Briefs

Transit honor and approval: The four Tompkins County transportation agencies being consolidated as T-CAT -- CU Transit, Tomtran, Ithaca Transit and Gadabout -- were given, jointly, the Outstanding Innovation in Safety Award from the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Public Transit Association. The agencies were recognized for developing, together, the consolidated maintenance program that permits the four systems to share a maintenance facility and program in a cost-effective manner, the DOT said. CU Transit is run by Cornell, Tomtran by the county, Ithaca Transit by the city of Ithaca and Gadabout is a not-for-profit private service. The awards were given June 14 at a state public transportation conference in Buffalo. A day before, on June 13, the state Assembly passed the legislation needed to officially form T-CAT. The legislation also has been approved by the state Senate and only awaits Gov. George Pataki's signature.

Bus "roadeo" Sunday: More than two dozen bus drivers from public-transit companies in Broome, Chemung, Cortland, Tioga and Tompkins counties will compete this Sunday, June 23, in the 10th annual Southern Tier Bus "Roadeo." The competition begins at 11 a.m. in Cornell's "O" parking lot, off of Route 366. Drivers will operate their vehicles on a course that will test them in a series of maneuvers, and they also will be judged on their personal appearance, including uniforms. Participants will represent Broome County Transit, Chemung County Transit, Cortland Transit, and T-Tran of Tioga County, in addition to the host agency, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit or T-CAT. T-CAT includes CU Transit, Ithaca Transit, Tomtran and Gadabout, which are now operating as one unit.

English teachers and classes: Interested in helping people from foreign countries associated with the Cornell community? The Cornell Campus Club has a program for teaching English as a second language to persons temporarily in Ithaca. The teaching commitment is for one two-hour class per week, plus preparation. The five-week Summer Session runs from July 1-Aug. 2. Registration for the free English classes will take place on Thursday, June 27, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the One World Room, Anabel Taylor Hall. There is a $5 registration fee. Classes begin July 1. For further information for teachers and students, call Ann Marie Dullea at 277-2488 or Joan McMinn at 277-0013.