Tribal Transit Tribal Transit Programs Partnering Programs Partnering with Transit Agencies with Transit Agencies

James Foster James Foster

• Understanding Cultural DynamicsUnderstanding Cultural Dynamics• Coordinating Tribal Transit ProgramsCoordinating Tribal Transit Programs• Partnering with Tribal Businesses Partnering with Tribal Businesses • Evaluating Tribal Government’s PerspectiveEvaluating Tribal Government’s Perspective• Defining the limitations of each Tribe’s Defining the limitations of each Tribe’s

Environment (utilization of transit funds) Environment (utilization of transit funds) • Building Tribal relationships Building Tribal relationships • Reflecting on Morongo’s current Reflecting on Morongo’s current

transportation projectstransportation projects

Purpose & ObjectivesPurpose & Objectives

Tribal Transit Program

• The purpose of the Tribal Transit Program is: to enhance public transportation access on and around Indian reservations in non-urbanized areas; to assist in development, maintenance, improvement, and use of public transportation systems on and around Indian reservations.

Tribal Transit Funding

• TRIBAL TRANSIT PROGRAM FUNDS [Public Transportation on Indian Reservations 5311(c)]

SAFETEA-LU created a new Tribal Transit Program; it is funded as takedown under the Section 5311 program. Under the Tribal Transit Program, Federally-recognized Indian tribes are eligible direct recipients. Based upon an annual national competitive selection process, FTA awards Tribal Transit grants directly to eligible Indian tribes.

Tribal Transit Funding Program

• FTA Section 5311(c) TTP funds can be used for any purpose authorized under the Section 5311 program, including public transportation capital projects, operating cost of equipment and facilities for use in public transportation, planning, and the acquisition of public transportation services, and service agreements with private providers of public transportation.

Tribal Transit Projects

• Establishing a Transit Agency• Transit Fix and Adjusting Route • Transit Vehicle Replacement

Program• Roads and/or Bridges Program• Transit Planning and Consultant

Program• Park and Ride Station and/or

Rideshare Program

Tribal Transit Projects

• Transit Facilities • Tribal Dial-a-Ride Services • Employee Transit Incentive

Program• Transportation Capital Projects • Service Agreements with Private

Providers of Public Transportation

Cultural DynamicsCultural Dynamics

• Sovereignty is a key component that Sovereignty is a key component that influences a Tribe’s decision making influences a Tribe’s decision making processprocess

• Native American culture is rich with Native American culture is rich with traditions and customs traditions and customs

• The “Family” cultural dynamic is the The “Family” cultural dynamic is the driving force behind decision makingdriving force behind decision making

• Tribes strive to be self sufficient to Tribes strive to be self sufficient to sustain their heritage and cultural needssustain their heritage and cultural needs

BusinessBusiness

• The need to sustain business The need to sustain business partnerships is critical for Tribes to partnerships is critical for Tribes to reach their goal of self sufficiency reach their goal of self sufficiency

• Grant funding needs to include Grant funding needs to include Tribal businesses in order to supply: Tribal businesses in order to supply: employee benefits, planning employee benefits, planning development, and economic growth development, and economic growth

Business…Business…(cont.)(cont.)

• In most instances, Tribal businesses are In most instances, Tribal businesses are required to follow Federal, State, and local required to follow Federal, State, and local guidelinesguidelines

• State Compacts allow Tribes to maneuver State Compacts allow Tribes to maneuver gaming operationsgaming operations

• Tribal businesses impact the local economy Tribal businesses impact the local economy and provide employment opportunities for and provide employment opportunities for the surrounding communitiesthe surrounding communities

GovernmentGovernment

• Most Tribal Governments are ran by Most Tribal Governments are ran by elected council members (which are elected council members (which are usually elected by the tribal general usually elected by the tribal general membership)membership)

• A majority of Tribal Governments control A majority of Tribal Governments control and direct all operations of the tribe- and direct all operations of the tribe- cultural, business, political involvementcultural, business, political involvement

• Tribal Government’s role is to protect Tribal Government’s role is to protect the interests of the tribethe interests of the tribe

Government…Government…(cont.)(cont.)

• Transit funds must meet the needs Transit funds must meet the needs of each tribeof each tribe

• Needs should include: roads, Needs should include: roads, vehicles, proper land use & vehicles, proper land use & development, and the livelihood of development, and the livelihood of tribal memberstribal members

EnvironmentEnvironment

• Comprehending the demographics of Comprehending the demographics of each Reservation location is essential each Reservation location is essential for the transit grant processfor the transit grant process

• Demographics range from city, rural, Demographics range from city, rural, country and suburban locationscountry and suburban locations

• A Tribe’s location represents a A Tribe’s location represents a different transit grant application different transit grant application process; which reflects it’s process; which reflects it’s demographic needsdemographic needs

Building Tribal Building Tribal RelationshipsRelationships

• Cultural awareness is essential in Cultural awareness is essential in establishing positive tribal relationshipsestablishing positive tribal relationships

• Honesty and reassurance of trust is Honesty and reassurance of trust is beneficial during the processbeneficial during the process

• Transit agencies need to be mindful of Transit agencies need to be mindful of tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage, tribal sovereignty, cultural heritage, business and political objectivesbusiness and political objectives

• Tribes may be reluctant to comply with Tribes may be reluctant to comply with certain transit grant criteria because it certain transit grant criteria because it may contradict tribal objectives may contradict tribal objectives

Building Tribal Building Tribal Relationships Relationships (cont.)(cont.)

• Transit agencies can invite tribal officials Transit agencies can invite tribal officials to local transportation committee to local transportation committee meetings meetings

• State and City agencies can extend State and City agencies can extend invitations to tribal officials to be a part invitations to tribal officials to be a part of economic development/planning of economic development/planning committees; which will assist with committees; which will assist with gaining support for tribal transit projectsgaining support for tribal transit projects

• Both entities can host “Meet and Greet” Both entities can host “Meet and Greet” functions to start the relationship functions to start the relationship processprocess

Morongo Band of Mission Morongo Band of Mission IndiansIndians

Recent Transportation Recent Transportation ProjectsProjects• Roundabout off the Interstate 10 Hwy Roundabout off the Interstate 10 Hwy

20072007• Received 2010 National Clean Diesel Received 2010 National Clean Diesel

EPA GrantEPA Grant• Placed a Transit Stop at MCRS 2009Placed a Transit Stop at MCRS 2009• Amtrak California Bus stop at MCRS Amtrak California Bus stop at MCRS

2011 2011 • Morongo held the Vice Chair Person Morongo held the Vice Chair Person

position on the T-Now committee for position on the T-Now committee for 2010 & 20112010 & 2011

Morongo’s Roundabout Morongo’s Roundabout ProjectProject

General information about the roundabout:General information about the roundabout:

• This is the first roundabout that has been built in District 8This is the first roundabout that has been built in District 8

• The roundabout was constructed in approximately 6 The roundabout was constructed in approximately 6 monthsmonths

• The Tribe funded 100% of the projectThe Tribe funded 100% of the project

• The roundabout was built as mitigation for the traffic that The roundabout was built as mitigation for the traffic that comes to the Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa, the outlet comes to the Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa, the outlet malls, and other businesses in the area.malls, and other businesses in the area.

Morongo’s Roundabout Morongo’s Roundabout ProjectProject

• The roundabout increased the Apache Trail The roundabout increased the Apache Trail Interchange Level of Service (LOS) Tremendously. It Interchange Level of Service (LOS) Tremendously. It went from and "F" to an "A"went from and "F" to an "A"

• When planning and designing the roundabout several When planning and designing the roundabout several factors were taken into consideration, including the factors were taken into consideration, including the mandatory twenty (20) year traffic forecasting, mandatory twenty (20) year traffic forecasting, required by Caltrans, which takes into account or required by Caltrans, which takes into account or includes in the forecasting formula an increase in includes in the forecasting formula an increase in traffic over the twenty year period. The reason for traffic over the twenty year period. The reason for this is so that we understand at what point the this is so that we understand at what point the project LOS begins to breakdown and not be project LOS begins to breakdown and not be effective.effective.

Roundabout during Roundabout during constructionconstruction

Other Transportation Other Transportation ProjectsProjects

California Amtrak Bus California Amtrak Bus Stop at MCRSStop at MCRS

MCRS Transit StopMCRS Transit Stop

Personal Actions with Building Personal Actions with Building Relationships with Local Transit Relationships with Local Transit

AgenciesAgencies• Introduced to the San Gorgonio Pass Introduced to the San Gorgonio Pass

Transportation Now (T-Now) committee in Transportation Now (T-Now) committee in 20082008

• Coordinated Transit Stop Shelter project for Coordinated Transit Stop Shelter project for MCRS 2009MCRS 2009

• Nominated for Youth Chair Person and Nominated for Youth Chair Person and Secretary of the T-Now CommitteeSecretary of the T-Now Committee

• Coordinated and Supported RTA's “Go Pass” Coordinated and Supported RTA's “Go Pass” event for Mt San Jacinto Collegeevent for Mt San Jacinto College

• Project Coordinator for the Youth T-Now Project Coordinator for the Youth T-Now Safety Awareness PowerPoint “Rabbus” Safety Awareness PowerPoint “Rabbus” PresentationPresentation

Personal Actions with Building Personal Actions with Building Relationships with Local Transit Relationships with Local Transit

AgenciesAgencies• Organized and provided support to Organized and provided support to

Sun Lines Transit in their effort to Sun Lines Transit in their effort to acquire a support letter from acquire a support letter from Morongo for their transit grant Morongo for their transit grant applicationapplication

• Held the Youth Chair Person Held the Youth Chair Person position on the T-Now committee for position on the T-Now committee for 2010 & 2011 2010 & 2011

SummarySummary

Establishing and maintaining tribal Establishing and maintaining tribal relationships are the key factors that must relationships are the key factors that must be initiated by local transit agencies. be initiated by local transit agencies. Cultural and economic awareness will Cultural and economic awareness will benefit transit agencies with building & benefit transit agencies with building & maintaining tribal business relationships. maintaining tribal business relationships.

Communication- e-mails, letters, phone Communication- e-mails, letters, phone conversations, and work shops are conversations, and work shops are affective; however, face to face affective; however, face to face interactions should take precedence when interactions should take precedence when dealing with tribes.dealing with tribes.

PresenterPresenter• CEO/President of Foster’s CDE CEO/President of Foster’s CDE

Consulting BusinessConsulting Business• Tribal Operations for 11yearsTribal Operations for 11years• California State School Bus InstructorCalifornia State School Bus Instructor• US Department of Transportation TSI US Department of Transportation TSI

InstructorInstructor• Graduated from University of Pacific Graduated from University of Pacific

Transit & Para Transit Management Transit & Para Transit Management Certificate ProgramCertificate Program

• Homeland Security Emergency Homeland Security Emergency Management SpecialistManagement Specialist

Q & AQ & A