National RTAP eNews - May 14, 2020

eNews - May 14, 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.

Upcoming Young Professionals in Transportation Happy Hour with National RTAP

Join National RTAP and the Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT) on May 21, 2020, 5:00-6:00 PM ET, for a Happy Hour discussion on rural and tribal transit. Robin Phillips, Executive Director of National RTAP, will be joined by two Review Board members, Julia Castillo, Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Authority (HIRTA), and Tim Geibel, Executive Director, Crawford Area Transit Authority (CATA), who will offer first-hand accounts of the state of rural and tribal transportation and the COVID-19 response.

Founded in 2008, YPT International’s vision is to become the preeminent professional development organization for emerging leaders in the transportation field. YPT was created to fill the void presented to young professionals in the large, established transportation organizations. It aims to provide young professionals with opportunities to take leadership roles, participate in networking events, and grow their careers.

ProcurementPRO State Portal Instruction Guide

Did you know that National RTAP's ProcurementPRO application can include a State Portal? A State Portal ensures that all necessary federal and state documents are downloaded by transit agencies who use ProcurementPRO. We updated our State Portal instruction guide in May 2020, to walk you through collecting, organizing, uploading, and testing state documents.

Featured Resource

Resources and Events

National RTAP Issues Training Request for Information (RFI)

National RTAP has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit proposals from interested and qualified trainers to provide compliance training and technical assistance through in-person workshops, virtual online training and/or webinars to subrecipients of FTA Section 5311, 5311(c), 5311(f) and 5310 funding. Completed documents are to be submitted no later than June 5, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET. Questions should be sent via email to [email protected]. Learn more and download the RFI.

Summaries Available from Recent National RTAP COVID-19 Peer Events

We held two COVID-focused peer events recently. Read the Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable summary from April 22 and the State RTAP Manager Panel summary from April 23.

Poll: What Are Your Current COVID-19 Questions?

To help us better assist you as we enter this new "reopening" phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, please fill out this one-question poll .

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

FTA published the April/May 2020 issue of Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight. The issue contains an article about Transit Agencies Helping Their Communities During COVID-19, new COVID-19 questions answered by FTA, and e-learning Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) courses, such as Curbing Transit Employee Distracted Driving and Fatigue and Sleep Apnea Awareness for Transit Employees.

FTA is soliciting expressions of interest from nonprofit entities to participate in the Pilot Program for Nonprofit Cooperative Procurements. The program will increase innovation, promote efficiency, and demonstrate effectiveness of cooperative procurement contracts for rolling stock and related equipment administered by eligible nonprofit entities. Expressions of interest must be received by July 10, 2020.

FTA has updated their COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions, including the following new answers:

FTA has postponed the remaining FY 2020 program oversight reviews (triennial, state management, etc.) until early in FY 2021.
For recipients with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals due August 1, 2020, FTA extended the due date to October 1, 2020. DBE site visits may be conducted by computer, tablet, or mobile technologies, including photographs of necessary items from within vehicles.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will not be waived during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Opportunities

TCRP is accepting new research problem statements for consideration in the FY 2021 TCRP Program through June 19, 2020. Research is conducted on operations, policy, planning, service, engineering, maintenance, human resources, and administration.

The Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response grant includes a funding category for the distribution of materials. The closing date for applications is May 31, 2020.

Transloc is offering transit providers free demand response software and planning services in response to COVID-19.

TCRP's Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program has extended the proposal deadline to June 15, 2020. This program foster concepts with the potential to enhance security, increase ridership, improve efficiency, and protect the environment.

On May 7, 2020, FHWA announced the availability of $9.2-million in grant funding from the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund. Tribal governments may apply for funding to conduct transportation safety planning, crash data improvement, and infrastructure projects that reduce the risk of fatal and serious injury motor-vehicle crashes. FHWA will be holding a Transportation Safety Funding webinar on May 20 at 1:30 PM ET.

Webinars and Training

The Native Learning Center offers training and technical assistance to Native Americans and those working within Indian Country at no cost. Training courses include:

Financial Literacy
Grant Writing and Management
Meeting Planning
Strategic Planning

For more information, contact Wima Noah or Krystal Cedeno.

Easter Seals Project Action (ESPA) is offering a prerecorded webinar through May 31, 2020 on Implementing Conditional Eligibility for ADA Complementary Paratransit.

Publications

The BTS National Transportation Atlas Database Spring 2020 Update includes a new layer to the U.S. DOT region database for FMCSA regions.

The latest National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN) blog post, written by National RTAP and Montana DOT staff, features Montana DOT's Traffic Safety Culture LibGuide.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created a web page with COVID-19 information for Tribal communities: Plan, Prepare, and Respond. The page includes information about cleaning, disinfecting, social distancing, coping, and contact tracing.

AASHTO has published their Survey of State Funding for Public Transportation - Final Report 2020. This report provides a snapshot of state-by-state investment in public transportation from federal, state, and local funding sources.

National RTAP Mobility Management Topic Guide Updated

The National RTAP Mobility Management Topic Guide was updated in April 2020. Newly added resources include:

Legislation

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules on April 23, 2020 to make 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use. The new rules will increase the spectrum available for Wi-Fi by nearly a factor of five and help improve rural connectivity.

FMCSA proposes prohibiting State Driver’s Licensing Agencies from issuing, renewing, upgrading, or transferring a commercial driver’s license, or commercial learner’s permit, for individuals prohibited under current regulations from driving a commercial motor vehicle due to controlled substance. Comments must be received by June 29, 2020.

The Small Business Administration published an interim final rule on Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program-Requirements-Promissory Notes, Authorizations, Affiliation, and Eligibility in the Federal Register on April 28, 2020. Comments on this rule must be received by May 28, 2020.

Research Citing National RTAP

In Freund, Katherine, et al. "From the CDC: Characteristics of ride share services for older adults in the United States." Journal of Safety Research (2020), Researchers conducted a review of literature from organizations including National RTAP. The article described barriers and facilitators of older adults’ use of ride share services and service characteristics.

Save the Date for the Second Annual Rural Transit Day

The second annual Rural Transit Day will take place on July 16, 2020. We will be holding a #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, moderated by Julia Castillo, Executive Director, HIRTA Public Transit, Kari Banta, Section 5304 Program Manager, TX DOT, and Angie Jones, District Manager, Grant County Transportation District (People Mover). The chat will focus on what agencies are doing to recognize passengers and staff on #RuralTransitDay and through the year, and shared thoughts about challenges and solutions for rural transit. Also, stay tuned for contests on our Twitter and Instagram pages to win a Rural Transit Day t-shirt.

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 6 for Hawaii.

Q'Straint Training Academy

Wheelchair Securement Training

May 14, 12:00-1:30 PM