eNews - December 18, 2025

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

An End-of-Year Message from our Executive Director Robin Phillips

Upcoming State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable

National RTAP Review Board Transitions

U.S. DOT NOFO for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants

National RTAP Review Board Transitions

National RTAP is pleased to announce our newest Review Board member, whose term began at our fall meeting, which was held in Austin, TX on December 11-12, 2025: LaShonda McKinney, CCTM, Executive Director, Bolivar County Council on Aging, Inc. (shown at left). Read a Review Board Member Spotlight Article about LaShonda.

Thank you to outgoing Review Board members for all their valuable contributions:

• Marianna Hanefeld, Transportation Planner/RTAP Manager, Washington State Department of Transportation
• Jessie Schmitzer, Public Transit Manager, Ohio Department of Transportation, Office of Transit
• Kevin Wassom, Compliance Specialist, Michigan Department of Transportation

The National RTAP Review Board provides in-depth expertise and local perspectives to ensure that National RTAP products and services are of the highest quality, easily accessible, and useful for local transit operators and State RTAP managers.

To learn more about our Review Board and the other members, visit https://www.nationalrtap.org/About/Review-Board. 

Thank you to outgoing Review Board Members Kevin Wassom, Marianna Hanefeld, Jessie Schmitzer (shown with National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips and the "Wrap It Up" Photo Contest Bulletin Board):

U.S. DOT published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its FY 2026 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program. BUILD grants are awarded for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism, state of good repair, partnership and collaboration, and innovation. Applications are due February 24, 2026.

U.S. DOT plans to remove nearly 3,000 commercial driver's license (CDL) training providers from the FMCSA Entry-Level Driver Training Provider Registry due to the providers falsifying or manipulating training data; neglecting to meet required curriculum standards, facility conditions, or instructor qualifications; failing to maintain accurate, complete documentation; or refusing to provide records during federal audits or investigations. The providers have 30 days to comply or be removed.

FTA is launching a new TAM Peer Working Group for 2026. FTA's TAM team will establish a 2026 peer-driven working group of 16-20 participants from Tier II transit agencies to engage virtually over the course of four months on TAM-related topics proposed by participants. Those interested in applying to participate in the TAM Peer Working Group can fill out this form by the end of today, December 18, 2025. 

FTA published a Major Event Playbook for public transportation agencies. The playbook offers a guide, insights, and key considerations to help public transportation agencies navigate federal transit requirements related to hosting major events. 

U.S. DOT is seeking comments through January 7, 2026 on its information request on Fast Track Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. This feedback will provide insight into U.S. DOT customer or stakeholder perceptions, opinions, experiences and expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus attention on areas where communication, training, or changes in operations might improve delivery of products or services.

The U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities Institute provides direct technical assistance to communities that are working to expand economic opportunity and mobility through transportation reconnection projects.

Virginia Commonwealth University offers an online course on Safety for All: Autism Training for Transportation Staff. There are modules covering the characteristics of autism and strategies for working with youth with autism, with examples specific to bus drivers. Participant and facilitator guides are available. While this training is geared toward school buses, the curriculum could be applicable to all bus drivers.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is accepting applications for its Transportation Disaster Assistance Division (TDA) Family Assistance Operations Course. This course is designed for people who would help families after a major transportation accident. This is a free, in-person course that will be held in Washington, DC, on March 17-19, 2026. Applications are due January 7, 2026.

TCRP's Transit Recovery in the Aftermath of Severe Weather Events: Current State of Practice documents the current state of practice around transit recovery plans and provides examples of short- and long-term recovery. The synthesis identi​fies how often transit agencies have recovery plans, what is included in recovery plans, the timing of recovery, measurements of recovery success, and how agencies finance recovery.

Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program's (BTSCRP) Predicting High-Risk Drivers: Skills Examination and Scoring Guidelines provides guidance and methods to reliably and consistently identify drivers who pose a high safety risk and need more driving experience before being licensed.

The Complete Streets approach supports walking, biking, and taking transit, and embraces users of all abilities, recognizing that being able to access the full menu of life’s necessities and amenities is fundamental to health and well-being. AARP's Complete Streets Model Legislation for States and Municipalities can be adapted for a government, such as a city or county.

The Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition (ARMT) is a tool to assess emotional and attitudinal readiness to cope effectively with a significant mobility-related transition, such as retirement from driving. It was developed by doctors at the University of Missouri – St. Louis and Saint Louis University. Questions include, "I am a burden if I ask others for help with transportation" and "My future independence hinges on my ability to get myself around." 

Transit Talent publishes its own Salary Database and also provides links to other transit agency salary databases. Transit Talent compiled its compensation data from industry surveys, salary databases, and newspapers.

America Walks provides a Walkable Land Use by Region, Population, and Demographics Analysis Tool that can be viewed at the national, state, county, CSA, or city level. Filters for transportation include public transit, carpool, and others.

The Access Beyond Car Ownership Map by the National Resources Defense Council is a national dashboard that maps where people drive less or do not regularly use a car and highlights factors that shape mode choice, including cost, vehicle availability, age, location, and more.

A TechForce Foundation scholarship or grant is a financial award to aid technicians in paying for the cost of their education. It does not require repayment.  

Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) are a collaborative initiative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. TCTAC has a grants database that includes listings that include transportation grants.

The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Awards celebrate the TSMO strategies and tools that leverage existing infrastructure to increase safety and reliability. Applications are being accepted through January 30, 2026.

TCRP approved its FY 2026 research projects and is seeking panel nominations. Individuals can nominate themselves or other qualified professionals to participate on a project by January 30, 2026. Projects seeking panelists include Enhancing Transit Safety for Riders and Workers through Strategic Collaboration with Law Enforcement, Feasibility Assessment of Family Friendly Transit Fares, and others.

Individuals who have an idea for research that could provide practical solutions to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce costs of road traffic crashes associated with unsafe behaviors are invited to submit problem statements for TRB's Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program by January 16, 2026.

The League of American Bicyclists is accepting applications for its Community Spark Grants through January 27, 2026. The grants can be used for end-of-trip facilities, such as bike parking.

Through the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule III, NHTSA is proposing to increase the fuel economy standard by 0.5% per year for passenger cars from model years 2023 through 2026, followed by 0.35% in model year 2027, and 0.25% from model year 2029 to 2031. Comments are requested by January 20, 2026.

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring and employing individuals from certain groups who have faced significant barriers to employment, will expire on December 31, 2025, unless Congress reauthorizes it.

NHTSA invites public comments through February 13, 2026 on a new information request on Advanced Drunk Driving Prevention Technology Telltale Development. This effort would help NHTSA to understand how best to alert drivers that a drunk driving detection system has detected the presence of alcohol in their vehicle that corresponds to a driver who is near or above the legal limit, or detected that the driver’s behavioral state is likely to be classified as under the influence of alcohol or ‘‘drunk.’’ 

NHTSA is also requesting comments through January 9, 2026 on an additional information request on Factors That Influence the Effectiveness of Hazard Anticipation and Attention Maintenance Training. This collection involves developing and testing a novice driver training program on a smartphone-like platform.

NHTSA is also evaluating certain Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to determine how they apply to innovative vehicle designs, particularly those incorporating Automated Driving Systems (ADS). Comments on this research are due February 13, 2026.

An Executive Order on Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence was published on December 11, 2025. The order called for a federal policy, rather than individual state policies.

Effective January 15, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) final regulations will be implemented regarding the federal tax classification of entities wholly owned by Indian Tribal governments/Tribes. The regulations also address multi-Tribe entities, state-recognized Tribes, and other entities.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued an extension to December 12, 2026 for Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act for four synthetic cannabinoids. DEA also proposes permanently placing these substances in Schedule 1. Comments must be received by January 15, 2026.

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).

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

December 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 30, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 6, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

NHTSA

Virtual Public Hearing: Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards

January 7, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Register by December 31, 2025

University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies

Reaching Opportunities Through Transportation—New Results from the National Accessibility Evaluation Webinar

January 7, 1:00-2:00 PM

National RTAP

Tribal Transit TIPS (Tribal Innovative Performance Solutions) Roundtable: Collaborating for Holistic Mobility Solutions

January 7, 2:00-3:00 PM 

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

January 8, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Smart Growth America and Transportation for America

TransportationCamp

Washington, DC, January 10

New

American Bus Association (ABA)

ABA Marketplace

Reno, NV, January 10-13

TRB

TRB Annual Meeting

Washington, DC, January 11-15

We're presenting!

Smart Growth America

Celebrating 25 Years of Smart Growth America

Washington, DC, January 12, 5:30-8:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 13, 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

January 14, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

January 15, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 20, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

FTA

FTA Drug and Alcohol Training Special Topics Seminars: MIS Overview

January 21, 10:00-11:30 AM

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

January 22, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

U.S. Census Bureau

2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year Prerelease Webinar

January 22, 1:00-2:00 PM

Native Learning Center

8th Annual Renewable Energy & Sustainability Conference

Hollywood, FL, January 26-28

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 27, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Intertribal Transportation Association (ITA)

ITA Annual Meeting

Oklahoma City, OK, (formerly October 27-29)

Now January 27-29

We're participating!

New

U.S. Access Board

U.S. Access Board Meeting and Webcast 

January 28, 1:30-3:00 PM

National RTAP

State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable

January 28, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

January 29, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute 

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

February 2-5, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute 

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

February 2-5, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)

The Americans with Disabilities Act, Web Accessibility, and You: Updates to Title II and What They Mean for Covered Entities Webinar

February 4, 3:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

February 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Waskawiwin

Tribal Broadband Bootcamp

Aguanga, CA, February 9-12

National Transit Institute 

Transportation Planning Process Online Course

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

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Transportation Energy Partners

2026 Energy Independence Summit

Washington, DC, February 10-11

National Transit Institute 

Crisis Communications for Transit Managers Online Course

February 10-11, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

AI Uses for TSMO Webinar

February 11, 1:00-2:30 PM

National Transit Institute 

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

February 11, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

February 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Introducing the National RTAP Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit Webinar

February 12, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

February 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Books in Transit Discussion Group Meeting - The New Life

February 19, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP

Learn About TACL - The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library Webinar

February 23, 2:00-3:00 PM

New

AASHTO

2026 AASHTO Washington Briefing

Washington, DC, February 23-26

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

February 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. To submit an event, email info@nationalrtap.org.

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