The team focuses on transit management and innovation-related projects by providing practical technical support, transit management services, and research to transit agencies and local governments, specializing in service planning and operational matters, capital and operating analysis, project management, public involvement, and grant management. Research conducted includes operational procedures, technology applications, and urban and rural mobility and data analysis. Additionally, the program manages the Florida Transit Planning Network (FTPN) and the Florida Transit Marketing Network (FTMN) supported by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

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Jonathan Roberson , AICP

Research Associate Transit Management & Innovation
Photo of Jonathan Roberson AICP

Biography

Mr. Roberson has extensive experience providing assistance and program support to transit-related agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.  He has over 25 years of experience as an accomplished and collaborative leader, professional planner and project manager of public transportation, planning, community development, and organizational-building programs for agencies of all sizes.

He has over twenty years of experience working for public transportation agencies in Michigan and Florida and has worked extensively in the planning and operations of traditional and innovative fixed-route, on-demand, paratransit, and commuter rail services and projects at both the County government and regional transit authority levels.  Mr. Roberson offers extensive experience developing and managing a wide range of innovative transit-industry policies and programs at the local, state, and federal level.  Specific experience includes:

  • Short and Long-Range Transit Planning
    • Major and Annual Transit Development Plans (TDP)
    • Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA)
    • Strategic/Visioning Plans
    • Transit ITS Business Plans
  • Financial Planning/Analysis/Budgeting
    • Short and long-term planning-level budgeting
    • Transit program(s) cost estimation
    • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • FDOT/FTA/NTD Program Development and Compliance
    • FTA Triennial Review
    • FDOT Triennial Review
    • NTD development and submittal
    • FTA and FDOT discretionary grant programs
    • Title VI Plan/Programs
    • Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan/Programs
    • Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan (TDSP)
    • Public Transit Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)
    • NEPA (Categorical Exclusion) Review and Analysis
    • Transit Agency-MPO Compliance and Partnerships
  • Transit Program Marketing, Training and Outreach Development and Implementation
    • Transit industry-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
    • Marketing and presentation materials
    • Transit training curriculum development and delivery
    • Public Involvement Plans (PIPs)
  • Ridership/Demand Analysis
    • Development and management of in-person and remote on-board survey efforts
    • Ride-check program development and management
  • Service Development/Scheduling
    • Short and long-range service planning
    • Rostering/pick development and management
    • Development of extra board, overtime, and emergency roster process
    • Use and management of scheduling software (Hastus, Trapeze) scheduling systems
    • Fixed Route, Mobility-on-Demand, and Paratransit modes
  • Transit ITS/Technology Projects
    • Experience planning, procuring, implementing and managing Transit IT systems such as:
      • CAD/AVL
      • Next Bus apps
      • Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs)
      • Mobile Ticketing/Farebox apps
      • Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
      • On-board digital signage
    • Grant Proposal/Development/Management
      • FTA (5307, 5339, 5310, 5311)
      • FHWA (flexing FHWA funding to FTA)
      • FDOT (Transit Block Grant, Service Dev., Urban Corridor, 5310, 5311, TRIP)
      • CTD/TD/5310/5311 funding
      • Local funding/budget requests
    • Corridor Planning and Development
      • Alternative Analysis (AA) and related PD&E studies at the corridor-level
      • Bus Stop infrastructure planning, design (typical spec development) and construction
      • Complete Streets project planning and development (with focus on the inclusion of transit infrastructure needs into roadway design projects)

Mr. Roberson approaches his role at CUTR as an opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise with the transit industry.  In addition, he appreciates any opportunity to learn/exchange best practices/ideas/innovation with others for the benefit of each community and all transit users.

Education

M.A., Geography and Planning, University of Toledo, 1999

B.S., Geography, Western Michigan University, 1993

Professional Certification

American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), License #028752

 

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