Northeast Women in Transportation (NEWIT) is comprised of tradeswomen's training and transportation professionals who are committed to creating viable careers for women and minorities in the transportation industry by increasing the number of women and minorities gaining access to, working in, and advancing in the transportation industry.

NEWIT's History and Accomplishments:

• NEWIT began its work in 1991, seeking to increase women's participation in highway and mass transit jobs.
• As originally written, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) allowed states to use 1/4 of 1% of their bridge and highway construction funds to increase opportunity for women and minorities. As the bill was being finalized, NEWIT successfully worked with former Senator George Mitchell of Maine to increase the 1/4% to 1/2%, raising the available moneys to over $17 million per year nationally. Thus, states may now use 1/2 of 1% of their bridge and highway funds to increase opportunity for women and minorities.
• In January 1993, NEWIT hosted "IT'S ISTEA TIME," to educate our colleagues across the country about the availability of ISTEA funds. Before this conference, approximately $500,000 of ISTEA Supportive Services moneys was drawn down and spent. In the year after the conference, $4.5 million was utilized.
• In February 1995, NEWIT hosted a second ISTEA conference to continue the work begun at "IT'S ISTEA TIME."
• In 1996 and 1997, under a contract with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NEWIT offered three "Partnering for Women's Employment Institutes" around the country. These Institutes facilitated a process that resulted in the formation of strong, statewide teams that could then work together to access and effectively use ISTEA 1/2 % funds in their respective states. As a result of these Institutes, $8 million was drawn down and in 1998.
• NEWIT continues to work under contract with FHWA to provide technical assistance to states seeking to access funds under TEA-21, the successor to ISTEA. NEWIT also works with state agencies and community partners to design and implement high-quality, effective training, support, and placement programs for women and minorities in the transportation industry.

NEWIT's consultants bring a comprehensive knowledge of the transportation industry as well as extensive program and policy expertise to their work. NEWIT's consultants include:

Ronnie Sandler, currently CEO of Compliance USA with over 25 years of experience and expertise as a tradeswoman, training program designer and director, tradeswomen's advocate, compliance officer, and nationally known consultant.

Penny Plourde, Equal Opportunity Programs Coordinator for the Maine Department of Transportation.

Ruth Durkee, attorney, consultant on issues of workplace climate and culture, employment law, and job training, and former Executive Director of Northern New England Tradeswomen.

Priscilla Golding, Executive Director of Women in the Building Trades, Boston, MA whose areas of expertise include working with unions and program and policy design and evaluation.