eNews - August 1, 2024

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.

Newsletter Highlights

Rural Transit Day Recap

Updated Technical Brief on What to Inform the Public About Before Making Changes

Upcoming Learn about TACL Training

U.S. DOT Final Rule on Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs Withdrawn

Clean Energy Funding and Tribal Climate Resilience Funding Available

Upcoming Learn about TACL Training

The next Learn about TACL training will take place on August 28, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The session will instruct on how to use TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Library

The session will include a Resource Feature by National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) Director Andrew Carpenter, on GTFS Flex.

Due to the receipt of adverse comments, U.S. DOT withdrew its Final Rule on Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs, which was published at 89 FR 51984 on June 21, 2024.

FTA announced its FY24 Bus and Low- and No-Emission Grant Awards. Rural and Tribal transit agencies received funding to purchase new buses, build new transit and maintenance facilities, plan for zero-emission bus fleets, and more.

The U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence's Project Delivery Toolbox is a collection of resources and best practices across U.S. DOT to help organizations successfully implement construction projects. The Toolbox contains resources on public engagement, environment, equity, civil rights, project management, financing, pre-construction, risk management, and construction. 

U.S. DOT published new English/Spanish Combating Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector Awareness Training for riders and transportation staff that provides general and transportation-specific indicators of human trafficking, and how to report a tip.

FTA and researchers from Arizona State University, Dunbar Transportation Consulting, LLC, and the University of Texas in Austin, TX found a wide-ranging scope of tools and resources that public transportation providers and their partners can apply to facilitate equity among underserved populations. In Practical Measures for Advancing Public Transit Equity and Access, mobility on demand, community-based services, and service extension projects are possible strategies for rural transit.

The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) Making Connections 2024 - The National Transit Workforce Conference will take place in Baltimore, MD on November 11-13, 2024. Sessions will feature workshops and dialogue addressing the full range of transit workforce needs and a keynote address by FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool.

Rev up your marketing campaign with this Southwest Transit Association (SWTA) Power of Short Form Video Webinar on August 7, 2024, from 12:00-1:00 PM ET. Learn from industry experts about the secrets behind viral videos and how to craft compelling stories that leave a lasting impact. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidelines for resuming regular activities following a respiratory illness (including COVID). People can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true: symptoms are getting better overall, they have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Additional guidance is provided for taking added precautions over the next 5 days.

TCRP's Inclusive Public Participation in Transit Decision-Making advocates for the inclusion of marginalized populations who depend on public transportation in both the planning and continued development phases. One example provided describes a successful effort by a regional transit agency to adapt their outreach efforts by redesigning portions of their website to be more engaging and inclusive as an alternative to in-person gatherings.

FHWA developed Equity Considerations in Asset Management: Case Studies to look into the current initiatives within state, local, and regional transportation agencies and measure the consideration of equity and how it can be advanced. In the study, an example of a recent initiative from California DOT is making sure that quality transit service in rural communities is prioritized and expanded upon.

The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) and the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) collaborated to produce a training module on Creating Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities in the Transportation Workforce. Learners will identify key strategies that can be used to recruit individuals with disabilities into the transportation workforce and how to best accommodate them once hired. For example, hiring agencies can feature images and voices of current workers with disabilities in recruitment campaigns.

An Automotive Fleet article entitled Which States are the Worst for Drunk Driving compiled data from NHTSA, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Statista to publish charts on the 10 states with the highest and lowest levels of drunk driving deaths.

TRB's interactive webpage on Critical Issues in Transportation for 2024 and Beyond highlights some of the many multi-faceted, interdependent challenges in maximizing transportation’s role in serving societal goals while minimizing its costs.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) provides a Ridership Report Archive, with data on unlinked transit passenger trips for various agencies by quarter from 1996 to current.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published data on the Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Who Walked for Transportation and Walked for Leisure in the Past 7 Days, by Urban-Rural Status. Significantly more rural respondents walked for leisure than for transportation.

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program Equity Dashboard summarizes elements related to the Justice40 Initiative in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program plans developed by states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated the National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD), with updates to National Transit Map Stops, National Transit Map Routes, National Transit Map Agencies, and other data. BTS also updated its Transportation Economic Trends, with updates to the cost of fuel, costs faced by households and transportation fares, and additional updates, and National Transportation Statistics with updates to vehicle and passenger miles, and other topics.

The TRB Transit Data Challenge is accepting applications through August 18, 2024. Projects should demonstrate innovative methods and tools that creatively use data to improve decision-making and get results for public transit.

The U.S. Department of Energy is accepting applications for its Connected Communities 2.0 funding opportunity to manage growing building, transportation, and industrial electric loads on the grid. Concept Papers are required and are due on August 20, 2024 and applications are due on October 10, 2024.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Manual is a tool for analyzing and planning transportation frameworks. ITE is holding a raffle prize for transit agencies to submit their trip generation counts in all modes (transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and others) for the Manual. Submissions may be sent through August 31, 2024.

The purpose of the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP Funding Opportunity is to engage adults 55+ in community-based activities, including through transportation. The Notice of Funding Opportunity closes on September 18, 2024. 

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) invites interested stakeholders to help them better understand the transportation needs and experiences of older adults by participating in a survey.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program provides competitive funding to federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations to build climate resilience capacity. Applications must be submitted by October 18, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs seeks collaboration with up to four regional nonprofit intertribal organizations as a pilot program to coordinate, collaborate, and partner with the Office of Indian Energy. Apply for the Intertribal Organization Opportunity on Support for Tribal Clean Energy Communication and Engagement through September 24, 2024.

Effective August 26, 2024, the Office of Personnel Management's final rule specifies that employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted to higher-grade duties of a higher-graded position should be paid accordingly for the entire time spent performing the duties of the higher-graded position.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reviewed the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s notice of proposed rulemaking on Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Marijuana and published a letter citing NTSB's concerns. NTSB recommended taking steps to ensure that marijuana testing remains within the scope of pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident drug testing.

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 5 or 6 for Hawaii (depending on daylight savings time).

Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)

ATI Annual Conference

Charlotte, NC, July 30 - August 1

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) 

2024 National Regional Transportation Conference

Greenville, SC, July 30 - August 1

Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)

2024 ATI Annual Conference 

Charlotte, NC, July 30-August 1

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 1, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Rural Assembly

Rural Assembly Everywhere: Nurturing Thriving Communities Virtual Event

August 1, 1:00-3:00 PM

FTA 

Enhancing Mobility Innovation Competitive Funding Opportunity Webinar

August 1, 3:00-4:00 PM

American Public Transit Association (APTA)

2024 APTAtech Conference

Philadelphia, PA, August 4-7

Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)

38th Annual International Conference

Denver, CO, August 4-7

TRB 

Visualizing Risk for Resilience Webinar

August 5, 12:00-1:30 PM

Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV)

2024 CTAV Conference and EXPO

Charlottesville, VA, August 5-7

We're presenting!

Micromobility America

Enabling Digital Transformation for the Micromobility Industry Webinar

August 6, 10:00 AM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 6, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute 

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

August 6, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Books in Transit Discussion Group - Buses Are a Comin'

August 6, 2:00-3:00 PM ET

U.S. DOT

Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP) Webinar for Tribal Applicants

August 6, 2:00-3:30 PM

International Motorcoach Group (IMG)

IMG Strategic Alliance Meeting

Little Rock, AR, August 6-9

Southwest Transit Association (SWTA)

Power of Short Form Video Webinar

August 7, 12:00-1:00 PM

TRB 

Designing the Transportation Agency of the Future Webinar

August 7, 12:00-1:30 PM

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

BABAA Lunch & Learn: De Minimis Waivers

August 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

Accessible Transportation Resource Center (ATRC)

ATRC Virtual Office Hours: Fare-Free Transit

August 8, 1:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 8, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Native Learning Center

A Human Resources Checklist to Reduce Risk Webinar

August 8, 2:00-3:30 PM

Davey Coach

Connecting People to What's Important Summit

Sedalia, CO, August 9, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Washington State Transit Association (WSTA)

Washington State Public Transportation Conference, Vendor Expo & State Roadeo

Tri-Cities, WA, August 10-14

Please visit our booth!

National Transit Institute 

Enhancing Your Transit Asset Management Program with Lifecycle Management Online Course

August 12-14, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 13, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Native Learning Center

How to Use Video in Your Small Business or Nonprofit Webinar

August 13, 2:00-3:30 PM

Wyoming Public Transit Association (WYTRANS)

2024 WYTRANS Conference

Riverton, WY, August 13-15

Please visit our booth!

Indian Health Service (IHS)

2024 IHS Partnership Conference

Phoenix, AZ, August 13-15

U.S. DOT

Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking Virtual Public Meeting

August 14, 10:30 AM - 4:45 PM

Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship 

When Disasters Hit Home: How Local Journalism Can Build Resilient Communities During Emergencies Webinar

August 14, 2:00-3:00 PM 

ITS4US

ITS4US Deployment Program Phase 2 Webinar: Georgia Mobility and Accessibility Planner (G-MAP) Replicability

August 14, 2:00-3:30 PM

CTAA 

Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference

Alexandria, VA, August 14-16

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 15, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)

Powering the Future: Advancements in EV Battery Technology for Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Webinar

August 15, 2:00 PM

Minnesota RTAP

ADA Accessible Documents Webinar

August 15, 2:00-3:30 PM

Minnesota Registration

Out of State Registration, email Mariah Kathan

U.S. DOT

Using Data to Effectively Tell Your Community’s Story (DOT Navigator Two-Part Webinar Series - Part 2)

August 15, 3:00 PM

ENERGYWERX

Indian Energy OSS Webinar

August 15, 3:00-4:00 PM

American Public Transit Association (APTA)

APTA Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop

Washington, DC, August 18-21

Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA)

Michigan Public Transit Statewide Annual Meeting

Thompsonville, MI, August 19-21

Please visit our booth!

National Transit Institute

Procurement II - Risk Assessment and Basic Cost or Price Analysis

Madison, WI, August 19-22

National Transit Institute 

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

August 19-22, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 20, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute 

Violence in the Transit Workplace - Prevention, Response and Recovery (Train the Trainer) Online Course

August 20, 1:00-4:30 PM

U.S. DOT

Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP) Capital Construction Webinar

August 20, 2:00-3:30 PM

GTSE

Green Transportation Summit & Expo

Tacoma, WA, August 20-22

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

BABAA Lunch & Learn: Minor Components Waiver

August 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

American Public Transit Association (APTA)

Workforce Summit

Washington, DC, August 21-23

Southwest Transit Association (SWTA)

Boost Your Confidence in NTD Surveying Webinar

August 22, 12:00-1:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 22, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

TRB

Transportation Symposium on Environment, Energy, and Livable Economies 

Denver, CO, August 25–28

National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC)

NTICC

Durant, OK, August 25-29

We're Presenting and Exhibiting!

Joint Office of Energy and Transportation and Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program

Explore the EV Charging Playbook Webinar 

August 27, 12:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 27, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

U.S. DOT

Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP) Rural/Nonprofit Webinar

August 27, 2:00-3:30 PM

National Transit Institute

2024 Annual NTD Reporting Clarifications Webinar

August 27, 2:00-3:30 PM

Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)

Zero Emission Bus Conference (ZEB Con)

Philadelphia, PA, August 27-29

Please visit our booth!

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

BABAA Lunch & Learn: FEMA Policy Decisions- Rolling Stock and Removable Objects

August 28, 1:00-1:30 PM

TRB 

New CEQ Regulations Effects on Transportation Industry Webinar

August 28, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 29, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database: Validation Module Training Webinar

September 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA)

2024 MPTA State Conference & Expo

St. Louis, MO, September 3-5

Please visit our booth!

Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC)

TASC Annual Conference and Vendor Expo

Myrtle Beach, SC, September 3-6

Please visit our booth!

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

Grant Writing Workshop - FY24 Annual Awards Program

September 4, 2:00-3:30 PM 



United Tribes Technical College

Tribal Leaders Summit

Bismarck, ND, September 4-5

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database: Annual Reporting for State Subrecipients Webinar

September 5, 2:00-3:30 PM

U.S. DOT

Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking Virtual Public Meeting

September 6, 11:00 AM - 2:15 PM

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission, Inc. (NEMTAC)

NEMTAC® Transform 2024 Annual Conference

Glendale, AZ, September 8-10

Please visit our table!

TRB

International Conference on Women and Gender in Transportation

Irvine, CA, September 9-11

National Transit Institute 

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

September 9-12, 1:00-5:00 PM

Bobit

Fleet Forward: The Tour

Somerset, NJ, Sept 10

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Transit Manager Peer Roundtable - Healthcare Transportation Focus

September 10, 2:00-3:15 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Latinos in Transit

Latinos in Transit Leadership Summit

Portland, OR, September 12-14

https://latinosintransit.org/Leadership-Summ

National Safety Council (NSC)

NSC Safety Congress & Expo, and Professional Development Seminars

Orlando, FL, September 13-19

National Transit Institute 

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

September 16-19, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute 

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

September 17, 1:00-5:00 PM

ENERGYWERX

Indian Energy Office Hours

September 17, 3:00-4:00 PM

National RTAP and Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) 

Substance Abuse Management and Program Compliance Course

Kalispell, MT, September 17-19

To register, send an email to Neil Rodriguez with your contact info.

National Transit Institute 

Assault Awareness and Prevention for Transit Operators (Train-the-Trainer) Online Course

September 18, 1:00-4:30 PM

Utah Urban Rural Specialized Transit Association (URSTA)

URSTA Conference and Roadeo

September 18-21

Please visit our booth!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP and Transportation Safety Institute (TSI)

Reasonable Suspicion and Post-accident Testing Determination Seminar 

Kalispell, MT, September 20

To register, send an email to Neil Rodriguez with your contact info.

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Terrapinn

Move America 2024

Austin, TX, September 24-25

Forth

Forth Roadmap Conference 

Detroit, MI, September 24-26

Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship 

Radically Rural Summit 2024 

Keene, NH, September 25-26 

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

The Transportation Alliance

Mobilize 2024

Dallas, TX, September 30 - October 2

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 1, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Clean Mobility Equity Alliance

2024 Clean Mobility Forum

Pasadena, CA, October 2

IPATH

IPATH Annual Meeting: Changing Perspectives - Visions for Sustainable Living: Transport, Access, and Health

Saint Charles, MO, October 2-4

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)

2024 IATR 37th Annual Conference

Fort Lauderdale, FL, October 6-11

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 8, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database: Annual Reporting for Indian Tribes Webinar

October 8, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 15, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

AASHTO

AASHTO Safety Summit & Peer Exchange

Houston, TX, October 15-17

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Mpact

Mpact Transit + Community Conference

Philadelphia, PA, October 20-23

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 22, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 29, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 31, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database 2024-2025 Data Publications Release Overview Webinar

October 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP

Mobility Wallets 101

November 4, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Transit Workforce Center (TWC)

Making Connections 2024 - The National Transit Workforce Conference

Baltimore, MD, November 11-13

We're presenting!

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Micromobility America

Micromobility America Conference

Costa Mesa, CA, November 14-15

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our Calendar. Also, see the FTA Events Calendar. To submit an event, email info@nationalrtap.org.

National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | info@nationalrtap.org | nationalrtap.org