eNews - January 2, 2026

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

Upcoming National RTAP Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit Webinar

Transportation Technical Assistance Library (TACL) News and Updates

New FTA Demand-Response Datasets Available

U.S. DOT NOFO for University Transportation Centers

Transportation Technical Assistance Library (TACL) News and Updates

The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination, coordinate among federally funded programs, and share resources across agencies to improve transit in their communities. TACL contains reports, training seminars, toolkits, and other materials developed by FTA and its technical assistance centers.

Thank you to CCAM-TAC and Program Associate Kayla Casanova for administering TACL during part of 2025. Welcome to the new TACL reviewers Katy Miller, Virginia DRPT; Tom Nutter, Oklahoma DOT; and Kevin Wassom, Michigan DOT. Thank you also to outgoing TACL reviewer Jill Stedem of OATS Transit for reviewing resources. The TACL Task Force welcomes new Member Hani Shamat of SUMC and reintroduces four Task Force members with new affiliations: Al Benedict, National RTAP; Enjoli Dixon, National RTAP; Andrew Carpenter, CCAM-TAC; and Jane Mahoney, CCAM-TAC.

In January 2026, 8 new resources were added to TACL:

• FTA's Flexible Funding Process Guidebook
• NADTC's Rural Community Innovations: Key Learnings From NADTC Transportation Planning Grants
• National RTAP's The Road to Multimodal Connectivity
• FTA, National RTAP, and CCAM-TAC's Agricultural Communities Transportation
• SUMC's From Pilot to Permanent: The Evolution of PICK Transportation in Oklahoma: 2025 Update
• TWC's College Partnerships in Public Transportation Workforce Development
• TACL CCAM Partner Resource: Complete Streets Resources
• TACL CCAM Partner Resource: From a Broken Back to a Better Job

We are featuring TACL Partners this quarter with resources shown in a carousel at the bottom right of TACL's homepage.

The next Learn About TACL training will take place on February 23, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The session will instruct on how to use TACL, The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, and include a Resource Feature by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) on College Partnerships in Public Transportation Workforce Development.

We launched a TACL Peer Forum, where transportation coordination stakeholders can ask questions about TACL and transportation coordination resources. TACL Task Force members will answer questions, and peers can also share best practices. Request to join the forum.

FTA provides several new demand response datasets, including an interactive map. The map displays cities, towns, boroughs, and other places with demand response service in the U.S. A county-level summary layer is also provided. Data includes agency name, type of service, fare, advance reservation requirement, if the service is open to the general public, and URL. For questions about the map, please write to Joseph.gallagher@dot.gov.

Additional Resources:

• FTA Demand Response Service Explorer Map: Demand Response Service Explorer
• FTA Demand Response Map: Demand Response Coverage and Service Characteristics Map
• FTA Demand Response Datasets: Demand Response Data at data.transportation.gov

U.S. DOT published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for its University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program. The objectives of the UTCs are to advance transportation expertise and technology, provide for a critical multimodal transportation knowledge base, address critical workforce needs, and educate the next generation of transportation leaders with respect to the statutory research priorities. Letters of intent are due January 19, 2026 and applications are due February 20, 2026.

The Governors Highway Safety Association and Waymo have created a new online safety training course for first responders interacting with Waymo vehicles. The training explains how the vehicles respond to police and emergency operations, instructs on how to approach and interact with a Waymo autonomous vehicle, and explains safety procedures for first responders who need to extricate passengers or disconnect a vehicle’s battery.

The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) offers an eLearning course on Thinking Strategically About Transit Technology. The course includes modules on supporting technology effectively, engaging stakeholders, and other topics.

TCRP's Use of Automatic Vehicle Monitoring, Vehicle Health Monitoring, and Diagnostic Systems by Transit Agencies explores how these technologies are utilized to monitor an array of onboard vehicle components in order to assist in the early identification of potential mechanical issues and support effective maintenance practices.

An article in BUSRide magazine on Effective Strategies for Seasonal Bus Care and Maintenance outlines key maintenance tasks for the four seasons, plus recommended tasks for seasonal tire and brake maintenance.

The NCHRP Agency Capability Building Web Portal contains information, tools, and other resources to support transportation agencies’ organizational needs. Instructions are available through the Transportation Agency Capability Building: Web-Based Guide Quick Reference.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released the new State-Level Transportation Public Finance Statistics (TPFS) in addition to the Aggregate State data. TPFS provides information on transportation-related revenue and expenditures for all levels of government, including federal, state, and local, and for all modes of transportation. 

Fleet DNA from the National Laboratory of the Rockies is a data clearinghouse of commercial fleet vehicle operating data to help vehicle manufacturers and developers optimize vehicle designs and inform fleet managers considering advanced technologies for their fleets. Data summaries and visualizations include daily stops per mile distribution for transit buses and average acceleration and number of stops for transit buses.

The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) extended its survey for its research project on Streamlining Bus Operator Hiring Practices to January 9, 2026. The objective of this project is to document current transit agency hiring processes for bus operators and produce new resources to support agencies’ bus operator hiring efforts.

Interested individuals can enter a topic for the 2026 TCRP Synthesis Program through the TCRP Synthesis Topic Submission Portal by March 27, 2026. TCRP Syntheses summarize and synthesize current knowledge and experience for transit agencies on hot topics in the industry.

The Transportation Technology Tournament is an annual event hosted jointly by the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) and the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) that connects student teams with agencies to solve transportation problems utilizing ITS and Transportation Systems & Operations (TSMO) solutions. Finalist teams are invited to the ITE Annual Meeting to present their submission to judges, with all expenses paid.

Effective January 20, 2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is rescinding a sunset provision from the Executive Order Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting To Unleash American Energy.

A Final Rule by the Department of Labor on December 22, 2025 rescinded regulations on nondisplacement of qualified workers under service contracts. This rule affects contractor firms, including those in the transportation industry.

An Executive Order directed to federal offices, including U.S. DOT, established the development of 6G mobile communications networks. Another Executive Order requested that the Attorney General take all necessary steps to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

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

Website Builder Office Hours

January 6, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

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

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

2026 Transportation Technology Tournament - Guide for Prospective Participants Webinar

January 20, 1:00-2:00 PM

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

New

Clarion Events

DTECH 2025

San Diego, CA, February 2-5

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

New

FORTH

Preparing for Surface Transportation Reauthorization: What’s Next for EVs & Charging Infrastructure Webinar

February 10, 4:00-5:00 PM

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

New

United Motorcoach Association (UMA)

UMA Motorcoach Expo

Birmingham, AL, February 11-14

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

New

Crawford Area Transit Authority (CATA)

Transit Retreat

Mobile, AL, March 4-5

We're presenting!

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP / Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) 

Fundamentals of Bus Collision Investigation

Hollywood, FL, March 9-13

The course is full. Contact Neil Rodriguez to be added to the waitlist.  

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group (ATTWG)

22nd Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium

Anchorage, AK, March 24-26

We're participating!

New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 31, 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