eNews - November 20, 2025 | | |
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
2 Weeks Away from the National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference - App Available
New National RTAP Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit
Call for Collaboration: National RTAP Rural Travel Training Program Guide Workgroup
FTA Final Policy Guidance for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program Published
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 Signed into Law, Ending Government Shutdown
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National RTAP 2025 Technical Assistance Conference Information
The 6th National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference, Wrangling Access and Mobility in Rural and Tribal Transit, will take place in Austin, Texas from December 7-10, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Austin on 208 Barton Springs Road. View the Registration and Agenda, Vendor Prospectus, and Conference Justification Letter.
Once you register for the conference, you will have the option in the registration form to reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency Austin through our room block.
We have listed our Schedule at a Glance with session titles and Pre-Conference Workshop Sessions, Conference Sponsors, Vendors, Walk of Fame Awardees, and Student Poster Contest Presenters (We will announce which awards each student won at the conference). Uber is sponsoring discounts on rides, and a code will be sent to registered attendees.
We are thrilled to announce that John Bodnar, Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Program Management, Federal Transit Administration, will be speaking at the conference.
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Conference App Available and Will be Fully Populated by December 2, 2025
National RTAP has launched its Conference App, which will continue to be populated over the coming days. In the App, registered conference attendees can view the conference agenda, customize their schedule, learn more about our speakers, stay up to date with any changes during the conference, and meet our exhibitors. After you've registered for the conference, to download the App, scan the QR code for your Android (left) or Apple (right) mobile device, log in with the email you registered with and create a password.
| | Android Device Conference App QR Code | |  | Apple Device Conference App QR Code | |
New National RTAP Volunteer Driver Toolkit
National RTAP launched a new Volunteer Driver Program Toolkit in November 2025. The Toolkit is an update to Washington State’s Volunteer Driver Program Guidebook from 2013. It is a joint project of National RTAP, Washington State DOT, and Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) and was prepared by KFH Group and Socius Amica.
The Toolkit contains information, direction, guidance, and resources for organizations wanting to start a new volunteer driver program or to expand an existing one.
Members of the Toolkit team will be presenting this new resource at the National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference in Austin, TX on December 9, 2025.
We will be adding a full-text PDF version of the Toolkit soon.
| | Thank you to the Toolkit reviewers: Angel Bond, Boulder County Transportation Planning Division, Carrie Diamond, National Aging & Disability Transportation Center, Marianna Hanefeld, Washington DOT, Ann Rajewski, Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA), and Staci Sahoo, HopeLink Mobility Management. | |
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Call for Collaboration: National RTAP Rural Travel Training Program Guide Workgroup
National RTAP invites DOT staff, mobility managers, transit coordinators, and transportation professionals to join a collaborative work group to develop a Rural Travel Training 101 Manual, a National RTAP–aligned resource designed to strengthen rural mobility, access, and independence. This practical guide will provide step-by-step tools for teaching individuals in rural areas how to confidently and safely use public transportation—covering topics such as assessing rider needs, planning trips, understanding schedules, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights.
By contributing to this effort, participants will help create a comprehensive, inclusive framework that expands access to essential services, reduces isolation, and empowers rural residents while enhancing the capacity of local transit systems nationwide.
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2025
Workgroup Participation Confirmations: Sent by December 2, 2025
If you are interested in contributing to this important initiative, we welcome your participation.
Please fill out this form or scan the QR Code above.
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Upcoming National RTAP Events
Join us for a Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable on January 7, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, designed to foster meaningful discussion and gather feedback directly from Tribal Nations on how transit can support broader community well-being. This session will focus on the development, sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration needed to build and maintain effective Tribal transit systems that connect with vital services.
Join transit leaders from the National RTAP Review Board and the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) for a LinkedIn Learnalong on coaching and mentoring on January 9, 2025 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET. Participants will watch instructional videos and engage in a discussion on LinkedIn with our co-moderators on best practices and lessons learned. RSVP.
National RTAP's next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable will be held on January 28, 2026, 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 RTAP training for transit board members, State RTAP Communities of Practice websites, State RTAP newsletters, State RTAP conferences, and others. Note that this session is only for State RTAP Managers. Stay tuned for other upcoming Peer Roundtables.
The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group selected The New Life by Nobel Prize winning author Orhan Pamuk as our next book to read. In the book, a student takes bus trips in pursuit of a vision. Our next meeting will be on February 19, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.
The next Learn About TACL training will take place on February 23, 2026 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The session will instruct on how to use TACL, The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, and include a Resource Feature by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC).
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.
National RTAP Resource Library Users Can Browse, Borrow, and Board Through the Massachusetts Library System and Boston Public Library
The National RTAP Resource Library Participates in the Massachusetts Library System (MLS). Our Resource Library users who are Massachusetts public transit riders can access online materials without library cards, including e-books and audiobooks, as they wait for their buses. See the Browse Borrow Board webpage for the transit agencies where this program is available and how to participate.
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National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
We're presenting, exhibiting, and participating at the following conferences and meetings:
National RTAP Transit Benefits Statistics Updated
National RTAP completed its annual update of its Transit Benefits Statistics, which is part of its Marketing Toolkit. Updates include new data on ridership, industry employment, annual cost of car ownership, and other topics.
Let’s Dial-up Accurate GTFS Data for NTD Reporting and Rider Confidence Webinar Recording Published
We held a Let’s Dial-up Accurate GTFS Data for NTD Reporting and Rider Confidence Webinar on November 5, 2025. This webinar supported rural transit agencies as they began their GTFS updates. Attendees learned how to conduct a data quality review and how to update GTFS data feeds. Access the recording and presentation slides.
Summaries Posted for Peer Roundtables on Funding, Tribal Transit, and Grant Writing and AI
We held a Rural Transit Peer Roundtable on Funding on October 1, 2025. Participants discussed funding strategies, challenges, and opportunities in rural transit. This roundtable explored innovative approaches and exchanged practical solutions for sustaining and expanding rural transportation services. Read the summary.
Our Tribal Transit TIPS (Tribal Innovative Performance Solutions) Roundtable - Identifying Needs & Advancing Coordinated Solutions was held on October 8, 2025. This Roundtable focused on creating space for meaningful discussion and feedback directly from Tribal Nations. Read the summary.
National RTAP held a Mobility Management Peer Roundtable on Grant Writing Using AI Assistance on October 15, 2025. This session dove into how AI can support rural transit and mobility management professionals in crafting compelling grant applications. Read the summary.
National RTAP Office Closures for November
The National RTAP Offices will be closed on November 27 and 28, 2025. If you contact us then, we will be in touch on December 1, 2025.
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FTA published final policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, effective November 12, 2025. FTA will not exempt projects from following the new amended final CIG policy guidance. Updates included modifications to the environmental benefits measure language and the removal of urgent care facilities from the access to essential services element under the land use criterion.
FTA updated its Federal Transit Administration Organizational Chart on November 7, 2025. The chart includes offices, divisions, and regional administrators.
FTA proposes rescinding the National Transit Database Weekly Reference Reporting Requirement (WE-20). Although the requirement provided important data as the country recovered from the pandemic, it is not required by statute, and FTA has now determined that the WE-20 reporting requirement no longer offers sufficient value relative to the administrative burden on transit agencies. Comments are due December 2, 2025.
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The U.S. Department of Labor CareerOneStop's Local Training Finder lets users search thousands of short-term training programs, along with two- and four-year college programs, by city, state, or for all of the U.S. For example, a search for Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity, displayed over 2,500 training opportunities. The portal also contains a scholarship finder, certification finder, and more.
The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) offers two Train-the-Trainer programs designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead engaging instructor-led training sessions and create impactful courseware materials.
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TCRP's Resilient Zero-Emission Transit Bus Fleets: A Guide provides a framework for transit agencies to update their resilience plans to operate ZEB fleets. It also offers a roadmap for transit agencies to integrate their existing zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) transition strategies into broader resilience planning efforts.
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation published a resource sheet on Quick-Build Project Resources for Rural Transportation. Quick-build projects, also referred to as demonstration projects, are temporary installations designed to pilot street design improvements that enhance safety, accessibility, and overall functionality.
The 2025 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Public Transportation Fact Book was published, containing national aggregate statistical data covering all aspects of the transit industry.
An article in BUSRide magazine about Warranty Confidence: What Buyers Should Know When Purchasing Shuttle Buses details what to look for in a shuttle bus warranty and provides a case study of an effective bus and van warranty in a rural area.
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has published a dashboard and map of Americans who do not have cars. Data can be filtered by state and congressional district.
Google offers a new maps platform with geospatial artificial intelligence. Users can vibe code any geospatial idea to create a custom prototype, source code, and solution guide using Google Maps Platform products. The tool uses artificial intelligence models and adaptive reasoning to perform tasks, including displaying live traffic and visualizing data.
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USAging’s Strengthening Social Connection in Communities program is seeking applicants for 12-month seed grants. Applicants can apply for grants related to program replication, expansion, and cross-sector partnerships. Applications are due December 5, 2025.
The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center's (CCAM-TAC) Direct On-Site Technical Assistance program offers communities a one-day facilitated opportunity to brainstorm strategies for overcoming persistent obstacles in solving transportation issues. CCAM-TAC is seeking letters of interest from communities that would like to have them facilitate a one-day meeting with mobility management practitioners and their partners to try to solve a mobility issue that requires cross-agency coordination.
The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) is conducting a research project on Streamlining Operator Hiring Practices. TWC asks those involved with bus operator hiring at transit agencies to complete a survey. This survey should be completed by transit agency staff who have thorough knowledge of their own agency’s bus operator hiring processes. The survey deadline is December 18, 2025.
Proposals are solicited on a rolling basis by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation from community-facing entities leading local efforts around broadband. Awardees will receive standardized modeling of broadband availability, customized technology selection, cost estimates, business planning recommendations, and/or strategies to increase Internet adoption.
Nominations are being accepted for the Small Business Administration's 2026 National Small Business Week Awards, which recognize the achievements of small businesses and their contributions to America's economy. The deadline to submit nomination packages is December 8, 2025.
The University of Montana is accepting applications through December 1, 2025 for its Transportation Voucher Pilot Program. This opportunity is designed for Centers for Independent Living that are ready to build and test their own transportation voucher program. Transportation vouchers function as coupons, tickets, or IOUs that are exchanged for a ride, whether by bus, taxi, or a friend.
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H.R.5371 - Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 was signed into law on December 12, 2025. This ended the government shutdown by providing FY2026 continuing appropriations for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026.
FMCSA is proposing a new information collection on Crash Risks by Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Schedules. This research requires data to be collected for hours of service duty logs, accident and incident data, and inspection violations records. The
information will be used to examine the relative risk of crashes and inspection violations. Comments are due by January 16, 2026.
Effective December 17, 2025, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will place 4-chloromethcathinone in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
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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 5 or 6 for Hawaii (depending on daylight savings time).
National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
NCAI Annual Convention & Marketplace
Seattle, WA, November 16-21
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
2025 AASHTO Annual Meeting & Expo
Salt Lake City, UT, November 17-20
Georgia Transit Association
Georgia Transit Association Conference
Augusta, GA, November 19-21
Please visit our booth!
New
Georgetown University
Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES): Fresh from the Census Bureau Webinar
November 20, 1:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
November 20, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH)
Connected and Protected: The Power of Rural Cybersecurity Webinar
November 20, 2:00 PM
NHTSA
Safety Research Portfolio Public Meeting
Washington, DC, November 20–21
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
November 25, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
December 2, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)
Use of Operations Data and Strategies for Proactive Safety Intervention Webinar
December 2, 2:00-3:30 PM
New
McKinsey and Ride AI
What's Next for Autonomous Driving Webinar
December 3, 11:00 AM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
December 4, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
6th National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference - Wrangling Access and Mobility in Rural and Tribal Transit
Austin, TX, December 7-10
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
December 9, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Safety Council (NSC)
Frontiers of Technology - Safer People, Safer Roads Webinar
December 9, 1:00-2:00 PM
New
Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)
Hydrogen Procurement 101 Webinar
December 10, 1:30 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
December 11, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National Safety Council (NSC)
TechHub Webinar Series: Safety by the Numbers- Tracking KPIs That Power Performance and Profit
December 11, 2:00 PM
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
December 16, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
TRB
Connected Mobility Futures—Integrating Transit and Technology Webinar
December 16, 1:00-2:30 PM
National Transit Institute
Assault Awareness and Prevention for Transit Operators (Train-the-Trainer) Online Course
December 17, 1:00-4:30 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
December 18, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National Transit Institute
National Transit Database: Annual Reporting for Indian Tribes - Virtual Course
December 18-19, 1:00-4:30 PM
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
December 23, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
December 30, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
January 6, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
New
National RTAP
Tribal Transit TIPS (Tribal Innovative Performance Solutions) Roundtable: Collaborating for Holistic Mobility Solutions
January 7, 2:00-3:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
January 8, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Smart Growth America and Transportation for America
TransportationCamp
Washington, DC, January 10
TRB
TRB Annual Meeting
Washington, DC, January 11-15
We're presenting!
New
Smart Growth America
Celebrating 25 Years of Smart Growth America
Washington, DC, January 12, 5:30-8:00 PM
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
January 13, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
January 15, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
January 20, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
January 22, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Native Learning Center
8th Annual Renewable Energy & Sustainability Conference
Hollywood, FL, January 26-28
National RTAP
Website Builder Office Hours
January 27, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Intertribal Transportation Association (ITA)
ITA Annual Meeting
Oklahoma City, OK, (formerly October 27-29)
Now January 27-29
We're participating!
National RTAP
State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable
January 28, 2:00-3:00 PM
National RTAP
GTFS Office Hours
January 29, 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. To submit an event, email info@nationalrtap.org.
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