Ethnographer of communication receives $77,000 FTA grant

[David Boromisza-Habashi]

Great news from an ethnographer of communication. Congratulations, Dr.
Townsend! (And thanks to Donal Carbaugh for bringing this post to my
attention.)

DBH

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Rebecca M. Townsend, RTownsend at mcc.commnet.edu

Peter Rogoff, Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) recently announced that the FTA will award Communication
Instructor Rebecca M. Townsend, Ph.D., of Manchester Community College
(Connecticut) $77,000 to conduct research into culturally sensitive
deliberation during transit planning as part of the Public
Transportation Participation Pilot Program.  The PTP is a research
program created as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

According to the FTA, the grant is to conduct “applied research that
will develop innovative approaches to improving public participation
in the planning of public transportation…[and will] work to yield
products that can be applied to improve the state of the practice of
public participation in transportation planning at the regional or
project level.”

Townsend’s grant will involve collaboration with students, community
organizations, local and state government officials, and the Capital
Region Council of Governments in Hartford, Connecticut.  The design
seeks to improve the public participation practice by creating and
piloting a cost-effective public participation model that meaningfully
involves youth, low-income, and minority populations to shape regional
transportation plans. Traditionally, these populations have been among
the most difficult for planners to reach and whose public
transportation needs are most critical. For more information, see
http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/programs/planning_environment_10015.html

Rebecca M. Townsend, Ph.D.
Instructor of Communication
Manchester Community College
Great Path, M.S. #19, P.O. Box 1046
Manchester, CT 06045-1046
Office: L218G
Phone: 860-512-2685  Fax: 860-512-3201
Email: RTownsend at mcc.commnet.edu

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