National RTAP is a program of the Federal Transit Administration dedicated to creating rural and tribal transit solutions through free training materials, technical assistance, and partner collaboration. |
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Upcoming National RTAP Webinar:
Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion
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Please join us on May 26 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET for the Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion webinar. Presenters Ray Leonard Jr. and Dr. Joy Bloom Wright from Launch Team Consulting will share their personal stories of growing up with limited diversity and how their lives changed when confronted with it. They will encourage the audience to celebrate diversity and work as one cohesive team, as well as discuss the effects that a lack of diversity and inclusion have on organizations. |
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What's New in the State RTAP Manager's Toolkit? |
We've updated the National RTAP State RTAP Manager's Toolkit with new content, resources, and sections. Join National RTAP staff and Review Board member Shauna Miller, RTAP Manager, Idaho Transportation Department, for a webinar on June 24, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, for an introduction to the updated content, which includes:
- Training plans and videos
- Technical assistance case studies
- Scholarship management tips
- New section on RTAP Manager Succession Planning
- Dozens of new sample documents and templates
- and more . . .
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Apply for a National RTAP Community Rides Grant
The National RTAP Community Rides Grant Program offers current recipients and subrecipients of FTA's Section 5311 program the opportunity to apply for grant awards of up to $100,000 for projects that develop or strengthen transportation partnerships that improve social determinants of health in rural and tribal communities. Download the Request for Proposals (RFP) and Budget Template. The application deadline is May 10, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET. The recording, presentation slides, and questions and answers from the Project Development, Performance Measures, and Application Portal Overview webinar held on April 15, 2021 have been posted.
National RTAP Exhibiting at Upcoming Conferences
National RTAP Tribal Transit Mini-Conferences, Workshops, and Scholarships
National RTAP can provide financial assistance through our Scholarship Program to any RTAP eligible tribal transit system wishing to attend a National RTAP sponsored training program, professional development program, or educational conference.
NCMM/National RTAP Blog Post: The Role of Mobility Managers as Advocates
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Join our Books in Transit Discussion Group
The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group's first meeting will be held on August 18, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, to discuss John Steinbeck's novel The Wayward Bus. Participants may buy or borrow the book anytime before the meeting. Register for the meeting.
National RTAP Distracted Driving Topic Guide Updated
National RTAP continues our annual update of topic guides. Our Distracted Driving Topic Guide was updated in April 2021. Driver distractions can be dangerous for passengers, and also other vehicles on the road. Resources focus on distracted driving and training to reduce the practice and distractions.
New resources include:
Climate Change and Transit Twitter Chat Summary Posted
Our #ClimateTransit Twitter chat was held on April 20, 2021. Panelists and attendees discussed how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. Questions answered included how electric bus emissions compared to diesel or natural gas, and how transit agencies can start planning for a charging or hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
Many resources and case examples from organizations and transit agencies tackling climate change were provided. Read the chat transcript and summary.
Upcoming NADTC/National RTAP Online Workshop on Making Mobile Trip Planning Work for You and Your Clients
NADTC and National RTAP are holding a workshop about mobile/online trip planning on June 10, 2021, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This workshop will include information on what is a mobile/online trip planner, how are they used, how do I teach someone to use a trip planner, and how can I get my agency’s transit services to show up on a trip planner.
Speakers are Marcy Jaffe, Principal, Transnnovation, Inc. and Amelia Bostic, Advocate for Public Transit, North Carolina.
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FTA announced $5 million in the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Technical Assistance and Workforce Development funds to establish a Transit Workforce Center that would support public transit agencies’ workforce development needs for all modes of public transit across urban, tribal, and rural entities. The mission of this new center is to assist public transit agencies to recruit, hire, train, and retain the diverse workforce needed now and in the future. Applications are due on May 10, 2021.
U.S. DOT issued a Sources Sought Notice for organizations capable of providing services, resources, and/or facilities for testing emerging and future 5G new radio communications technologies for vehicle-to-everything applications.
FTA prepared Sample Safety Risk Assessment Matrices for Bus Transit Agencies to assist agencies in establishing safety risk assessment matrices appropriate for the size and complexity of their operations. Based on this assessment, the agency can determine if the safety risk is acceptable or if additional risk mitigation may be necessary. Typical mitigations may include slow speed orders, detours, and defensive driving techniques.
FTA published a Dear Colleague letter outlining its oversight approach for the nearly $70 billion in federal funding it is providing to support the transit industry’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Their approach to oversight of the funding will focus on both technical assistance and supplemental oversight.
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Transportation for America Director Beth Osborne created a series of Livable Lesson: Transportation videos for AARP. Videos include Funding Transit, Making the Case for Transit, and Complete Streets.
TCRP's Tax Increment Financing for Transit Projects examines whether and under what circumstances this type of financing might be used to fund transit operations and maintenance, as well as the challenges that such arrangements might face.
Congressional Research Services' Legal Issues Related to Transportation Mask-Wearing Mandates provides a brief overview of the CDC’s Mask Order, describes the role of other federal agencies in enforcing its requirements, and discusses the scope of the federal government’s authority to impose mask-wearing requirements in transportation contexts.
CDC updated their Workplace Vaccination Program webpage. The page includes guidance for vaccinating workers onsite at the workplace, vaccine mandates and exemptions, and vaccinating contractors and temporary employees. |
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As part of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Data Collection effort on broadband availability across the United States, they are encouraging downloading and testing the FCC’s Speed Test app.
The Veteran's Administration provides a database of VA Facilities. Veterans or those assisting them can input their location and facility type, and an interactive map will display all relevant facilities available. By clicking on "Get Directions" and then clicking on the transit icon in the Google Maps page that opens, all available transit routes will display.
Two new databases focus on rural health indicators. Economic Innovation Group provides a Distressed Communities Index. Users can visualize how well-being varies across zip codes, counties, and congressional districts. The University of Kentucky National Center of Economic Analysis of Rural Health's Rural Counties Healthcare Industry Characteristics provides an interactive map with data that includes rural access to healthcare and rural health characteristics.
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The 24th Annual National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC) will be offered as a virtual event and will take place September 27 - October 1, 2021. NTICC is requesting feedback on what tracks, topics, and/or training opportunities people would like to see.
Nominations for the 2021 Fleet Hall of Fame are being accepted. The award honors and recognizes fleet industry leaders and pioneers who have contributed significantly to the commercial fleet management profession. The deadline is June 1, 2021.
Automotive Fleet magazine is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Edward J. Bobit Professional Fleet Manager of the Year award. The award recognizes a proficient fleet manager who has demonstrated special business acumen in developing and executing key management policies in all areas. Submissions are due by June 1, 2021.
Individuals may nominate a Securement Hero, who will be honored on the Q'Straint website. Rural heroes currently on the site include Brian Nye of Prairie Hills Transit, Joe Berry of Blue Water Area Transit Commission, and Jon Moore of Muskogee County Transit.
N-CATT is accepting applications to provide one-on-one technical assistance with up to three transit agencies who have identified a challenge, goal, or opportunity that they think technology can address. Applications are due June 9, 2021.
The deadline to submit student papers to the National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC) has been extended to May 15, 2021. |
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The National 911 Program is housed within NHTSA’s Office of Emergency Medical Services. The program coordinates 911 efforts, collects and creates resources for State and local 911 agencies, and oversees a grant program to upgrade the nation’s 911 infrastructure. NHTSA is seeking public comment on proposed collections of information for the 911 database through June 14, 2021.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) launched Supplemental Targeted Advances on April 22, 2021. SBA will provide $5 billion in additional assistance to 1 million small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been most severely affected by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is providing eligible employers, such as businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, with the opportunity to receive a tax credit for providing paid time off for each employee receiving the vaccine and for any time needed to recover from the vaccine. |
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All event times listed in Eastern Time. Subtract 1 hour for Central Time, 2 for Mountain Time, 3 for Pacific Time, 4 for Alaska, and 6 for Hawaii.
ALTRANS & Alabama Transit Association
Gulf Shores, AL, April 29-30
National RTAP staff will be there. Please stop by our table!
FTA
April 29, 2:00-3:30 PM
The ADA Guru
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Webinar
May 3, 3:00 PM
AASHTO MTAP/CTAA
May 4, 2:00 PM
FTA
May 4, 2:00-3:30 PM
NADTC/AARP
May 4, 2:30-3:30 PM
U.S. DOT
May 5, 1:30-3:30 PM
Eno Center for Transportation
May 5, 2:00-3:00 PM
FTA
May 5, 3:00-4:30 PM
FTA
May 6, 2:00-3:30 PM
TRB
May 6, 2:00-3:30
NADTC/AARP
May 6, 2:30-3:30 PM
FTA
May 7, 2:00 PM
AASHTO
May 10-13
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
May 11, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Transit Institute
May 11, 1:00-2:30 PM
FORTH
May 11, 1:00-2:00 PM
FTA
May 11-14
Utah Urban Rural Specialized Transportation Association (URSTA)
May 12, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
National RTAP will be exhibiting. Stop by our virtual booth.
National Transit Institute
May 12, 1:00-4:30 PM
National RTAP/Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 16-18
National RTAP staff are facilitating and presenting at this workshop.
TRB
May 17, 1:00-3:00 PM
TRB
May 18, 1:00-2:30
APTA
May 18-19
Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 18-21
National RTAP is exhibiting. Please stop by our table!
TRB
May 18, 1:00-2:00 PM
Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy and Health (CARTEEH), Co-sponsored by Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and University of California, Riverside (UCR)
May 18-20
APTA
Washington, DC, May 18-19
FHWA
May 19, 1:00-3:00 PM
U.S. DOT
May 19, 1:30-3:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
May 20, 12:00-1:30 PM
FORTH
May 25, 1:00-2:00 PM
National RTAP
May 26, 2:00-3:00 PM ET
NCMM
May 26, 3:00 PM
American Bus Association (ABA)
Baltimore, MD, June 2-4
The ADA Guru
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Webinar
June 7, 3:00 PM
National RTAP
Kalispell, MT, June 7-8
National RTAP staff are facilitating and presenting at this mini-conference.
Montana Transit Association
Kalispell, MT, June 7-11
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
N-CATT
June 7-10, 1:00-3:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
June 8, 12:00-1:30 PM
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
June 8, 1:00-2:00 PM
Global Mass Transit
June 9-10
National Transit Institute
June 10, 1:00-2:30 PM
FORTH
June 14-16
N-CATT
June 15-16, 12:00-4:00 PM
TRB
June 21-24
FTA
June 22, 2021, 1:00-3:30 PM
Intelligent Transport
June 29-30
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