|
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 Review Board Transitions
National RTAP Publishes 2024 Rural and Tribal Transit Manager's Survey Report
National RTAP Rural & Tribal Capital Projects and Mobility Management Presentations
FTA 2025 Master Agreement Published
| | |
National RTAP Review Board Transitions
At the National RTAP Spring 2025 Review Board meeting that was held in Alexandria, Virginia on April 21-23, 2025, National RTAP staff, FTA staff, and National RTAP Review Board members gathered to plan for National RTAP products and services for the year ahead and plan our 2025 Technical Assistance Conference.
National RTAP acknowledged the outstanding service and contributions of outgoing Review Board members Jeremy Bell, formerly of Choctaw Transit Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (and now National RTAP Tribal Transit Liaison); Carolyn Freitag, Grants Administrator III, North Carolina Department of Transportation; and Kevin Tafoya, Assistant Manager, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Public Transit.
We also welcomed new members to the Review Board: Katy Miller, Transit Programs Manager, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation; Michele Smith, Transit Manager, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Nevada; and Darrel Williams, Resource Manager, Ninilchik Village Tribe, Alaska.
Kristin Haar, Public Transit Director, Iowa Department of Transportation, is now our Review Board Chair, and Stephanie Bushong, Transit Deputy Director, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, is now our Review Board Vice Chair.
View a Facebook Album with highlights from our Review Board Meeting.
| | |
National RTAP Publishes 2024 Rural and Tribal Transit Manager's Survey Report
National RTAP completed its most recent biennial survey of rural and tribal transit managers in 2024. A summary of survey data is provided based on 391 transit agencies completing the survey. The report summarizes the types of services provided, funding sources, use of technology in operations and compliance, and training requirements. This data may be helpful for agencies to use in the development of their plans.
| | |
Presentations Available for National RTAP Rural and Tribal Capital Projects and Mobility Management Training
National RTAP conducted Rural and Tribal Capital Projects and Mobility Management Training in Anchorage, Alaska on March 24 and March 28, 2025. Attendees learned how to administer their projects via in-house staff or consultant contractors, complete projects on time and within budget, comply with FTA requirements, and more.
| | |
Upcoming National RTAP Events
On May 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM ET, National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips will be presenting at Making Rural Roads Safe for All, which is part of the FHWA Roadway Safety Webinar Series.
In our Opportunities for Rural Mobility as a Service (MaaS) webinar on June 18, 2025 from 1:00-2:30 PM ET, we'll share lessons from 2 successful MaaS initiatives, one in rural Minnesota, the other from the San Joaquin Valley, which contains a number of rural areas. We'll demonstrate how scheduling and dispatch software can interface with existing MaaS platforms to seamlessly connect customers to fixed-route and demand-response transit, carshare, vanpool, taxi, and ridehail.
Register for the upcoming 2025 National RTAP Tribal & Rural Transit Mini-Conference that will take place on June 24-26, 2025 in Santa Fe, NM. National RTAP is providing three (3) full days of tribal and rural transit training. The mini-conference kicks off with a two-day grant writing workshop. On the morning of Day 2, attendees who are not taking the grant writing workshop can attend the "Customer Service" and "Dealing with Problem Passengers" training modules. On Day 3, attendees can choose from either a day-long training on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or a concurrent 4-hour Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) Passenger Assistance Safety and Sensitivity (PASS) Driver Training workshop with the option to attend from 8:00 AM to noon or from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. You must be present for the raffle drawing to win the prize. See the Flyer for more details.
National RTAP's next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable will be held on July 29, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This is an informal meeting for State RTAP Managers to discuss issues of interest to them. Topics will include how to find trainers, trainer succession planning, the role of State RTAPs in mobility management, and others. Please note that this Roundtable is only for managers of State RTAPs. Stay tuned for an upcoming Transit Manager Peer Roundtable.
The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group selected Bus People: 30 Days on the Road with America's Nomads by Mike Pentecost for its August 19, 2025, 2:00-3:00 PM ET meeting. Bus People focuses on the stories, hopes, and dreams that accompany the passengers that Greyhound serves. Register for the meeting. The author will be joining us! If you would like to borrow the book, please contact us.
2025 National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference Info
The 6th National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference, Wrangling Access and Mobility in Rural and Tribal Transit, will take place in Austin, Texas between December 7-10, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Austin on 208 Barton Springs Road. We will post more information on our conference web page when available.
Students are invited to submit a poster for the Conference to be shown on December 7, 2025. Posters for consideration must be sent by October 1, 2025 to info@nationalrtap.org and students must be able to present their posters in-person.
The Walk of Fame will take place at the conference to recognize exemplary staff for dedication, innovation, customer service, and professionalism. Send the nominee’s name, title, transit agency, email address, and phone number, a photo of the nominee in jpeg or png format, and a paragraph (500 character limit) about why they should be honored, to info@nationalrtap.org by October 10, 2025.
National RTAP RFP for Bus Roadeo Toolkit Update
National RTAP will be updating its Bus Roadeo Toolkit and has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP). We will be holding a Pre-Proposal Call on July 29, 2025 between 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
| |  | |
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
We're presenting, exhibiting, and participating at the following conferences and meetings:
- CASTA 2025 Spring Training Conference, Loveland, CO, May 6-9
- Nevada Transportation Conference, Reno, NV, May 13–14
- Community Transportation of the North West (CTANW) Summit, Bremerton, WA, May 19-20
- CTAA EXPO, San Diego, CA, June 2-4
- Special Libraries Association 2025 Annual Conference & Expo, Pittsburgh, PA, June 7-10
- Transit Retreat, Des Moines, IA, June 25-26
- National TTAP/LTAP Conference, Kansas City, MO, July 20-24
- 2025 LPTA & SWTA Summer U Joint Conference & EXPO, New Orleans, LA, July 27-30
- ATI Annual Conference, Quincy, MA, July 29-31
- Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission (NEMTAC) Transform 2025 Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, August 24-26
- Tri-State Transit Conference, Portland, ME, September 3-5
- 2025 Midwest Transit Conference, Kansas City, MO, September 3-5
- Montana Rural Transit Workshop, Helena, MT, September 3-5
- URSTA Conference and Roadeo, St. George, UT, September 10-13
- National Transportation in Indian Country (NTICC), Gila, River AZ, September 21-25
Updated National RTAP Funding Topic Guide
National RTAP continues its annual Topic Guide update with our Funding Topic Guide. This Guide lists resources that provide information about funding, funding sources, and writing grant applications. New resources include:
Get Ready for Rural Transit Day
Rural Transit Day is July 16, 2025. Now you can purchase an official Rural Transit Day t-shirt through our t-shirt vendor, as many of you have asked for. The deadline to order is May 31, 2025.
This year we are requesting smart cards for our Rural Transit Day Time Capsule. If you have any that you can send us (no fares need to be loaded), please mail them to Cara Marcus, Knowledge and Resource Manager, National RTAP, 5 Wheeling Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801.
We will be holding a Facebook Live Rural Transit Day Chat on July 16, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The chat will be moderated by John Andoh, Stephanie Bushong, Stephanie Lewis, and National RTAP staff. If you would like to participate, please RSVP.
There will also be a Rural Transit Day Prequel on X where we will showcase all the entries to our Art of Transit Photo Contest. No need to preregister for this; just click on the link between 1:00-2:00 PM ET on July 16, 2025.
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.
Welcome New NY State RTAP Manager
National RTAP extends a warm welcome to new New York RTAP Manager Abdul Qadir. If you would like to get in touch with Abdul or any other RTAP Managers, visit our Directory of State RTAP Managers.
| | |
FTA published its 2025 Master Agreement on April 25, 2025. FTA also published a document that shows changes FTA made to its Master Agreement version 33 compared to version 32. The Master Agreement applies to each Underlying Agreement authorized by federal transit legislation.
U.S. DOT published a letter on April 24, 2025 clarifying legal requirements and outlining U.S. DOT expectations for recipients of federal funding. The letter clarified how grant recipients need to comply with current federal DEI and immigration legislation. On May 2, 2025, U.S. DOT terminated DEI and green transportation grants at seven University Transportation Centers. FTA will provide further information when available.
| | |
The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) and the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) will be holding a Using Data to Inform Transit Planning and Operations Webinar on May 8, 2025, from 1:00-2:30 PM ET.
The South West Transit Association (SWTA) is hosting a webinar on the Fast-Track Route to Modernizing Fare Payments on May 13, 2025 from 12:00-1:00 PM ET. This webinar will discuss how collaboration between agencies, government, and technology vendors is a critical component of developing approaches to fare payment.
The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) invites new and experienced transit trainers to attend a Train-the-Trainer Level 1 class held on August 4-8, 2025, in Tacoma, WA. The course covers training adult learners, building engaging training, and other topics.
Latinos in Transit (LIT) launched the LIT Small Business Academy, a new six-module certification program designed to equip small business owners with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to succeed in the transit industry.
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is holding a One-on-One Transit Event in Binghamton, NY on June 16-18, 2025. This event hosts conversations between zero-emission bus adopters and solutions providers.
| | |
NCHRP's Incorporating Resilience into Transportation Networks provides a guide for transportation agencies seeking to define and strategically integrate resilience into transportation networks and network planning. Supplements include presentation slides, a resilience brochure, an implementation plan, and a video.
The Shared-Use Mobility Center's (SUMC) case study on Changing Focus: Mobility Hub Design Centered on Women and Caregivers identifies the specific mobility needs of women and caregivers and how mobility hubs can be designed to accommodate those needs. For example, key themes for the design of new mobility hubs that incorporate the needs of women and caregivers include personal security, convenience, comfort, accessibility, affordability, and more.
The National Aging and Disabilities Transportation Center (NADTC) published a learning short video to help organizations learn how to develop a microtransit program. The training describes the planning process and gaining community support.
Transportation affordability refers to households’ ability to purchase the travel needed to access goods and activities within their budget limits. Evaluating Transportation Affordability: How Planning Can Better Respond to Demands for Lower Cost Travel by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute (VTPI) provides practical guidance for evaluating transportation affordability impacts and achieving affordability goals.
| | |
Government Technology analyzed and mapped data from the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to provide an interactive map of speed camera locations nationwide.
Flosm provides a worldwide public transportation map of public transport and long-distance traffic. The routes traveled and the approached stops are selectable by the user via checkboxes in any combination.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Transportation Secure Data Center (TSDC) provides free access to detailed transportation data from hundreds of travel and transit surveys and studies.
Users can use Google Dataset Search to find data from hundreds of repositories throughout the Internet. A search for transit displays over a hundred national, regional, state, and local datasets, including number of public transit accidents in the U.S., transportation options preferred to public transit, and more.
Stickeylisting.com lists local businesses with websites, photos, contact information, and descriptions. Users can search for transportation and enter a location to see local providers. There is also a browse-by-county feature.
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated its National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). Updates include Intercity Bus Atlas stops and routes, National Transit Map stops and routes, and other data.
| | |
The National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) is conducting a national survey in partnership with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. The survey focuses on data literacy and practices among small-urban, rural, and tribal transit agencies. The results will help shape future technical assistance and guide the development of resources to support agencies nationwide. An agency can submit multiple responses to capture perspectives from various functional areas and responsibilities, including general managers, planners, operations personnel, IT, and customer service staff.
N-CATT is also designing a free web tool to help transit agencies see how data flows from one part of a process to another. They are looking for agencies to test the tool to make sure they are creating the best tool possible. Anyone interested can contact helpdesk@n-catt.org. In addition, N-CATT's Strategic Technology Technical Assistance Teams (STTATs) application is open.
Mass Transit magazine is seeking nominees through May 12, 2025 for its 40 Under 40 award opportunity to recognize outstanding young individuals making a name in the public transit industry.
TRB's Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program provides funding early in the development process for promising but unproven innovative concepts and methods to improve the efficiency, safety, security, maintenance, and ridership of transit systems. The program is soliciting proposal applications through May 15, 2025.
Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is soliciting nominations through July 30, 2025 for its Harriet Tubman Award, along with a check and trophy, to a member of the bus industry whose direct actions have either helped save or improve the lives of those exploited or prevented human trafficking from taking place.
| | |
An Executive Order published on April 23, 2025 seeks to remove the Title VI requirement of the Civil Rights Act. FTA will provide further information about this Order when available.
NHTSA is accepting requests for automated vehicles built in the U.S. to receive Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards exemptions for non-commercial purposes that involve research or demonstration in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 30114(a). Requests can be submitted to the Automation Exemptions Division of NHTSA’s Office of Automation Safety.
On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a field assistance bulletin providing guidance on how to determine employee or independent contractor status when enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act.
| | |
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).
CASTA 2025 Spring Training Conference
Loveland, CO, May 6-9
Please visit our booth!
National Institute for Congestion Reduction (NICR)
Using Disaggregate Vehicle Data to Investigate How Transit Accessibility Influences the Use of Ride-Hailing Services and Personal Vehicles Webinar
May 8, 12:00-1:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
May 8, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) and National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT)
Using Data to Inform Transit Planning and Operations Webinar
May 8, 1:00-2:30 PM
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
AASHTO 2025 Spring Meeting
Hartford, CT, May 12-15
New
South West Transit Association (SWTA)
The Fast-Track Route to Modernizing Fare Payments Webinar
May 13, 12:00-1:00 PM
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
May 13, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
FORTH
Building EV-ready Communities to Accelerate Adoption Webinar
May 13, 4:00-5:00 PM
Nevada Department of Transportation, University of Nevada Reno, FHWA, Regional Transportation Commission
Nevada Transportation Conference
Reno, NV, May 13–14
Please visit our table!
New
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Making Rural Roads Safe for All (FHWA Roadway Safety Webinar Series)
May 14, 1:00 PM
We're presenting
New
Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS)
When Driving Is Not an Option - Community Access for Nondrivers Webinar
May 14, 2:00-3:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
May 15, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
TRB
Developing Statewide Comprehensive Transit Information Systems Webinar
May 15, 3:00-4:30 PM
Community Transportation Association of the North West (CTANW)
CTANW Summit
Bremerton, WA, May 19-20
Please visit our booth!
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
May 20, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Rural Health Association (NHRA)
Annual Rural Health Conference
Atlanta, GA, May 20-23
American Bus Association (ABA)
2025 WIB (Women in Bus) Meet & Eat Session
May 21, 1:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
May 22, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
May 27, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
TRB
TRB's Conference on Data and AI for Transportation Advancement
Seattle, WA, May 27-29
New
Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)
Alternative Fueling for Alternative Fuels: Unconventional Approaches to Fleet Charging Webinar
May 28, 1:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
May 29, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)
CTAA EXPO
San Diego, CA, June 2-4
Please visit our booth!
New
TRB
TRB's National Summit on the Future of the Transportation Workforce
Westminster, CO, June 2-4
Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy
2025 Safe System Academy Conference
Washington, DC, June 2-6
National Transit Institute
Transit Academy 2025
Salt Lake City, UT, June 2-6
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
June 3, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)
PSE Spotlight Series Webinar
June 5, 1:00 PM
Special Libraries Association (SLA)
SLA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo
Pittsburgh, PA, June 7-10
We're presenting!
National Transit Institute
Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course
June 9-12, 1:00-5:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
June 10, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
June 12, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)
One-on-One Transit Event
Binghamton, NY, June 16-18
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
June 17, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Opportunities for Rural Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
June 18, 1:00-2:30 PM
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
June 19, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
TRB
TRB National Conference on Tools of the Trade
Albuquerque, NM, June 23-25
National RTAP reviewed session abstracts
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
June 24, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
2025 National RTAP Tribal & Rural Transit Mini-Conference
Santa Fe, NM, June 24-26
NPMA and HIRTA
Transit Retreat
Des Moines, IA, June 25-26
We're presenting and exhibiting!
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
June 26, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
July 1, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
July 3, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
July 8, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
U.S. Access Board
U.S. Access Board Town Hall Meeting
New Orleans, LA, July 9, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Registrations must be received by July 2, 2025
New
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
July 10, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
July 15, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
2025 National Regional Transportation Conference
Des Moines, IA, July 15-17, 2025
New
National RTAP
Rural Transit Day "The Art of Transit" Chat Prequel
July 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the prequel
New
National RTAP
Rural Transit Day Facebook Live Chat
July 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
New
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
July 17, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
NLTAPA
National TTAP/LTAP Conference
Kansas City, MO, July 20-24
Please visit our booth!
New
USAging
Answers on Aging 2025
Chicago, IL, July 20-23
New
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
July 22, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
July 24, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
LPTA & SWTA
2025 LPTA & SWTA Summer U Joint Conference & EXPO
New Orleans, LA, July 27-30
Please visit our booth!
New
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
July 29, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable
July 29, 2:00-3:00 PM
New
Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)
ATI Annual Conference
Quincy, MA, July 29-31
Please visit our booth!
New
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
July 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. Also, see the FTA Events Calendar. To submit an event, email info@nationalrtap.org.
| | | | |
