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2004 CTE Meeting a Success
CTE Awarded Association Management Contract
Clean Cities Atlanta Partners with CTE
CTE Finalizes New GDOT Contract
Ford to License Toyota Hybrid Technology
Transportation Bill Passes House and Senate
Calendar of Events
2004 CTE Annual Meeting A Success
CTE’s 2004 Annual Meeting was held March 24 at our headquarters
in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Robert Hebner of the University of Texas at
Austin, CTE’S Chairman, presided over a group of members,
invited guests, and local colleagues. Lou Magnarellla of SAFT Batteries
was re-elected to the Board, and Ed Grostick of Oak Ridge National
Laboratory was elected to his initial term. On the Executive Committee,
Eric Sonnichsen of Test Devices became CTE Chair-Elect, with John
Powell of ATTI assuming the role of Treasurer. All other posts remain
the same.
A big thanks goes out to Peter Bahouth and the Atlantic Station
development for providing a great tour of their planned facility.
The-138 acre reclamation and redevelopment of the former Atlantic
Steel Mill site in downtown Atlanta is a national model for smart
growth and sustainable development. Participants were fascinated
to learn the prospects for the development, including their cutting
edge transportation plan. CTE and members Wampfler, Ebus, and ATTI
are involved in helping Atlantic Station design and implement an
electric bus shuttle program.
The University of Texas at Austin will host the 2004 CTE Fall Meeting,
October 27-28. Look for details soon.
CTE Awarded Contract to Manage National Association
CTE
has won a competitive bid for a three-year contract to manage the
Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT). ACT is a national
membership association of professionals, organizations, and businesses
devoted to commute options and solutions that help reduce traffic
congestion, increase mobility, and improve air quality.
Kevin
Shannon of CTE will be assuming the role of ACT Executive Director
when the contract goes into effect on June 1. Kevin and CTE will
be responsible for all of ACT’s administrative functions,
including membership, advocacy and public policy, financial responsibilities,
and conference and meeting management. We look forward to a long
and mutually beneficial relationship between CTE and ACT. Learn
more about ACT at www.actweb.org.
Clean Cities Atlanta Partners with CTE
CTE has entered into an agreement with Clean Cities Atlanta for
a limited administrative contract. Clean Cities Atlanta was the
very first of more than 80 “Clean Cities” established
in partnership with the US Department of Energy, to promote the
advancement of alternative fuel vehicles. CTE will assist the Clean
Cities Atlanta Board with administrative functions, including membership
development, information sharing, and liaison with fleets and government
agencies. CTE Senior Project Manager, Wendy Morgan, will assume
the role of Clean Cities Atlanta Executive Director. Wendy has worked
closely with Clean Cities in the past and is well suited to lead
Clean Cities Atlanta to a prosperous future.
CTE Finalizes New Contract with GDOT
For the fourth consecutive year, CTE has entered into a contract
with the Georgia Department of Transportation to measure Atlanta’s
transportation demand management programs. Work on the project,
led by Senior Project Manager Jennifer Gregory, is well underway.
The CTE team finished up a survey of The Clean Air Campaign's Cash
for Commuters program, an incentive program designed to get solo
drivers to try commute alternatives, in late April. In early May
CTE began conducting a survey to assess regional changes in travel
behavior for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental
Protection Division.
Ford to License Toyota Hybrid Technology
Ford announced its Escape hybrid vehicle will be
for sale in late summer 2004. Several initial launch dates have
slipped due to technical difficulties. Ford will license the hybrid
drive technology for this vehicle from Toyota. The hybrid electric
Escape is expected to be certified for sale as an Advanced Technology
Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and achieve 35-40 miles
per gallon of gas. Ford will incorporate parts of Toyota’s
hybrid-drive system in the Escape but Ford claims it will continue
to develop a proprietary system.
Transportation Bill Passes House and Senate
As of early May, Congress
has not reached agreement on a final TEA-21 Reauthorization bill.
Congress did extend transportation authority through the end of
June. While extended another two months, there is concern in the
transportation industry that an agreement may not be reached this
Congressional session. If no agreement is reached this year, a short-term
extension may be passed to authorize the current programs until
early 2005. Many in Congress would like to see a final resolution
of the transportation bill this year to help promote job growth
and to highlight successes before election season. However, the
White House, in what some pundits speculate is an attempt to demonstrate
fiscal restraint during this election year, has expressed concern
over the total amount of both the House and Senate bills and has
threatened to veto current proposals. In light of election year
politics, the fate of multi-year surface transportation legislation
remains uncertain. Congressional leadership is not likely to present
a bill to the President under current circumstances. Congressional
and White House discussions continue to focus upon the total amount
of the House proposal of $275 billion, the Senate proposal of $318
billion and the White House desire to keep the bill near $256 billion.
CTE
is working with members and our CTE lobbyist to promote advanced
transportation technology research programs for fuel cell buses
and heavy-duty vehicles. Senator Richard Shelby
(R-AL), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and Congressman
Johnny Isakson (R-GA) have been very helpful in promoting
the interests of CTE and its members in the bill.
Graphic Artist/Web Services
Don’t forget – one of your benefits as a CTE member
is access to our staff graphic artist/web designer, Josh Rosenbaum,
at reduced rates. CTE charges members an hourly rate considerably
less than what we charge non-members. Josh designs logos, brochures,
websites, other print and electronic media (including email newsletters
like this one!), and graphics for vehicles and transportation systems,
for member organizations. Please speak with Josh for further details
on the services offered. 678-244-4150 or josh@cte.tv.
Calendar of Events
National Idling Reduction Conference
May 17-19, 2004
Albany, NY
202-488-2472
http://transtech.anl.gov/v3n3/industry-v3n3.html
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
16th Annual Tour de Sol
May 24 - 25, 2004
www.tourdesol.org
Association for Commuter Transportation
2004 International Conference
September 19-22, 2004
New Orleans
www.actweb.org
Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA)
September 21 – 24, 2004
Orlando, FL
www.electricdrive.org
Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2004
Conference and Trade Show
September 25 – 28, 2004
Toronto, Canada
www.hydrogenfuelcells2004.com
CTE Fall Meeting
October 27-28, 2004
Austin, TX
www.cte.tv
EVS - 21
April 2-6, 2005
Monaco
www.evs21.org
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