National RTAP eNews - February 20, 2020

eNews - February 20, 2020

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.

N ational RTAP Resource Catalog Updated with New Resources and Features

The National RTAP Resource Catalog was updated in January 2020 with all the training modules, technical briefs, web applications, toolkits, and other products we have launched or updated during the past year.

The Resource Catalog has also been revised with a new design and functionality enhancements:

The introduction includes our three newest resources.
Each product is now clickable, so users can download or order resources from Resource Share directly
Color-coded icons let users know which training modules are available in print, disc, and/or eLearning.

Featured Resource

National RTAP Rural iNTD Peer Grouping Webinar Next Week

On February 26, 2020, 2:00-3:00 PM, National RTAP is holding a Rural iNTD Peer Grouping Webinar Participants will learn about a new tool for finding peer transit agencies available through the Rural Integrated National Transit Database (iNTD). Paul Ryus, Principal Engineer with Kittelson & Associates, Inc. will describe the value of peer grouping, provide an overview of the methodology behind the new Peer Grouping Tool, and will demonstrate how to use the tool to form a peer group. He will then show how to compare your agency’s performance and trends in key areas to those in your peer group and create tables and graphs summarizing the results.

Resources and Events

Join our State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable Next Week

National RTAP will be holding a peer roundtable for State RTAP Managers on February 27, 2020, from 2:00-3:00 PM. No need to register, just join GoToMeeting at the time of the Roundtable. Topics will include local match, NEMT, drug and alcohol regulations, and procurement. For more information or to RSVP, click here.

Upcoming National RTAP Cost Allocation Webinar

Join National RTAP and panelist Todd Hansen, Assistant Research Scientist with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) for a webinar on March 25, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET to learn about National RTAP’s Two-Variable Cost Allocation Calculator. National RTAP launched the Excel and Access versions of this app in 2019 to help states and transit programs with the financial management of route services and to track reporting metrics for the National Transit Database (NTD). In this webinar, you will learn how the calculator tool uses service, financial and operational data to generate fully allocated costs and performance measures by route, travel mode, funding source, jurisdiction, and shared-ride services. Come see how this tool can simplify your cost allocation process and benefit your program and state. Register for the webinar.

Important Dates for the 2020 RIBTC Conference

The deadline to submit abstracts for the 24th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC), to be held October 18-21, 2020, in Charleston, SC, has been extended until March 1, 2020. In addition, students can submit their work to the Graduate Student Research Paper Contest and the Undergraduate Student Essay Contest through April 15, 2020.

National RTAP's Transit Manager Peer Roundtable Summary Available

On February 6, 2020, National RTAP staff and transit managers gathered for an informal discussion of issues affecting rural transit managers. Discussion topics included electronic fare payment systems, community involvement, vanpool programs, employment transportation, planning, new CDL requirements, and mobility management. Download the Roundtable summary.

List of State RTAP and 5311 Programs Updated on the Find Anything Toolkit

We've updated our lists of State RTAP and 5311 program web pages in our Find Anything Toolkit. New listings include Maine and South Dakota. If there are any additional web pages that need to be listed, please contact us at [email protected].

National RTAP Review Board Member Nominations Deadline Extended

For spring 2020, National RTAP is soliciting nominations for three state transit officials and one rural or tribal transit operator for our Review Board. The nominations from this solicitation will be used to fill vacancies in fall 2020 and into 2021. More information and the nomination form are available here . The deadline is has been extended to March 6, 2020.

National RTAP RFP for 2021 Technical Assistance Conference Local Host

National RTAP is requesting proposals for a location for our 5th biennial rural and tribal technical assistance conference in fall 2021. Visit the 2021 Conference page and the Local Host RFP for full details. On that page, you will also find the Q&A webinar recording and slides, and a Q&A document that answers all questions submitted regarding the RFP and the 2021 conference.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

On February 6, 2020, U.S. DOT requested comments on Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies: Automated Vehicles 4.0 (AV 4.0). AV 4.0 seeks to ensure a consistent governmental approach and detail authorities, research, and investments being made in AV technologies. Comments must be submitted by April 2, 2020.

On February 11, 2020, FTA announced a funding opportunity for Redesign of Transit Bus Operator Compartment to Improve Safety, Operational Efficiency, and Passenger Accessibility. FTA will fund cooperative agreements for research and development of new transit bus operator compartment designs in partnership with bus manufacturers, technology vendors, engineering and design firms, and transit agencies. Proposals to Grants.gov are due by March 24, 2020.

U.S. DOT's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fiscal Year 2020 Phase I solicitation is open through March 9, 2020. The program awards funds to small businesses to pursue research on and develop innovative solutions to the nation’s transportation challenges.

FTA created a Transit Asset Management PLanning Assistance TemplatE (TAMPLATE), a technical assistance tool to assist Tier I and II transit providers, and Group TAM Plan Sponsors, in developing TAM Plans according to best practice and in alignment with requirements of FTA’s Final Rule on Transit Asset Management (49 CFR Part 625).

Opportunities

National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) is requesting applications from small-urban, rural, and tribal transit agencies to apply for in-depth technical assistance from N-CATT's Innovative Technology Strike Teams. N-CATT is also requesting applications for up to 3 state DOTs to hold State Technology Summits with their small-urban, rural, and tribal agencies. Applications are being accepted for both opportunities through March 6, 2020.

The AARP Community Challenge funds projects that build momentum for local change to improve livability. Non-profits, government entities, and other organizations can submit projects that deliver a range of transportation and mobility options in the community through walkability, bikeability, and/or and access to public and private transit. The deadline is April 1, 2020.

Applications are being accepted through April 24, 2020, for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. Award recipients will receive $1 million for a three-year period of performance to enhance and expand substance use disorder and opioid use disorder service delivery in high-risk rural communities.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is soliciting proposals from Indian Tribes for grant funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies for deployment or expansion of high-speed internet/broadband transmitted through digital subscriber line, cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and broadband over power lines. Applications will be accepted through May 8, 2020.

Webinars and Training

FHWA is offering 5 new free, web-based Transportation Performance Management (TPM) courses:

Data for TPM
Making the Connection between HPMS Data Items and TPM
Communicating and Reporting on TPM
Monitoring and Adjustment for TPM
Investment Decision Making and TPM

Publications

The Winter 2020 update to the BTS National Transportation Atlas Database was released with 1 new and 11 updated datasets, including Passenger Intermodal Facility and Alternative Fueling Stations.

NCHRP's Zero Emission Vehicles: Forecasting Fleet Scenarios and their Emissions Implications analyzes simulation scenarios of infrastructure development, policy changes, and cost parameters to assess the impact on nationwide zero emission vehicle adoption and levels of exhaust emissions. The model estimates future sales, populations, and fuel consumption of advanced technology vehicles, including zero emission vehicles.

Clean Mobility Options' Clean Mobility Provider Directory is an informational resource of mobility providers that help implement cleaner, more affordable, sustainable mobility options. Each entry provides information on services, collaboration strategies, cost-sharing approaches, and other information.

FHWA's Study on the Effectiveness and Benefits of Transportation Liaisons interviewed six states and focused on the question, “How have transportation liaisons contributed to accelerating project delivery?” The answers identified benefits, challenges, and recommendations to help others establish and manage transportation liaison programs that are used to accelerate environmental reviews.

TCRP's Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents documents current practices in the use of onboard technologies on transit buses to prevent incidents and accidents, such as forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane departure warning, and electronic stability control.

Making Connections: 2020 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States is a report from DePaul University's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development that explores industry trends, reviews 2019 service additions and reductions, and makes predictions for the future.

The latest National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN) blog post, written by National RTAP and Montana DOT staff, features the NTKN Digitization LibGuide.

Purdue University Center for Research and Development's A Look at Broadband Access, Providers and Technology analyzes data and provides recommendations for rural broadband efforts.

National RTAP Bloodborne Pathogens Topic Guide Updated

The National RTAP Bloodborne Pathogens Topic Guide was updated in February 2020. We've added the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries downloadable bloodborne pathogens training kit and Texas Health and Human Services bloodborne pathogens resources web page.

Legislation

EPA published the final rule on Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2020 and Biomass Based Diesel Volume for 2021 and Other Changes in the Federal Register on February 6, 2020. The rule established the applicable volumes for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for 2020, and

biomass-based diesel for 2021. This rule is effective April 6, 2020.

An Executive Order on Strengthening National Resilience through Responsible Use of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Services was issued on February 12, 2020. The Order details how the government will foster responsible use of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, which are used as a utility by all modes of transportation. The Order calls for the Secretary of Transportation to develop a plan to engage with critical infrastructure owners or operators to evaluate the responsible use of PNT services.

Upcoming State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable

National RTAP will be holding a peer roundtable for State RTAP Managers on February 27, 2020, from 2:00-3:00 PM. No need to register, just join GoToMeeting at the time of the roundtable. Topics will include local match, NEMT, drug and alcohol regulations, and procurement.

Welcome New State RTAP Managers

National RTAP extends a warm welcome to three new State RTAP Managers: Althea Lanier, Delaware; Joelle Kantor, Rhode Island; and Stephanie Reilly, Vermont. If you would like to get in touch with Stephanie or Joelle or any RTAP Manager, visit our Directory of RTAP Managers.

Save the Date for a National RTAP Twitter Chat on Climate and Transit

Save the Date for a #ClimateTransit Twitter chat on April 21, 2020, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET to discuss how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. We will also discuss how transit agencies can prepare for potential effects of a changing climate, as well as tackle their emissions to mitigate potential climate impacts.The chat will be moderated by Josh Goldman, Associate Director, Climate Nexus. Panelists are Jimmy O’Dea, Senior Vehicles Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Camron Gorguinpour, Senior Global Manager, Electric Mobility, World Resources Institute. RSVP to [email protected].

Calendar of Upcoming Events

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 for Hawaii.

Native Learning Center

Preparing for an Audit

February 20, 2:00-3:00 PM

Webinar

APTA

2020 Marketing & Communications Workshop

Lake Buena Vista, FL, February 23-26