Meet the Technical Assistance Team Supporting IMI and AIM Grantees

By Shared-Use Mobility Center

Aug 31, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Now that you know which subgroup you belong to, you might be wondering, “Who leads each subgroup? Who can I contact for questions or guidance on my AIM or IMI Project?” 

I’m glad you asked. Grab a cup of tea, and meet the Technical Assistance team that is dedicated to:

  • Addressing issues commonly encountered in implementing new mobility solutions and at the frontier of mobility innovation; 
  • Creating publicly accessible tools that accelerate innovative mobility solutions;
  • Facilitating effective knowledge sharing between FTA mobility innovation grantees and the greater transit community;
  • Creating and sharing educational resources through the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s Learning Center;
  • Coordinating monthly meetings for subgroups;
  • Facilitating contacts and connections.

AIM and IMI Grantees are encouraged to reach out to the Technical Assistance team for any questions, comments, ideas, or feedback.

Meet the Technical Assistance team!

Al Benedict, Director of Learning Center & Accessibility Programs

Al is the Director for the Mobility On Demand Learning Center and Accessibility Programs at SUMC, and is responsible for managing several national projects to evaluate opportunities and economic and environmental benefits related to shared mobility and integrated transportation systems.

Black and white image of SUMC Staff, Rudy Faust
Rudy Faust, Senior Project Coordinator

Rudy leads the Integrated Mobility (MaaS) and Payment Innovation subgroups for the Mobility Innovation Collaborative. 

A Senior Project Coordinator, Rudy has worked on Federal Transit Administration projects for SUMC dating to the Innovation and Knowledge Accelerator. His related work ranges from research products such as SUMC’s Mobility On Demand Learning Center content and Objective-Driven Data Sharing for Transit Agencies in Mobility Partnerships.

 

Black and white image of SUMC Staff, Colin Murphy
Colin Murphy, Research and Consulting Director

Colin leads the Payment Innovation and Novel Applications for Data subgroups for the Mobility Innovation Collaborative. 

Colin works on SUMC’s research efforts, with an emphasis on newer shared modes’ interaction with existing transportation networks and their potential to transform our cities. Colin led all four of SUMC’s TCRP projects, wrote TRCP Research Reports 188, 195, 196, and 230, covered the shared mobility world from ridehailing to e-scooters, and examined how it works best with public transit. Colin also works on teams for several other research and consulting projects at SUMC.

Image of SUMC Staff Ellen Partridge
Ellen Partridge, Policy and Strategy Director

Ellen is the Policy and Strategy Director at SUMC. Ellen works to make sustainable equitable mobility a reality with policies that align the business case, the moral argument, and the environmental imperative for smart transportation law and policy. Ellen has served as Chief Counsel for the FTA, and as Deputy Chief Counsel for Policy and Appeals at the Chicago Transit Authority, with a particular emphasis on use of new technology to make transportation work better. Ellen is intimately familiar with the legal and regulatory landscape of public transit, including the nuances of public agency partnerships with private mobility providers.

Black and white image of SUMC Staff, Nate Seeskin
Nate Seeskin, Program Associate

Nate develops content for SUMC’s Mobility On Demand Learning Center, a resource that features many exciting developments in the shared mobility field that might help inspire Grantees in their own work. He looks forward to learning more about (and maybe even highlighting) the innovative work Grantees are doing in their own communities.

Manali Sheth, Program Coordinator

Manali is a Program Coordinator at SUMC and works on a couple of projects at SUMC. For the MIC, she helps to coordinate knowledge exchange amongst Incubators, and develop content for the website. She is excited to work with Grantees to capture the amazing stories, how-tos, and lessons learned from AIM and IMI Projects.

Black and white image of SUMC Staff, Alvaro Villagran
Alvaro Villagran, Program Manager

Alvaro leads the Mobility on Demand and the Automation subgroups for the Mobility Innovation Collaborative.

Alvaro’s work at SUMC focuses on providing technical assistance to agencies developing a wide array of innovative mobility projects, including: microtransit, mobility-as-a-service, mobility hubs, accessible on-demand programs, autonomous vehicles, and micro mobility integration to transit.