National RTAP eNews - October 9, 2025

eNews - October 9, 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

National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest Winners Announced - Wrap It Up

National RTAP Technical Brief Clarifies Guidance for a Government Shutdown

Upcoming National RTAP Webinars and Roundtables on Grant Writing, GTFS & RideSheet

National RTAP Tribal and Rural Mini-Conference in Rapid City, SD Next Week

Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF) Accepting Grant Applications

National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest Winners Announced - Wrap It Up

Our National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest – Wrap It Up – is all about how you beautify your bus, including visually appealing bus wraps, graphics, decorations, holiday embellishments, and artistic creations. The photos embrace the theme - "No more boring buses!" The photos were judged by a team on the following criteria: photo quality, artistic design, originality, and creative depiction of this year’s theme: Wrap It Up.

Winners received cash awards and plaques, and all entries also received certificates. All entries will be showcased on our social media platforms and displayed at one or more upcoming conferences. See our Photo Contest web page for larger photos and our Facebook album for all the entries. Congratulations to this year's winners and to everyone who entered!

First Place - Palmetto Breeze - LRTA

These 2 photos tied for 1st place.

Photographer: Ian Acuna-Carranza

"See You Soon" and "Wrapped in Loggerheads"

Second Place - Eastern Sierra Transit (ESTA)

Photographer: Salma Rodriguez

"Hooked on Transit"

Third Place - Monroe County Transit Authority - Pocono Pony

Photographer: Helen Yanulus, Grants and Communications Manager

"Peace, Love and Jasmine"

Brazos Transit District Bus with Grinch Mascot

Honorable Mention - Brazos Transit District (BTD)

Photographer: Wendy Weedon, Chief Executive Officer

"The Who-Ville Trolley"

Honorable Mention - The Link Public Transit - Mid-Columbia Economic Development District

Photographer: Lisa Malcolm, Bus Driver for The Link Public Transit/MCEDD

"Rollin' on the River"

National RTAP Technical Brief Clarifies Guidance for a Government Shutdown

Guidance for Rural and Tribal Transit Agencies During a Government Shutdown is a National RTAP Technical Brief to assist rural and Tribal transit agencies to better understand the activities that can and cannot take place during a full or partial government shutdown. The brief also provides guidance on what transit agencies should expect and actions they can take before and after a shutdown to minimize the impact.

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) also published Understanding Federal Government Shutdown Impacts on Tribal Nations.

Featured Resource

The National RTAP technical brief was updated in 2025 with U.S. DOT's Plans for Operations During a Lapse in Annual Appropriations By Operating Administration (please see the U.S. DOT and FTA Updates section in this newsletter for more information about that resource).

National RTAP is holding a Mobility Management Peer Roundtable on Grant Writing Using AI Assistance on October 15, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET. This session will dive into how AI can support rural transit and mobility management professionals in crafting compelling grant applications.

Join us for a Let’s Dial-up Accurate GTFS Data for NTD Reporting and Rider Confidence Webinar on November 5, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This webinar will support rural transit agencies as they begin their GTFS updates. Attendees will learn how to conduct a data quality review and how to update GTFS data feeds.

The Association of Mobility Managers (AMM) is holding a webinar on National RTAP's RideSheet: Dispatching Technology for Rural Transit on October 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM ET. Participants will learn about a pilot in Kansas from Michael Wilson and Michelle Coats.

Upcoming National RTAP Events

Please join National RTAP in Rapid City, South Dakota, on October 14-16, 2025 for a Tribal and Rural Transit Mini-Conference with three days of Tribal and rural transit training. The conference will be held at the Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City/Curio Collection by Hilton.

The mini-conference kicks off with a plenary roundtable discussion of agency best practices and challenges, then continues with 90-minute breakout sessions covering a wide range of transit-specific and hot topics by experts in Tribal and rural transit program development, including, but not limited to: Transit Planning I and II, long range transportation planning, National Environmental Policy Act I and II, procurement and National RTAP’s ProcurementPRO, grant writing, the latest research on right-sizing your fleets, and how transit agencies can “do more with less” in this new environment of uncertain future federal funding.

There's always something new at National RTAP! Register for a Fall for New National RTAP Resources webinar on October 14, 2025, 2:00-3:00 PM, to learn about some of our newest resources, including the Rural and Tribal Transit Compendium of Best Practices, 5310 Programs List, and others.

Join us on November 12, 2025 from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET for Mobility Management Roundtable: Guidance & Tips for Rural Travel Training, a practical discussion on designing and delivering effective travel training in rural communities. Learn tips for tailoring instruction to older adults, individuals with disabilities, and new riders, and explore creative, low-cost strategies for outreach and engagement.

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.

Missouri RTAP Newsletter Cites National RTAP

The Missouri RTAP 2025 third quarter newsletter cited several new National RTAP resources: the Rural and Tribal Transit Compendium of Best Practices, the updated GTFS Builder Guidebook, Rural and Urban Transportation Coordination, and others. The newsletter also included our upcoming Tribal and Rural Transit Mini-Conference and our Technical Assistance Conference.

Boulder County MAC Cites National RTAP

In its September 2025 newsletter, the Boulder County Mobility and Access Coalition (MAC) cited National RTAP's Fall for New Resources webinar.

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. The Registration and Agenda and Vendor Prospectus are now available.

The Early Bird Deadline to register is October 17, 2025. (Please note the date change.)

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 provided a conference justification letter that you are welcome to use if you need approval. If you click on the Justification Letter button in this newsletter or on our website, the letter will download to your computer.

A detailed agenda with the names of the presenters is coming soon!

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 Participation in Upcoming Conferences

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

New National RTAP National Transit Database (NTD) Hot Topic Guide

National RTAP continues its annual Hot Topic Guide update with our National Transit Database (NTD) Hot Topic Guide.

Our Hot Topics are informational technical assistance resources on some of the most highly requested from National RTAP customers within the past year. Resources include:

FTA's NTD Annual Reporting User Guide
National RTAP's iNTD Webinar
National Transit Institute Course on National Transit Database: Annual Reporting for Indian Tribes

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

U.S. DOT published its Plans for Operations During a Lapse in Annual Appropriations By Operating Administration on September 30, 2025. There are no plans to furlough FTA employees. FTA also has sufficient liquidating cash to support several months of reimbursements.

U.S. DOT published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking with a provision to require a directly observed urine collection for drug and alcohol testing in situations where oral fluid tests are currently required, but oral fluid testing is not yet available. Comments must be submitted by November 15, 2025.

FTA published a Safety Bulletin on National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting Deadlines for Major and Non-Major Safety and Security Events on September 25, 2025. The Bulletin explains:

The Major Event Report (S&S-40) is due no later than 30 days after the event date (note that the report may be submitted any time during the 30-day window).
The Non-Major Monthly Summary Report (S&S-50) is due by the end of each month.

Webinars and Training

TRB is holding several upcoming webinars in October, including Impacts and Responses to Drug Use on Transit and Planning Bus Operator Workstation and Barrier Designs for Health and Safety.

MCI Academy offers a Motorcoach Technician Apprenticeship Program that is registered and certified by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Publications

To learn about successful workforce development strategies paratransit providers have used, the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) research team conducted interviews involving 22 individuals across 13 paratransit systems in nine states. TWC's Special Report: Challenges and Strategies in Paratransit Workforce Development discusses wages, benefits, schedules, recruitment, career pathways, and advancement.

NCHRP's A Guide to Applying the Safe System Approach to Transportation Planning, Design, and Operations presents information for applying the Safe System approach among state departments of transportation and other transportation agencies. An example of a safe system approach is raised pedestrian beds at transit stop crossings.

TCRP's Transit Recovery in the Aftermath of Severe Weather Events: Current State of Practice documents the current state of practice around transit recovery plans and provides examples of short- and long-term recovery. The focus is on bus operations in U.S. passenger public transportation systems, recognizing also that transit agencies may offer multiple types of services in addition to bus services, such as streetcars, trolleys, and paratransit.

The University of Illinois Chicago's report on Return on Investment for Rural Demand-Response Transit in Illinois demonstrated that rural transit generates positive returns on investment in moderate and high transit dependency scenarios, and 2 out of the 3 case studies in the report found positive returns on investment even in the lowest transit dependency scenario. The report illustrates the benefits of rural transit, which showed the investments exceeded the state’s financial contribution, generating $4 for every $1 spent.

Databases and Tools

FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) was recently updated. Updates included improved navigation and reporting categories and a way to file complaints against property brokers.

Government Technology published an interactive map displaying states, counties, and cities that are leveraging technology as a strategic tool to better deliver services that residents need.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated its National Transportation Statistics (NTS), with new data on principal means of transportation to work, vehicle passenger revenue per passenger-mile, and other topics.

The Rural Health Information Hub provides charts and data visualizations by topic, type, and state. Topics include population health, rural and urban differences, and others.

Opportunities

The 2026 Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF) is accepting applications until the deadline on January 15, 2026. Eligible projects include safety studies, infrastructure improvements, and other topics.

The International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC), the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and Beverly Scott Associates are conducting a research project funded by TCRP titled Enhancing Transit Organizational Culture to Improve Employee Psychological Health and Safety, Recruitment, and Retention. ITLC invites responses to a survey as part of the project to identify practices at transit agencies that impact organizational culture and workers’ psychological health and safety. The survey deadline is October 15, 2025.

The International Association of Transport Regulators, in collaboration with the World Road Association Technical Committee 1.1, invites interested individuals to participate in a survey on the future of transport and regulatory agencies.

Foursquare ITP and MLD Services are conducting research with TCRP to highlight challenges and best practices related to CDL testing and training for public transportation vehicle operators. The results of their survey will help the research team identify key issues and develop a toolkit of solutions for practitioners to improve CDL testing and training processes. The survey will be open until November 7, 2025.

Legislation

FMCSA published an Interim Final Rule on limiting authority for State Driver’s Licensing Agencies to issue commercial driving credentials to foreign-domiciled individuals. Comments are due November 28, 2025.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published Emergency Directive 25-03: Identify and Mitigate Potential Compromise of Cisco Devices. CISA directed federal agencies to account for all Cisco ASA and Firepower devices, collect forensics and assess compromise via CISA-provided procedures and tools, disconnect end-of-support devices, and upgrade devices that will remain in service.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued eight new safety recommendations. These recommendations include performance standards for collision avoidance technology in commercial vehicles, requirements for driver monitoring systems in commercial vehicles, and more rigorous interior fire safety standards for motorcoaches.

FMCSA is renaming its National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB) the FMCSA Complaint Center Records. Submit comments on or before October 31, 2025.

NHTSA issued two recalls regarding a fire risk warning for certain New Flyer of America, Inc. and Motor Coach Industries vehicles.

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).

ADA Guru

ADA Compliance Training

Honolulu, HI, October 7-9

Please Visit our Table!

Radically Rural (RR)

Radically Rural Summit

Keene, NH, October 7-9

National RTAP

Tribal Transit TIPS (Tribal Innovative Performance Solutions) Roundtable - Identifying Needs & Advancing Coordinated Solutions

October 8, 2:00-3:00 PM

Florida RTAP

Cultivating Well-Being in Transit—Stress Management, Work-Life Balance & Mental Health Webinar

October 9, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 9, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Native Learning Center

Harnessing AI for Purpose-Driven Grant Writing Webinar

October 9, 2:00-3:30 PM

Eno Center for Transportation

Responding to Policy Changes and Preparing for Reauthorization Webinar

October 10, 2:00-2:45 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

TRB

Impacts and Responses to Drug Use on Transit Webinar

October 14, 1:00-2:00 PM

Association of Mobility Managers (AMM)

RideSheet: Dispatching Technology for Rural Transit Webinar

October 14, 3:00 PM

National RTAP

Tribal and Rural Transit Mini-Conference

Rapid City, South Dakota, October 14-16

Forth

Forth Roadmap Conference

Detroit, MI, October 14-16

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)

2025 NADO Annual Training Conference

Salt Lake City, UT, October 14-17

National RTAP

Mobility Management Peer Roundtable: Grant Writing Using AI Assistance

October 15, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

New

ITS America

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Accelerator Deployment Concept Series - Texas A&M Transportation Institute Webinar

October 15, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 16, 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

October 16, 1:00-2:30 PM

Alaska Federation of Natives

Alaska Federation of Natives Convention

Anchorage, AK, October 16-18

Connecticut Association for Community Transportation (CACT)

2025 Annual Statewide CACT Transportation Expo

Newington, CT, October 21

Please visit our table!

New

Native Learning Center

The Pre-Planning Advantage: Winning Federal Grants in a Shortened Application Cycle

October 21, 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM

New

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

Infrastructure Readiness for Automated Vehicles: Guidelines and Case Study Insights Webinar

October 21, 12:30-2:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Bobit Business Media

Fleet Forward Conference

San Diego, CA, October 21-23

New

Oklahoma Transit Association

Oklahoma Transit Association 2025 Annual Conference

Tulsa, OK, October 21–24

Please visit our booth!

New

TRB

Planning Bus Operator Workstation and Barrier Designs for Health and Safety Webinar

October 22, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

New

MassDOT

Innovation Webinar: Measuring Access to Improve Public Health – Phase II

October 22, 2:00 PM

Southwest Transit Association (SWTA)

SWTA 2025 DC Advocacy Summit

Washington, DC, October 22-24

Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute of North Dakota State University Transportation Learning Network

De-Escalation Training For Persons in Crisis Virtual Learning Course

October 23, 10:30 AM- 12:30 PM

The registration deadline is October 20, 2025

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

TRB

Using Snapshots to Advance Transportation Planning Webinar

October 24, 1:00-2:30 PM

Transit Mobility Alliance

Transit Mobility Alliance Conference

Phoenix, AZ, October 26-29

Mpact

Mpact Transit + Community conference

Portland, OR, October 26-29

Intertribal Transportation Association (ITA)

ITA Annual Meeting

Oklahoma City, OK, October 27-29

We're participating!

National Transit Institute

Enhancing Your Transit Asset Management Program with Lifecycle Management Online Course

October 27-29, 1:00-4:30 PM

United South and Eastern Tribes (USET)

USET Annual Meeting

Williamsburg, VA, October 27-30

We're presenting!

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

October 28, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2025 AASHTO Safety Summit and Peer Exchange

New Orleans, LA, October 28-30

U.S. Access Board

Public Meeting of the U.S. Access Board

October 29, 1:30-3:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

October 30, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Oregon Transit Association

Oregon Transit Association Conference

Seaside, OR, November 2-5

Please visit our booth!

New

The Transportation Alliance

Mobilize 2025

Las Vegas, NV, November 3-6

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

November 3-6, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

November 3-6, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 4, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database 2024-2025 Data Products Update Webinar

November 4, 2:00-3:30 PM

New

Health Outreach Partners

Access to Transportation: Strategies and Solutions for Improving Care - Community Of Practice

November 4, 12, 18, and 25, 2:00 PM

National RTAP

Let’s Dial-up Accurate GTFS Data for NTD Reporting and Rider Confidence Webinar

November 5, 2:00-3:00 PM

New

University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies (CTS)

2025 CTS Transportation Research Conference

Minneapolis, MN, November 6

Registration deadline: October 31, 2025

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 6, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

Procurement I: Orientation to Transit Procurement

Cleveland, OH, November 10-13, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 11, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Mobility Management Roundtable: Guidance & Tips for Rural Travel Training

November 12, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gerontological Society of America

GSA 2025

Boston, MA, November 12-15

We're presenting!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 13, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

Driving Transportation Innovation: Insights from Pooled Fund Studies Webinar

November 13, 1:00-3:00 PM

National Transit Institute

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

November 13, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

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

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Western Community Assessment Network

Accessible Rural Communities Solutions Roundtable

November 18, 2:30-5:30 PM

New

Purdue University

Food Security, Access, and Health Outcomes in Rural America: Challenges and Policy Pathways Webinar

November 19, 2:00 PM

Georgia Transit Association

Georgia Transit Association Conference

Augusta, GA, November 19-21

Please visit our booth!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 20, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

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

New

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Paratransit Management and Operations Online Course

December 1-4, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

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 RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 4, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

6th National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference - Wrangling Access and Mobility in Rural and Tribal Transit

Austin, TX, December 7-10

New

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making - Virtual Course

December 8-11, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

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 RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 11, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 16, 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

December 16, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

National Transit Institute

Crisis Communications for Transit Managers Online Course

December 16-17, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

National Transit Institute

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

December 17, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database: Annual Reporting for Indian Tribes - Virtual Course

December 18-19, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 30, 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.

Calendar of Events

National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | info@nationalrtap.org | nationalrtap.org

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