eNews - March 12, 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

The Return of RTAPgo!

Farewell and Thank You to Nancy Doherty

Updated National RTAP Emergency and Incident Checklists and Forms

U.S. DOT Guidance on Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Return-to-Duty (RTD)

RTAPgo Podcast Graphic

The Return of RTAPgo!


The RTAPgo Podcast returns with renewed energy, deeper conversations, and even more impactful insights. This season, we’re diving further into the real stories, practical strategies, and powerful perspectives that help you grow both personally and professionally. In Session 1 of 2026, National RTAP Podcast Leaders Jeremy Bell, Al Benedict, and Enjoli Dixon provide an overview of the myriad of training and technical assistance resources and services offered by National RTAP.

Staff at Nancy Doherty Retirement Party

Farewell and Thank You to Nancy Doherty


Nancy Doherty, who served as National RTAP's Analyst from 2019 to 2025, retired at the end of February. While at National RTAP, Nancy enriched our technology tools (GTFS Builder, ProcurementPRO, Website Builder, etc.), coordinated our biennial transit manager and State RTAP surveys, presented and exhibited at conferences, delivered webinars, and helped to update our training resources. The National RTAP team will miss Nancy's warm smile and wishes her the very best on the next leg of her adventure.


Left to right: Ginny Ciampa, Scott Zadakis, Cara Marcus, Nancy Doherty, Cindy Frene, Liz Taylor, Karen Dumaine

lightning image

Updated National RTAP Emergency and Incident Checklists and Forms


National RTAP updated three of its checklists and forms:


Minor updates were made, such as the addition of an email field. The Emergency Response Checklists define the responsibilities of the Emergency Response Coordinator in emergency situations. The Incident and Injury Report Form is designed to be completed in the event of an accident or incident when an injury has occurred. Like all National RTAP products, they may be altered to suit your agency's needs in any way.


Emergency Response Checklists:

Upcoming National RTAP Events 


We are holding a Rural Transit Manager Peer Roundtable on Rural Mobility Hubs on April 1, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The draft of the Rural Mobility Hub Guide is in progress. This Rural Transit Manager Peer Roundtable will introduce the guide to support the planning, coordination, and development of mobility hubs tailored to the needs of rural communities.


Join us for a Mobility Management Roundtable Series on Grant Writing on April 15, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM ET. This session will focus on strategies for writing successful transportation-related grants. Participants will review components of strong grant proposals and discuss approaches to identifying funding opportunities and communicating community impact.


Join us on June 2, 2026 for a Spring into New National RTAP Resources Webinar.

There's always something new at National RTAP! This spring, explore some of our newest and upcoming resources: our Procurement 101 and Beyond eLearning course, Using Data for Storytelling Best Practices Spotlight Article, Artificial Intelligence Use in Transit Technical Brief, RTAPgo Podcast, and others.


RTAP Managers are invited to join us on July 21, 2026, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, for a State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable, an informal discussion of topics of interest to RTAPs. Discussion topics will include innovative uses of RTAP funding for eligible activities, moving from in-house to contracting RTAP management, intercity bus training and technical assistance, and mentors for new transit managers. Please note: this event is only for State RTAP Managers.


The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group selected The Bus People by Rachel Anderson as its next book to read. In the book, the lives of the young passengers are shaped by the experiences and problems each has faced because of different disabilities. Register for the meeting on August 6, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.


Technology Tools Office Hours


National RTAP offers free, live GTFS Builder support on Thursdays from 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Use this link to join. National RTAP also offers live technical support for Website Builder on Tuesdays from 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Share your screen, ask questions, and get help. Use this link to join – no need to register for either session. Have a question about the Cost Allocation Calculator or need 1:1 technical assistance? Request to book a meeting with the Cost Allocation Calculator team.


Recording Published for Resource Library Training


Cara Marcus, National RTAP Knowledge and Resource Manager, gave a hands-on Tips to Become a National RTAP Resource Library Super-User workshop on March 10, 2026, that demonstrated pro-tips for using the library, finding and accessing the resources you need, ordering resources from our shipping center and circulating collection, and more. Access the recording.


Journal Article on Informal Ride Provision Cites National RTAP


An article by the University of Texas Austin and the University of Connecticut, published in the ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, Quantifying the Spatial Burden of Informal Ride Provision for Older Adults Using Activity Space Analysis and GIS, cites the National RTAP ADA Toolkit.


Jeremy Bell Joins AMM Board


Congratulations to National RTAP Tribal Transit Liaison Jeremy Bell, who has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Association of Mobility Managers (AMM).

National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences


We're presenting, exhibiting, and participating at the following conferences and meetings:


National RTAP Cybersecurity Topic Guide Updated


National RTAP continues its annual Topic Guide updates with our Cybersecurity Topic Guide.


New resources include:


National RTAP Trialing Chatbot


National RTAP is trialing a bot to assist users when they try to reach us by chat when our support team is unavailable, or it is outside of our regular business hours. Note that the new chat is on the bottom right of our website. If you receive a message from our chatbot during the trial and have feedback, please contact us.


New RideSheet Introductory Video Available


National RTAP's RideSheet is a simple, spreadsheet-based software tool designed specifically for small demand-response and rural transit agencies. In this introductory video, Kevin Chambers provides an overview of what RideSheet is, how it works, and who it’s designed to serve. This video will help you understand whether RideSheet may be a good fit.


CCAM Newsletter Features TACL as Top Story


In its February 2026 email newsletter, the FTA Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) featured the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) as its top story. The article described new resources, new features, and a link to the recent TACL training webinar. View the banner of the newsletter.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

FTA and U.S. DOT are working to update Circular 4704.1A, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Requirements and Guidelines for Federal Transit Administration Recipients. Agencies previously required to submit their EEO programs on March 1, 2026, are notified that this deadline has been extended to October 1, 2026.


U.S. DOT published a notification in response to several Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Return-to-Duty (RTD) related issues that it has recently become aware of, to remind U.S. DOT-qualified SAPs to follow all the RTD process procedures in the drug and alcohol testing regulation (49 CFR part 40) and to remind DOT-regulated employers of the SAP responsibilities and RTD process.


U.S. DOT is extending the comment period for its Request for Information—Research To Support Establishing a National Strategy for Transportation Digital Infrastructure to March 20, 2026.


FTA announced grants for public transportation supporting the 2026 FIFA World Cup to help ensure transit agencies can meet increased demand. If your public transit agency provides service to Atlanta, GA; Foxboro, MA; Arlington, TX; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Rutherford, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Santa Clara, CA; or Seattle, WA, information on submission is available.

Webinars and Training

The Native Learning Center holds weekly Office Hours to answer questions about its Tribal Funding Registry. Tribal governments and entities can receive tailored guidance on finding and tracking funding opportunities.


The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) is hosting an American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Webinar on March 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET. The meeting will feature examples from both union and non-union programs, followed by a full panel discussion and audience Q&A session. 

Publications

A case study by the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation (NCHF) on Robeson Health Care Corporation's Mobile Unit and Community-Centric Healthcare shows how the Robeson Health Care Corporation launched its Mobile Unit Impact Project to expand access to integrated primary and behavioral health services across rural communities. The mobile health center builds trust, promotes healthier lifestyles, supports collaborative problem-solving, and delivers care ranging from routine physicals to specialized services for vulnerable populations.


NCHRP's Estimating Benefits of Closing Gaps in Active Transportation Networks: A Guide provides methods for estimating the benefits of projects that address gaps in active transportation networks. The guide includes analysis methods that can be applied across a wide range of geographies and project types, using publicly available national datasets and research-based multipliers.


In the technical brief Need an Accessible Vehicle? Funding and Affordable Finance Options Options, the National Disability Institute (NDI) provides information and resources about funding options that may assist with financing or lowering the cost of purchasing or modifying an accessible vehicle.


FMCSA is allowing state driver’s licensing agencies to waive the under-the-hood portion of the vehicle inspection skills test for public transit operators seeking a commercial driver’s license. The waiver is in effect until July 16, 2027. The American Public Transit Association (APTA) provides fact sheets and state profiles to help agencies understand this waiver.

Databases and Tools

The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) provides a Cost Calculator to assist transportation providers in developing estimates of the fully allocated costs of providing a transportation service under contract, using a methodology approved by both providers and purchasers of transportation.


The Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) provides a color-coded map of all the Regional Coordinating Councils in Colorado, with links to their websites and contact information.


The Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California Berkeley provides a State Cybersecurity Policy Tracker. This is a publicly accessible, searchable database of every cybersecurity-related bill enacted in 2025 across all 50 states.


Getting Around Illinois is a new statewide, web-based interactive mapping site that provides the ability to search and display several sources of transportation data. Users can find information on winter road conditions, annual average daily traffic, and road construction.


The Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association maintains a Guide for Transportation Sources in State Agency Databases. It includes links to Oregon DOT's TransitGIS, Missouri DOT's Commuter Lots, California's Transit-Oriented Development database, and more.

Opportunities

TRB's Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program provides funding early in the development process for promising but unproven innovative concepts and methods. These projects aim to improve the efficiency, safety, security, maintenance, and ridership of transit systems. Submissions are being accepted through May 15, 2026.


The USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. Applications are being accepted through March 31, 2026.

Legislation

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the reporting deadline under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule for the reporting year 2025 from March 31, 2026 to October 30, 2026. This final rule changes only the reporting deadline for annual greenhouse gas reports for the reporting year 2025.


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) places clonazolam, diclazepam, etizolam, flualprazolam, and flubromazolam, and their salts and isomers, in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, effective April 1, 2026. These drugs are designer central nervous system depressants.


FHWA is seeking comments on its Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers on whether it should modify the waiver to increase the cost threshold of components manufactured in the U.S. for chargers used in federal-aid highway projects from 55% to up to 100% of the cost of all components. Comments are due March 16, 2026.


Compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments is April 24, 2026 for governments of areas with over 50,000 people and April 26, 2027 for those with populations under 49,999 people. The rule has specific requirements about how to ensure that web content and mobile applications are accessible to people with disabilities. 


NHTSA invites public comments through May 5, 2026 on a new information collection on Distraction: Personal Electronic Devices. Data collected will involve an experimental research study that involves voluntary participation from members of the public. 


The President published a Cyberstrategy for America and a Executive Order on combatting cybercrime. The order provides for the creation of an operational cell within the National Coordination Center to combat cybercrime.

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


ActiveEnviro

Active Living + Outdoor Health Summit 2026

Minneapolis, MN, March 8-13


American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2026 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange

Louisville, KY, March 9-12


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.  


World Resources Institute

Transforming Transportation

Washington, DC, March 9-13


The World Bank Group

Fourth Paratransit/Popular Transportation Day

Washington, DC, March 12, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM


New

TRB

Advancing the Art and Science of Decision-Making Webinar

March 12, 12:00-1:00 PM


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


Transportation Choices

Rural Transportation Advocacy 101 Workshop

North Bend, WA, March 14



National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Local Infrastructure Hub 

Safe Streets, Stronger Communities - Preparing Competitive Applications for the SS4A Program Webinar

March 17, 2:00-3:00 PM


The Center for Tribal Transportation

Contracts Training Course

Fountain Hills, AZ, March 18-19


New

Maryland Department of Transportation

MDOT In Motion - Implementing Complete Streets Webinar

March 19, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Great Lakes ADA Center

Artificial Intelligence: Problems and Possibilities for People with Disabilities Webinar

March 19, 2:00-3:30 PM 


National Transit Institute

Advancing Mobility Management

Linthicum, MD, March 23-24


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


Administration for Community Living (ACL)

National Caregiver Support Collaborative (NCSC) Aging Network Innovation Conversation Webinar 

March 24, 2:00 PM


Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group (ATTWG)

22nd Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium

Anchorage, AK, March 24-26

We're participating!


New

Transit Workforce Center (TWC)

ATTAIN: Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Webinar

March 26, 12:00 PM


New

National Center for Rural Road Safety

Making Safe the Easy Choice: Practical Behavior Strategies to Influence Safer Road Behaviors Webinar

March 26, 1:00-2:30 PM


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

March 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)

Beyond Batteries: Breadboard Results for a Fuel Cell–Dominant Bus Webinar

March 26, 2:00 PM 


New

Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)

Transportation Advocacy Updates Webinar

March 26, 3:00 PM

No need to pre-register, just join at the time of the meeting.


ThinkTransit

Executive Summit

Boston, MA, March 29 - April 1


South West Transit Association and New Mexico Transit Association

2026 SWTA & New Mexico Joint Annual Conference & EXPO

Albuquerque, NM, March 30 - April 2

Please visit our table!


New

FORTH 

Powering Communities: Building Partnerships for Electric Transportation

East Lansing, MI, March 31


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 31, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


TRB 

Using TRID to Find the Best Transportation Research Webinar

March 31, 2:00-3:00 PM


National RTAP

Rural Transit Manager Peer Roundtable: Rural Mobility Hubs

April 1, 2:00-3:00 PM


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

April 2, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


Arizona Transit Association (AzTA) and Arizona DOT

Arizona’s 39th Annual Statewide Transit

Mesa, AZ, April 6-8

Please visit our booth!


National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

April 6-9, 1:00-5:00 PM


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


Tribal Self-Governance

2026 Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Chandler, AZ, April 7-9


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

April 9, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

TRB 

Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance in Transportation Webinar

April 10, 2:00-3:30 PM


American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Legislative Conference

Washington, DC, April 12-14


American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2026 AASHTO Spring Meeting

Savannah, GA, April 12-15


National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) Fleet Management Association

NAFA 2026 Institute & Expo

Cleveland, OH, April 13-15


National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making

Philadelphia, PA, April 13-15


California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)

CALACT Spring Conference

Temecula, CA, April 13-16

Please visit our booth!


National Transit Institute

Transportation Planning Process Online Course

April 13-16, 1:00-5:00 PM 


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


National Transit Institute

Ridership Forecasting with STOPS for Transit Project Planning

Boston, MA, April 14-16


New

FTA

19th Annual FTA Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference

Portland, OR, April 14-16


New

Ride AI

Ride AI Summit

San Francisco, CA, April 15


New

National RTAP

Mobility Management Roundtable Series - Grant Writing 

April 15, 12:00-1:00 PM


New

United Motorcoach Association (UMA)

UMA 2026 Bus and Motorcoach Industry Legislative Fly-In

Washington, D.C., April 15-16


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

April 16, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA)

PPTA Annual Meeting & Expo

Lancaster, PA, April 20-23

Please visit our table!


New

National Transit Institute

Procurement IV: Contract Administration

Spokane, WA, April 20-23


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2026 AASHTOWare Connect

Des Moines, IA, April 21-22, 2026


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

April 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA)

2026 NCPTA Conference, Expo, Roadeo and Golf Tournament

Cherokee, NC, April 26-29


Association of Mobility Managers (AMM)

AMM Conference/Rural Transit and Mobility Management Caucus

Oklahoma City, OK, April 27-29

We're participating!


National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 28, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


National Transit Institute

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

April 28, 1:00-4:30 PM


Texas Transportation Association

TTA Conference and Roadeo

Lubbock, TX, April 28-May 2

We're participating!


Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy

2nd Annual Tribal Clean Energy Finance Forum

Reno, NV, April 29-30


National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

April 30, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transit Asset Management Online Course

May 4-6, 1:00-4:30 PM


New

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

May 4-7, 1:00-5:00 PM


New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

May 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Minnesota RTAP

Minnesota RTAP Spring Transit Workshop 2026

Waite Park, MN, May 5-7

Please visit our table!


New

FHWA

Innovative Funding Processes for Rural Road Safety Webinar

May 7, 1:00 PM


New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

May 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)

CTAA EXPO

Omaha, NE, May 10-13


New

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

May 11-14, 1:00-5:00 PM


New

National Transit Institute

Procurement III: RFPs and Competitive Contract Negotiations

Lexington, KY, May 11-14, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM


New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

May 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National Transit Institute 

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

May 12, 1:00-5:00 PM


New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

May 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

Community Transportation Association of the Northwest (CTANW)

CTANW Summit

Leavenworth, WA, May 18-19


New

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transit Service Planning Online Course

May 18-21, 1:00-5:00 PM


New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

May 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National Transit Institute

Crisis Communications for Transit Managers Online Course

May 19-20, 1:00-4:30 PM


New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

May 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

May 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National RTAP

GTFS Builder Office Hours

May 28, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting


New

National Transit Institute

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

May 28, 1:00-4:30 PM


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

STAY CONNECTED
Facebook  X  Youtube  Instagram  Linkedin  
X Share This Email
LinkedIn Share This Email