National RTAP eNews - November 14, 2019

eNews - November 14, 2019

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.

National RTAP Solicits Nominations for Review Board Members

For spring 2020, National RTAP is soliciting nominations for two state transit officials and one rural or tribal transit operator for our Review Board. The nominations from this solicitation will be used to fill vacancies in fall 2020 and into 2021. The term is three years starting with the member's first meeting. More information and the nomination form are available here. The deadline is January 31, 2020.

Updated National RTAP Tech Brief on Used Oil Recycling

Updated in October 2019, Used Oil Recycling: Getting Extra Mileage Out of Your Motor Oil is a National RTAP technical brief that explains options for recycling used motor oil and provides two examples of transportation providers burning used oil for heat. It also includes regulatory information, a glossary of key terms, and a resource list. Updates to the tech brief include data, case study information, and EPA guidance.

Transaction Corporate Shuttles Used Oil Furnace

Featured Resource

Resources and Events

Upcoming National RTAP Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable

Join National RTAP and fellow Tribal Transit providers on November 27, 2019 between 3:00-4:00 PM ET to talk about the status of your programs and any challenges that you're currently facing. No pre-registration required. Join the Roundtable at the time above through GoToMeeting .

Send us an email with questions or RSVP for an email invitation.

Upcoming National RTAP Webinar on Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors

Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors is a National RTAP eLearning course for front line supervisors responsible for making reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol testing referrals of employees who perform safety-sensitive job functions. National RTAP staff and Diana Byrnes, CSAPA, CUTR will provide an overview of the training module and discuss how it fulfills federal training requirements. The webinar will be held on December 18, 2019, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

National RTAP/CTE Rural Transit Zero-Emission Vehicle Deployments: Collaborating with your Electric Utility Webinar Materials Posted

We've posted the recording and presentation slides for the National RTAP/Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) webinar held on November 5, 2019. Panelists discussed strategies to help electric utilities and transit agencies build and maintain partnerships.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

On October 19, 2019, U.S. DOT Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the notice of funding opportunity through the new Access and Mobility for All Grant Program, which enables transportation connections to jobs, schools and health services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people with low incomes. Register for the Expanding Access to Transportation for Older Adults and People with Disabilities webinar on November 21, 2019, 3:00-4:00 PM ET, that will provide an overview about this opportunity.

U.S. DOT launched an initiative to develop technology to help agencies better track and coordinate transportation costs by trip. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Cost Allocation Technology for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation project will develop cost allocation technology to reconcile federal reporting and agency funding. See page 53 of the solicitation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the ability to use any HHS funding for transportation as a match to these FTA grants programs: the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program, Rural Formula Grants and Tribal Transit Formula Grants.

FTA has a new web page on frequently asked questions about transit bus automation policies. Questions answered include which accessibility regulations apply to low-speed automated vehicles and how will useful life requirements be applied for automated vehicles.

The newly established ROUTES Council began meeting to improve the use of U.S. DOT discretionary grant funds in support of the nation's rural transportation system. The ROUTES Council coordinates rural-related efforts among U.S. DOT agencies. The Council is made of up leaders from the Office of the Secretary, FAA, FHWA, FRA, and FTA.

Webinars and Training

NTI's free Workplace Safety courses address worker safety and health in the transit workplace. Courses are designed for front-line and supervisory personnel and are offered as instructor-led direct delivery or train-the-trainer. Courses are provided upon request and include Advanced Mobility Device Securement, Crisis Communications for Employees, and Securing Community Mobility.

Save the Date for National RTAP #Succession2Transit Twitter Chat

National RTAP is planning a Transit Succession Planning Twitter Chat

on January 28, 2:00-3:00 PM with Dr. Mike Mowery of Strategic Government Resources. Join us as we learn together about best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and practical tips to prepare the next generation of transit leaders. RSVP for an email invite.

Opportunities

Mass Transit magazine is collecting information about what 2020 may have in store for the industry. The results will be published in their February 2020 issue.

Tribes are invited to participate in a pilot project that is starring soon to develop a Tribal Crash Reporting Toolkit. Tribal employees who want to participate or have questions may contact NHTSA's Tom Bragan or FHWA's Adam Larsen.

Nominations close on Nov. 22 for National Safety Council Green Cross for Safety Awards. Awards are given in three categories: advocacy, excellence, and innovation.

Publications

NCHRP's Leveraging Big Data to Improve Traffic Incident Management explores big data concepts, applications, and analyses, describes current and emerging sources of data that could improve traffic incident management, and develops guidelines to help advance the state of the practice.

FHWA's Strengthening Linkages between Transportation Demand Management and Traffic Management shows how traffic and demand management professionals can work together to manage mobility and reliability concerns. Examples show how this approach can address a specific issue, such as Wyoming DOT's proactive variable message sign to discourage behavior that would reduce the flow of traffic in a rural area during a solar eclipse.

University of Minnesota's Center for Transportation Studies published Strategies for Reducing Transportation Disparities. The brief provides recommendations for engagement processes, sustainability and health, equity spending, collaboration, coordination, and evaluation.

TCRP's Partnerships Between Transit Agencies and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) discusses data and information requirements of transit agencies and TNCs, benefits that transit agencies, communities, and customers have pursued through partnerships, and challenges faced by transit agencies in developing partnerships with TNCs.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has set up a collection of Vision Zero Plans from various cities across the United States. The University's Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety's goal is to accelerate the reduction of injuries and fatalities through a systems approach.

FHWA published Communicating with Other Programs TSMO Factsheets, which describe how transportation systems management and operations programs relates to other programs, including performance management and maintenance.

Legislation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted a proposed rule in the Federal Register regarding the Renewable Fuel Standard Program on October 28, 2019. The rule proposes to project the volume of gasoline and diesel that will be exempt in 2020 due to small refinery exemptions based on a three-year average of the relief recommended by the Department of Energy (DOE). Comments must be received by November 29, 2019.

FMCSA has proposed a new Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. This system will allow FMCSA to collect and maintain records on commercial driver’s license and commercial learner’s permit holders who have received verified positive U.S. DOT drug or alcohol test results, refuse such testing, or otherwise violate FMCSA’s drug and alcohol use prohibitions. Comments must be submitted by November 21, 2019.

EPA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on October 30, 2019 on National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Rubber Tire Manufacturing Residual Risk and

Technology Review. The proposed

amendments address startup,

shutdown, and malfunction

provisions and propose electronic

reporting. Comments must be

received by December 16, 2019.

Dunn County Transit Launches Google Mobile Trip Maps

Dunn County Transit in Wisconsin has recently gone live on Google Mobile Trip Maps. Commission Manager Dolly Catlin used National RTAP's GTFS Builder web app to create the service. This new service opens up many additional transportation options for riders in rural Wisconsin.