The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Dissemination Program recently selected 18 new individuals to serve as Ambassadors for the program during the 2012-2014 term. These industry professionals will travel to various areas of the country to enhance the understanding, acceptance, and use of TCRP-sponsored research products.

With impressive backgrounds in public transit operations, management, planning, safety, community relations, and mobility, these individuals were selected from a competitive pool of candidates across the U.S.

Class members include:

* Stephen Anderson, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail, Pompano Beach, FL;
* Tamika Bell, Broward County Transit, Pompano Beach, FL;
* Roscoe Brown, Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, Indianapolis, IN;
* Jack Chalabian, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA);
* Diane Corral-Lopez, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority;
* Monica Ellington, Dallas Area Rapid Transit;
* Inez Evans, Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority/Cincinnati Metro;
* Christopher Pangilinan, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency;
* Tiffany Pannell, Central Ohio Transit Authority, Columbus, OH;
* Ramond Robinson, Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte, NC;
* Maria-Teresa Roman, CTA;
* Sandip Sen, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Fort Worth, TX;
* Jacqueline Sheader, Centre Area Transportation Authority, State College, PA;
* Carol Thomas, TRANSFORT, City of Fort Collins, CO;
* Karen Walton, First Transit/Sioux Area Metro, Sioux Falls, SD;
* David White, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority;
* Emille Williams, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia; and
* Waiching Wong, District DOT, Washington, DC.

Each ambassador is expected to volunteer for at least two to three different industry-related venues a year to promote and disseminate TCRP reports and products

TCRP was established in 1992 to serve as one of the principal means by which the transit industry can develop innovative, near-term solutions to industry needs and demands. The dissemination effort of TCRP, as managed by APTA, ensures that program-related reports and products reach appropriate industry audiences and interested individuals. As a result of this effort, the TCRP Ambassador Program was developed to expand outreach efforts and is a joint effort between APTA, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Federal Transit Administration, and TCRP. COMTO manages the ambassador program and seeks to continue expanding its outreach.

For more information about the TCRP Dissemination Program, please visit the web site. For more information about the TCRP Ambassador Program, please visit the COMTO web site.