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:
National RTAP Welcomes New Review Board Members
Recordings Posted for COVID-19 Response and Mobile Trip Planning Webinars
NADTC Office Hours on Creative Uses of Section 5310 Funding
New CDC Guidance on Mask Wearing in Outdoor Transportation Conveyances
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Upcoming State RTAP Manager's Peer Roundtable |
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Join your peers for an informal discussion of issues relevant to State RTAP Managers. No registration required; join the Roundtable on July 12, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 PM. Discussion topics include electric bus cutaway specifications, consultant labor rates, Title VI training, and CARES Act/CRRSAA funding. We are excited to announce that a number of U.S. Territorial RTAP Managers have RSVP'd. RSVP for a calendar initiation. |
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National RTAP Welcomes Four New Review Board Members
National RTAP is pleased to announce our newest Review Board members, whose terms began at our spring meeting held virtually on May 25-26, 2021:
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Jeannie Fazio, Deputy Director, Office of Local Transit Support, Maryland Transit Administration, Maryland Department of Transportation, Baltimore, MD
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Brenda Schweitzer, Executive Director, Brookings Area Transit Authority, Brookings, SD
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Paula Smith, Executive Director, Tri River Transit, Hamlin, WV
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Jill Stedem, Administrative & Development Director, OATS Transit, Columbia, MO
At the meeting, we also honored outgoing Review Board member and chair Connie J. Sipe, Transit Program Administrator, Center for Community, Sitka, Alaska. To learn more about our Review Board, visit our Review Board page.
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Upcoming Intercity Bus Peer Roundtable
National RTAP will be hosting an Intercity Bus Peer Roundtable on August 19, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Join your peers at this informal discussion of issues relevant to the Intercity Bus industry.
Webinar Today 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 today's webinar at 2:00-3:00 PM ET on the updated content.
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
We are excited to announce our participation at the following in-person and virtual conferences:
Recording Posted for Making Mobile Trip Planning Work for You and Your Clients
NADTC and National RTAP held a mobile trip planning workshop on June 10, 2021. The workshop showed how mobile trip planners are used and how to get an agency’s transit services on a trip planner. Speakers were Marcy Jaffe, Principal, Transnnovation, Inc., and Amelia Bostic, Advocate for Public Transit, North Carolina. Access the recording and presentation slides.
Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion Webinar New Link
In our last edition of eNews, we shared a link to the recording of our Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion webinar. Here is the corrected link.
Recording Posted for Rural Transportation Planning and the COVID-19 Response
A National RTAP and FTA webinar, Rural Transportation Planning and the COVID-19 Response, was held on May 19, 2021 as part of the 2021 FTA Planning and Environment Training. The session highlighted how COVID-19 has affected rural and tribal transit providers and the communities they serve, and how the providers have been responding to the pandemic. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides. |
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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 Procurement Topic Guide Updated
New resources include:
Look What's Happening on #RuralTransitDay!
Join our #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat on July 16, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, moderated by Angie Jones, District Manager, Grant County Transportation District (People Mover), Tyler Bender, Ohio RTAP Manager, and Paula Smith, Executive Director, Tri River Transit Authority. RSVP for an email invitation.
Get ready for Rural Transit Day by taking the Rural Transit Day Pledge to show your commitment to rural transit. For Rural Transit Day 2020, 66 agencies from 22 states (45 Rural, 7 State, 8 Community, 4 Intercity, and 2 Tribal Transit Agencies) took the pledge. We are aiming for 100 pledges by Rural Transit Day 2021!
Send a Rural Transit Day Hero card. Download an MS Word Rural Transit Day Hero card with two designs: Card 1 and Card 2. The card will download to the bottom left of your screen. Open the document and click on the silver frame in the middle of the card to insert a photo of your hero. Edit the Name, Organization, and Date to personalize the card. Print out or email your card to your hero and make their (Rural Transit) Day!
Enter the National RTAP 2021 Buses are Beautiful Photo Contest
We’re looking for photos that showcase how special and unique your bus is, and how it adds to the majestic landscapes of rural communities and tribal lands.
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FTA launched the Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge to encourage transit agencies to build on the progress already made and to further reduce GHG emissions from public transportation. The challenge calls on transit agencies to develop climate action strategies with measurable goals to achieve GHG emission targets. The deadline for transit agencies to sign up for the challenge is July 30, 2021.
U.S. DOT released its spring regulatory agenda, which includes setting fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles, reestablishing a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance Measure for state and metropolitan planning, supporting and expanding the use of Buy America provisions, and improving Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs. |
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NADTC is holding office hours on Creative Uses of Section 5310 Funding on June 25, 2021, 2:00-3:30 PM. The session will feature a presentation by Jeremy Scalzi of M7, a passenger transportation company specializing in non-emergency medical transportation, followed by peer sharing. If interested in attending, RSVP to Ken Thompson.
Kansas RTAP recently started a new Peer Spotlight series on YouTube. The goal of this program is to facilitate conversations virtually and share experiences, views, and thoughts to provide solutions to the issues and problems commonly faced by the transit agencies and professionals in day-to-day life. Videos have focused on topics including mobility management and hiring drivers during COVID-19.
AASHTO has launched a series of free courses on Census Transportation Planning Products data on topics including geography, margin of error, and disclosure proofing. |
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The Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars' (CTEDD) Transportation Equity Scorecard can be used to select among a variety of projects or screening an individual project for equity implications and identifying potential enhancements.
N-CATT's Automated Vehicles: Planning for the Future addresses testing, piloting and planning for a future in which vehicles will drive themselves without a human operator on-board. The white paper includes rural and small urban automated vehicle scenarios and case studies on their use for medical supplies and food delivery.
TRB's Snap Search on Shared Mobility shares recent and upcoming research, events, committees, and panels on topics including micromobility, rideshare, and other shared modes.
NHTSA posted a new website to make it easier for any employee or contractor of a motor vehicle manufacturer, part supplier, or dealership to provide whistleblower information to the agency. The new information page will assist whistleblowers in determining what information they should provide and how they should go about doing so.
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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled a new Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant to help rural communities create good-paying jobs and support new business opportunities. The funds may be used to form job accelerator partnerships and create high-wage jobs, start or expand businesses, and support economic growth in the rural areas. Applications must be submitted by Aug. 2, 2021.
The USDA Rural Business Development Grant program is a series of funding opportunities for eligible organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve transportation services and facilities. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office. The deadline is June 30, 2021.
The Community Care Corps is funded by the Administration for Community Living and administered by the Oasis Institute. They seek innovative local models in which volunteers assist family caregivers or assist older adults or adults with disabilities with non-medical care to maintain their independence. Applications must be received by July 9, 2021.
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On May 25, 2021, U.S. DOT published a request for information regarding potential data and assessment tools for the evaluation of federal policies and programs concerning equitable services and safety in the transportation sector. The new deadline for comments is July 22, 2021. |
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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.
Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA)
June 24-25
We're exhibiting. Please visit our virtual booth!
CDC
June 24, 1:00 PM
National RTAP
June 24, 2:00-3:00 PM
ITS America
June 24, 2:00-3:00 PM
USDA
June 24, 2:30-4:00 PM
NADTC
Creative Uses of Section 5310 Funding Virtual Office Hours
June 25, 2:00-3:00 PM
U.S. DOT
June 25, 2:00 PM
Native Learning Center
June 28, 2:00-3:30 PM
TRB
June 28, 1:00-2:30 PM
Native Learning Center
June 28, 2:00-3:30 PM
Electric Power Research Institute
June 28-30
U.S. DOT ITS Joint Program Office
June 29, 1:00-2:30 PM
Eno Center for Transportation
June 29, 2:00-3:00 PM
Native Learning Center
June 29, 2:00-3:30 PM
Intelligent Transport
June 29-30
PIARC
June 30, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
CDC
June 30, 11:00 AM
SUMC
July 6, 12:00-4:30 PM
FHWA and FTA
June 30, 2:00-4:000 PM
Native Learning Center
July 6, 2:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
July 9, 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
National RTAP
July 12, 2:00- 3:00 PM
TRB
July 12-15
SUMC
July 13, 12:00-4:30 PM
National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC)
Jul 13, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Safety Council (NSC)
July 13, 2:00-3:00 PM
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
July 13, 16, and 21, 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
July 15, 12:00-1:30 PM
National Academies of Engineering, Science and Medicine
July 15, 1:00-2:00 PM
National RTAP
July 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
SWTA
Santa Fe, NM, July 18-22
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
July 19-22
SUMC
July 20, 12:00-4:30 PM
CTAA
July 20, 2:00 PM
Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers
Lincoln, NE, July 20-21
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
SUMC
July 27, 12:00-4:30 PM
West Virginia Public Transit Association
Roanoke, WV, July 27-30
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 9, 1:00-2:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 10, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
TRB
August 10-12
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 11, 1:00-2:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 12, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 13, 1:00-2:30 PM
West Coast Collaborative
Tacoma, WA, August 16-18
National Transit Institute
August 16-19, 1:00-4:30 PM
National RTAP
August 19, 2:00-3:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 23-26, 1:00-3:30 PM
National Transit Institute
August 23-26, 1:00-5:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 23-26, 1:00-5:00 PM
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program
August 24, 2:00–3:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 24-25, 1:00-4:30 PM
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Pittsburgh, PA, August 30 – September 1
National Transit Institute
August 30 - September 2, 1:00-4:30 PM
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