TTA proposal

TO: Burnis Morris
FROM: Katie Quinonez

March 31, 2011
RE: Story Outline: Tri-State Transit Ridership Increase

Subject: TTA ridership increased due to high gas prices.
Scope: I can look at TTA ridership for the past five years and see how it has fluctuated.
Need: High gas prices affect everyone in the country, particularly people who live in remote areas, such as various towns in the state of West Virginia, and have to travel great distances to get to work or school.
Methods: I can compare TTA ridership over the last five years and see how it has fluctuated with gas prices.
Sources: I can talk to Paul Davis, the CEO of TTA, to get information about TTA funding and get ridership statistics. I can also talk to people who ride the TTA and learn about their experiences, as well as bus drivers.
Presentation: This can be a two-part presentation. It first can be about the testimonials of individuals who ride the bus and the bus drivers. The second could be about TTA funding and what a lack of funding could mean for TTA riders.
Follow-up: When the continuing resolutions that fund the TTA after the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act expired in fiscal year 2009, I can talk to Davis about TTA funding. I can talk to him about potential layoffs and contingency plans. Davis has already said layoffs will occur as a last resort after higher bus fares and cut routes, which clearly affects TTA riders.

Proposal: Huntington's FY 2012 Proposed Budget

TO: Burnis Morris

FROM: Katie Quinonez

RE: Story Outline: Huntington City Budget

DATE: March 17, 2011

Subject: Proposed FY 2012 Huntington budget.

Scope: This story will be an analysis of the proposed FY 2012 city budget. This story will give information on the implications of the budget and how it would affect every day life in Huntington. I will also analyze the Tri-State Transit Authority’s FY 2012 budget.

Need: The budget affects all aspects of the city. The economy is in shambles, so to speak, and the mayor has proposed cuts in several different departments.

Methods: I will give actual figures proposed in the FY 2012 budget, specify where cuts are to be made and compare it to the FY 2011 city budget.

Sources: The actual budget itself, various members of city council, such as Sandra Clements, the mayor, the director of administration and finance and board members of the Tri-State Transit Authority.

Presentation: A main article about the proposed budget and a sidebar about the TTA and how it’s affected by the budget. Will include two tables, one with the proposed FY 2012 budget, one on the proposed FY 2011 expenditures.

Follow-up: After the city finalizes the budget, I could do a story on the difference between the mayor’s proposed budget and what the city council actually passes.