invited to attend workshops; however, attendance is determined on a case-by-case basis and as space allows. They, as well as others, may join the general Web discussion group, and become a member of the limited membership group, as appropriate.

Experts in the field from other states or representing national mobility management groups and activities often speak at workshops or participate in teleconferences as areas of need are identified.

Workshops are held at certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) locations throughout the state. Expenses for mobility manager travel expenses to attend the events, meals, lodging and all meeting costs are covered by WisDOT’s mobility management training program initiative.

2008 Training Program Events

In 2008, workshops were held in May, June, September and November. Mobility managers were surveyed to determine the training topics they wanted to know more about. Formal training sessions in 2008 included:

• Mobility management (Session One – May 21 & 22, 2008)
• Building partnerships (Session Two – June 16 & 17, 2008)
• Central dispatch and billing, and Volunteer drivers (Session Three – September 16 – 18, 2008)
• Peer presentations (Session Four - November 11 - 13, 2008

In addition to the four workshops, the training program initiative sponsored 20 mobility managers’ attendance at the 2008 18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation in Omaha, Nebraska on October 19-22. This biennial conference covers topics addressing small, rural, and specialized transportation.

At the fourth workshop, held on November 11-13, 2008, conference attendees shared what they had learned with those who were unable to go.

Mobility managers who partook of the 2008 workshops wholeheartedly endorsed the program because what they learned helped them to achieve effective transportation coordination in an efficient manner within their one-year grant program. The training program enabled them to quickly and effectively implement their programs based on best practices and lessons learned that provided them with solid foundations of knowledge. The peer networking and on-line group discussions facilitated expeditious resolution of problems and issues, and gave them daily access to resources nationwide.

2009 Mobility Management Training Program

Outcomes from the Mobility Management Training Program proved to be extremely successful with numerous significant and positive end results, warranting continuation of the training program in 2009.

Five face-to-face meetings are planned for 2009, with spring workshops in March, April and May. Additional workshops in the fall are planned for September and October. Teleconferences are scheduled for the months in which there is no meeting.

During the March and April workshops, most of the 2008 curriculum was presented to new mobility managers. The April, May and fall workshops bring together both the 2008 and 2009 mobility managers in order to provide everyone with training on the newest topics, the latest resources, and to foster further development of the peer network that has proven to be invaluable to participants.

Throughout 2009, trainers from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), the U.S. Department of Education, representatives from other states with successful mobility management programs, and Wisconsin’s own mobility managers with effective projects in place will present to the group or share their lessons learned and subsequent best practice recommendations.

For more information, contact Ingrid Koch, ingrid.koch@dot.wi.gov, or (608) 266-1379

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Questions about the content of this page:
Ingrid Koch, ingrid.koch@dot.wi.gov
Last modified: November 18, 2009