Well here though for the audience
questions though if you look you.

OK.
Great thank you.

And first I will say thank you to Eric in
town very very good points that were made

as you responded to my my opening
remarks a couple things I

jotted down starting with Eric's comments
first on the discretionary programs

that we had this past year and
no it is it was very very

hard in making those selections because
there were certainly more of a demand for

the funding than what we
had at a national level.

So it was a highly competitive program and
all the various categories whether it's

the bus muscle livability of the urban
circulator there were just a number

of polls was that far exceeded the amount
of dollars that we had one of things that

I've shared with my grantees across
the southeastern region is that first and

foremost when you put together those
proposals you want to keep it very simple

you want to address every criteria that is

posted in the Federal Register
notice very simple right one on one.

It asked for you to describe the benefits
of this because Project Force a level

community as the first item you put that
in your proposal is item number one and

you talk about it very specifically.

So just one of those
sort of basics is that

to make sure that your proposal
is taken very seriously.

Is that you want to address every criteria
that is listed in the Federal Register

notice and you want to make it very simple
for the evaluator to evaluate that.

So you want to do a one to one just
make it a mirror image of what

you see the Federation notice no
guarantees that it will be selected but

it certainly increases your chances
of getting through the next round of

evaluations The other thing I wanted
to to suggest is that we have been

operating deeper things to those that
weren't successful the first go around and

I would encourage everyone to take
advantage of that because what it will do

is better position you for the next time.

And as I indicated in my opening remarks
you best believe in never while.

We're going to see more discretionary
programs so building up on what you learn

in the feedback that you are see from
the from the headquarters offices can

be very helpful and I know we had a case
in point here with the city of Atlanta and

Marta that took the Peachtree Street Car
proposal very seriously.

They put it in for the first tiger and boy
did they get feedback it was stamped you

know rejected and they asked for
deep breathing and they were told.

Well first of all your
cost is way too high for

what you're asking the federal the federal
government to invest in you've got to

bring that number down and you have to
look at maybe doing it in phases so

their idea is that was
shared in a deep breath.

They went back again the city of
Atlanta and Marta and they put in for

the tiger too and as all of you
have heard they were selected.

So I would encourage you take
advantage of that the breeding and

listen to what's being shared with you and
build upon your proposal.

So that's might be back
in terms of trying to

get access to more
the discussion of programs and

my goal is that every grantee in my
region will receive some of that money.

You know Peter Rogoff laughs at me.

No policy that is this of the project over
there in South Carolina North Carolina and

I say Of course it is he said that I
call you always say of course it is so

I'm going to be advocates for your project
just make sure you're putting forth

a very good business case for the projects
that you want to invest in and

showing that collaboration
across the board.

It turns out we're moving towards
a different paradigm Eric indicated

about sort of the funding and
the methodology for the funding we do have

formula programs we have discretionary
programs looking at more flexibility.

I think that's a very decision.

I know that we have heard that loud and

clear when it comes to our
native human services programs.

You may be through with the new and
the jar program that in the past

have been very segregated pools of money
with specific criteria to use those funds.

There was a lot of complaints about that.

And there was a G.A.O. audit on that and
what we're looking at now is making those

programs a part of the fifty
three ten program so the grantee

has the discretion to determine how
much they want to spend or their knees

towards the jar Porson new or towards
the elderly and disabled communities and

giving you all the flexibility to use
those funds to better meet your needs.

So that's one area that we're certainly
looking at more flexibility help

that there be other opportunities
to look at that going forward.

The form and the discretionary
Corniche with F.R.A. Yes I know.

F.R.A. has been a regulating agency for
some for some time now I

know Peter has stated that if we should
get the legislation for safety for

our bus and rail at the M.T.A. would
probably look at a slightly different.

Whereas we wouldn't go after
the the whole large a lot but

we have very targeted safety measures
that we will put in place and

it's been interesting because every has
been entertaining discussions with us on

that about why do you not like
our paradigm the way we do it.

Why do you think there's been a fee to
maybe do more targeted more focus on

the safety evaluations
that we would be doing so

we have been having discussions with them
since the southeast region has received

quite a bit of money particularly
Florida for the high speed rail.

I person want to get more engaged now with
my counterparts there for a to see how

we're moving those projects for it so
there are certainly opportunities for

collaboration at the federal
level between our two agencies.

And then moving on to Tom's comments I
appreciate all that you were saying.

Tom focusing on that livability
communities that is certainly

going to into the next fiscal year the
sector is certainly made that his legacy

before he leaves on the ministrations
to get more money for

these little billet communities and
also for sustainability.

We are working closely with
our federal partners at E.P.A.

and here in the region we brought in the
C.D.C. We've been identifying I think we

have up to about seven or
eight projects that we're looking at the.

It would be excellent candidates to
receive additional livability Bundy and so

we are looking at ways that we can work
together at a federal level to try to get

additional funding put towards
these projects right now.

Each agency has their own separate
disparate discretionary programs but

we're hopeful in the future that
somehow we can help collaborate between

the agencies somehow having a team weigh
in on some of the projects being funded by

when it comes to livability vice versa or
E.P.A.

weighing in on the selection of projects
that F.D.A. is putting funding towards And

maybe there's a collaboration so you're
getting various possum money towards one

project nuff better plans to help you
to bring those projects to fruition.

So that is certainly something we
are continuing to focus on and

you talked about the state
of good repair and

I can applaud what you all are doing here
in this region that safety is first and

foremost before you continue to expand or
invest into new capital

investment you want to make sure that
your current infrastructure is up to par.

And we're very appreciative of that
we're also very hopeful that we can

get a separate pool of money and
maybe the next transportation bill for

next year's operation that can be targeted

towards funding the stated
that we're here initiative.

I think now we've been able to sort of
gather the monies we had left over to

the lapse in dollars and put it together
in this discretion your program would

cost it over here but
I think we would like to see going

forward an opportunity to have that as
a line item if you will in our budget

that says Here is a pot of money on
an annual basis that grantees come in and

try to have access to to invest in
the city to repair their systems.

And I think those are all
the notes that I have there so

if you like we can open it up for
questions from the audience.

Yes sorry.

Well there's certainly that interest
in the public private partnerships.

You've heard a lot of that we are
certainly interested in that we look to

see how many dollars dollars has been
brought to the table to help leverage

the federal dollars So
we are bracing that concept.

If you're asking something different
than what we're going to do or

what I can say that I have not been
a part of in any of those discussions.

Yet those actually taking place at the
federal level whether here the region or

even third world.

First my first idea and

phrase it

like.

Yes but if I could just

be a lamp you know has not
explicitly discussed this and

I'm not speaking visual way for
you but I'll do it anyway.

Some of that sort of
happens informally but

it happens around projects I mean we're
working with the Chattanooga corridor and

that's been going on for a long time.

We're obviously working to make
a quarter lease to Griffon and

and sort of to make it up but
you know it is happening around a project.

Now the project you know does
get you into talking about

you know local land use issues and
other things but but

you can sort of see that that
the structure is sort of budding anyway.

But I do kind of like the idea and
I think certainly that my them

go along with figuring out how you would
create some sort of a test case for

how you could say take say the Chattanooga
quarter or the group and make an order and

let's think about this in a little more
organized a little more comprehensive

fashion because after all I think
considering that the line to make it

pretty clear that the local governments
along the way are going to have to do

the terms of their land use their other
infrastructure of their finances.

So I could represent
a real opportunity and

I'm sure there are other corridors that
I'm not familiar enough with mega regions

where the idea would be flexible but
I can certainly see that

it's sort of happening but
it's happening around just a project.

Well there are some who do believe that
we're currently sounds like for her.

Well that's a good question.

As part of this is an environment.

This is going to be primarily what's
called a tier one environmental

document from Atlanta Charlotte.

So in the environmental process what
happens is you'll have stakeholder

outreach and key stakeholders along
chordal I think what you see and

kind of as part of the model from what
we've done with Atlanta Chattanooga

is that in addition to
just kind of having that

outreach as part of
the environmental process.

So we have we have a steering committee
is part of that study that has a key

stakeholders on on that and
some are even funding stakeholders

and you know as part of this at a minimum
South Carolina G.O.P. in North Carolina

will be a funding partner in providing
that match probably will come and

talk with the Metro chamber of Greenville
some of the places along the line see

if they want to participate financially
study again because we've seen people that

invest money in things you know that old
as you have a skin in the game you're more

likely to be involved in a project and so
you know we're going to probably start

that conversation we got a call this
week or next week with our D.O.T.

partners in North Carolina South Carolina
start talking about.

How's that framework look as
as we've seen in the Atlanta.

Chattanooga chordal.

Success is really a collaboration and
getting those involved.

You know Atlanta Chattanooga that first
base study that we've got going on

has zero dollars from the state
of Georgia invested in

all money it comes from the local
communities that provide that match.

That's pretty amazing never
say I would project like that.

So from that standpoint that's kind of
what we'd be looking at on that court of

law as well is how do we get folks
that are really energized and

Gates want to have some skin in the game
have them participate financially

as well as part of this hearing
of the study effort itself.

I'll give the classic
planning answer it depends

you know if in the in the abstract
that is if it could be as

having a single purpose after it has
an infrastructure in the court or

to help you with outreach building those
relationships as Tom's talked about

relationships are not cheap or
quick that to come up with it takes time.

We've got concept three here it's pretty
easy thing to look at go I make sense.

We've taken five years to build
relationships around that concept.

So if you had a quarter or
planning station

that was dedicated to a specific piece
of infrastructure or a swath around it.

They build those relationships
around that they have a kind of

unique idea of how the investment
pattern would be for

that that quarter as a whole and how your
project in particular would fit into it so

that there is I think an opportunity
avenue for that type of approach to work

again downfalls of and I think Joe
kind of mentioned in his presentation.

He had a C C P O.

Is that they're so focused on that court
or that you get in the turf battles

you would have to look at how those folks
not tried to either way projects within

their court or span against each other or
even take an approach as the mayor was

talking about you know what do we try
to fund one that one quarter over.

At the expense of another court or
an advocacy group focused solely on one or

two or could do some more
harm at a regional scale.

If they are so focused on that one core
but they may try to outweigh or or

kill the good of some other project.

So they either.

It really depends I think there are some
benefits that the concept could bring

again there is a pitfall just based
on human nature that come out.

Your point is very well taken and
maybe this is the perfect timing to be

bringing that point up as
we're preparing for the next.

You know certainly the formulas
are sort of in stone for

now everything's up for grabs.

As we're going forward in our next field.

So if you have some specific
ideas in how you see

a formula for
the mid size versus the larger size.

I know our secretary and administrator
are gone to various locations in the U.S.

to have sort of these stakeholder
meetings and they've asked for input.

You know if you were in charge for
a day what would you like

to see in the next transportation bill
that make your life a lot easier.

So this could certainly be an idea
that we could certainly roll out as

a suggestion but if you have some
more specificity what I would be

interested in that is I do have
cars after we're done to get that.

The.

OK Great question and the short answer
would be certainly I would embrace

I would embrace that I think you're going
to have some additional challenges when

you look at crossing state boundaries
versus working within your own region.

And I am one to sort of take baby steps
before I take the giant leap step.

So if there are successes at the region
regional levels where you're working

together you're collaborating together
you're prioritizing the projects and

you're making significant
strides within your own region.

I think you certainly start to build
a case that goes beyond that region and

building in the partnership of
bringing another state on board and

so I think between whatever it is whatever
two states or three states are you talking

about building some synergy there
having some processes in place and

trying to go after the funding to help
you to take advantage of this project.

So I would I would never say I don't
support any type of collaboration and

working together whether it's internally
to the to the region across the states or

across the nation and
even somewhat internationally and

I'm just getting a flavor of that
now since I spent two weeks.

You know across the seas looking
at is there a way that the U.S.

could influence what some of these other
countries are trying to do the transit so

I see collaboration with
no real boundaries but

I am realistic to know that you have
to sort of start small and build it and

build an infrastructure in place and
structure around that process.

You know I did I would find out of

the three countries that we visited again
they were Turkey Egypt and South Africa.

And I have to say Turkey by far has
the collaboration they headed into a great

transit system I was very very crass and
I know this may sound sort

of elementary to the folks here in the
room but they actually had the rail feed.

The bus people the street car
people talking together and

they created a transit infrastructure that
you had connectivity at every point and

they didn't go after it as being
a silo I'll build my system.

First there was sort of this road map.

If you will and they started to build
it together as they had the funding and

where you got off on one of their systems
you had a connecting point to get to

the next and then that was very impressive
to me and it was a presidential time we

were there which was only four days but
we had the hands of each one of those most

constantly in the meetings and
it wasn't just work which I do see a lot

of the silos sometimes in our own areas
here even within the southeast region.

Sure as I'm going to leave my cards
you can always start with me and

then I can identify some of them my staff
that they work with you as your ideas.

But also utilizing the Georgia D.O.T.

as a sounding board as well we
look to them as a partner with us.

So absolutely I'll leave my
cards with several board.

Great thank you very much for
your comments.

I always like the constructive feedback
that makes them more interesting

in a compare constructive way.

So thank you very much for that but you
know my mission thought when you started

off with that comment I said my gosh you
know maybe three years ago we did these

these projects that
are never that room and

folks put and
all these different applications for

my various projects and I think
the federal government selected by me.

And boy did we get back.

So without.

You know we took the time for
all these projects and yet

you started to that money gave to the five
biggest cities to invest in and there

despite it's what we had going for so now
it's sort of like the reverse of it right.

We're taking sort of spreading the wealth
of cross the board was smaller projects

and I think has been received fairly
positive cross the border there has

been the safety that you share with us now
to go with the streetcars so I'm not sure

where the right balance is I think within
the one spectrum to the next spectrum so

you know maybe somewhere in between is
the right area to land with that and

I would ask for your help in
terms of projects that come to

the federal government for
evaluation but those projects be vetted.

You know within the state within your
communities your urbanized area and

you look for projects that you feel
are the right projects for your community

is where it takes away a little bit of
this you know the subject to the federal

government coming in and sort of dictating
the power is ation within a state.

And we saw that a lot
in North Carolina and

I do applaud them that I think
they all met together and

they identified which projects that they
were going forward to go after some.

Discretionary funding they didn't
send all of their wish list but

they made a conscious effort to send in
the projects that were most important

to their communities and so when General
project of the federal government also has

the lacked it would have been a benefit
as I would just as a way to help

sort of drive the government
to leave the government to

force the projects will be most
beneficial to your communities.

Right.
Here.

But of course we have got to have more.

Or there are no other questions.

This hour about your about your loss rate.

So it was like it was about a.