Executive Director’s Message

By Nancy Wood

Time for a Change

Dear BBA Members & Friends,

It has been a wonderful honor and pleasure to serve as your executive director for the last 4 1/2 years.  We have worked together on many issues important to Burlington, and we've also had a lot of fun doing so.  When I ask members what they like most about BBA they often answer "the people" and "the friendships" and "being part of a great organization."  That's  very much the way I feel about BBA and all of you.
So it is with some regret that I have announced my retirement this Fall.  I originally signed on for 3 to 5 years, and that time has come.  We have begun the search for a new executive director, and invite you to help spread the word and encourage anyone with an

interest to apply.  Please refer them to the copy of the Job Description that is posted on the BBA website at www.bbavt.org/contact.html
If you have questions about the position I'm happy to help, or talk with Board Chair Andréa Sisino.

There is much to do over the next two months while we are interviewing for my replacement. We have several major projects underway.  Top of the list is the downtown employee survey (see article on page one) that will give use benchmark information about current commuting and parking preferences. We’ll be meeting with employers also to discuss the potential benefits of a Downtown TMA, and to explore the feasibility of creating one..

We are also starting the planning for the two major events of 2008.  The first is

the Annual Business Summit which will be held on Thursday,  January 10th in the Film House at Lake and College.  We are developing a very interesting program about the economic impact of the sports and recreation sector in Burlington.

The second major event will be the Annual Dinner, which will be a gala celebration of the 30th Anniversary of BBA.  Please mark your calendars now with the date of Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center.

Thank you all for participating in this great organization, and for your continuing support and involvement. 

 

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Transportation Management Association (TMA). We are a private, nonprofit planning and management entity, with private and public sector participation. Our members employ over 9,000 people and enroll over 12,000 students.

Our Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs and services include:

*Bike/Walk Rewards Program

*Subsidized monthly and ten-ride bus passes for all Fletcher Allen and American Red Cross employees

*Free rides on all CCTA bus routes, including the three LINK Express routes for faculty, staff and students at Champlain College and the University of Vermont

*Confidential carpool matching service and carpool incentives

*Emergency taxicab ride home (up to sixty dollars) in case of an emergency on a day that program participant used an

alternate commute.

*Free off-site parking and free express shuttle service to the Hill

*Chance to win one of four gift certificates to a local restaurant each month

The success of our TDM programs have:

· Allowed CATMA member institutions to reduce parking requirements on new construction

· Reduced the number of SOVs (single occupancy vehicles) coming into Burlington

o Drive alone rate for employees has gone from 75.9% in 2000 to 54.1% in 2006, Bus ridership from 1.9% in 2000 to 13.3% and Bike/Walk from 4.7% to 15.4%

o Student survey data reports 11% of UVM students chose bus as their main mode in spring 07 compared to only 4.3% in spring 03 (prior to Unlimited Access).

o For Champlain students, the bus rate has gone from 2.6% in spring 06 to 7.6% in spring 07.

o Percent of UVM resident students who brought a car with them has gone from 50.7% in 2003 to 24.4% in 2007

o 80.6% of Champlain resident students reported they brought a car in 2003 down to 37.4% in spring 06.

o At both Champlain College and

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CATMA’s Success is a Model for a Downtown TMA

    With warmest regards,

  - Nancy