eNews - March 17, 2022
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/AASHTO MTAP Host Training on Transit Insurance and Risk Management
GTFS Builder Connects Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
National RTAP Team Spotlight - Nancy Doherty
FTA Soliciting Applications for Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs
TSA Mask Mandate for Public Transportation Extended to April 18, 2022
National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP Host Risky Business: Transit Insurance and Risk Management Webinar

National RTAP and AASHTO Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) are hosting a Risky Business: Transit Insurance and Risk Management webinar on March 31, 2022 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET to provide training on two very important components of rural transit management: insurance and risk management. Participants will also learn about statewide insurance pools.

The webinar will be moderated by Mike Spadafore, Director of Mobility Management, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, and panelists are Jill Nagy, President and Managing Partner, Summers Nagy Law Offices; Brenda Schweitzer, Review Board Member, National RTAP; and Glen Griffin, Executive Director, Michigan Transit Pool (MTP).
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Launches Online Trip Planning using National RTAP GTFS Builder

Roosevelt Island is a two-mile-long island with one road (Main Street) and a population of about 12,000, so it can be thought of as “rural”. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), operates a free public transit service that makes a continuous loop with frequent stops. So, when Alexander Bores, District Leader for the 76th Assembly, started to manually add the service to Google Maps, he found the manual process difficult and tedious and thought there must be a better way. He discovered a solution with National RTAP's GTFS Builder.
Upcoming National RTAP Tribal Transit Mini-Conference and Peer Roundtable

We are holding a Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable on March 28, 2022 from 2:30-4:00 PM ET, held in conjunction with the in-person Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group’s 18th Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium as part of National RTAP’s Mini-Conference Series: Alaska 2022.

Upcoming Marketing Workshop: Step 4 - Community Based Marketing to Build Transit Ridership and Step 3 - Workshop Recording Posted

Join us and Selena Barlow of Transit Marketing LLC for our fourth virtual marketing workshop on April 5, 2022, 2:00-3:30 PM ET, on Community Based Marketing to Build Transit Ridership.

The third virtual marketing workshop on Passenger Information was held on March 10, 2022. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides.

Building Better Bus Stops Webinar Recording Posted

On March 14, 2022, we hosted a Building Better Bus Stops: Planning and Partnerships webinar that provided an overview of the Building Better Bus Stops Resource Guide, highlighted ways to incorporate transit in local plans and policies, build strategic partnerships to implement better bus stops, and provided insights and real-world examples of rural bus stop improvement projects. Access the webinar recording, presentation slides, and Q&As.

National RTAP Participation in Upcoming In-Person Conferences and Meetings

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

Upcoming National RTAP GTFS Training Series

National RTAP is holding a GTFS: Three Steps to Online Trip Planning Training Series on May 19, May 26, and June 9, 2022, 1:00-2:00 PM ET. This training walks you through National RTAP’s free GTFS Builder application, a simple tool, used in the development of GTFS data. With GTFS Builder, transit services can be published on trip planners. Learn how to get your on-demand service published.
National RTAP Team Spotlight - Nancy Doherty

National RTAP Analyst Nancy Doherty expertly manages our technology tools, including our Cost Allocation Calculator, GTFS Builder, Rural iNTD, ProcurementPRO, and Website Builder. But did you know she's designed a college athletic field and worked as a violin instructor? Read more about Nancy.

National RTAP Solicitation for New Review Board Members

National RTAP is soliciting nominations through March 31, 2022 for new Review Board members to join the Board in 2022 and 2023. There will be vacancies to fill for 2 state transit officials in fall 2022 and 2 in spring 2023. For rural or tribal transit providers there will be 3 vacancies in 2023. Read more and access the nomination form.

National RTAP Distracted Driving Topic Guide Updated

National RTAP updated its Distracted Driving Topic Guide. New resources include:

Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in June

Northwest Pennsylvania Mobility Alliance, Inc., in partnership with National RTAP, N-CATT, NCMM, SUMC, NABSA, Propane Education & Research Council, and PennTRAIN, will be hosting the Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in Erie, PA on June 15-16 2022. The Retreat has sold out, but a waiting list is available.

Join our #Every1OnTheBus Twitter Chat in April

Mark your Calendars for April 12, 2022, for the second #Every1OnTheBus Twitter Chat. The chat will be moderated by Nate Seeskin, Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), and Marcela Moreno, National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT). RSVP for the chat.

Welcome New Alabama RTAP Manager

National RTAP extends a warm welcome to new Alabama RTAP Manager Penny Orr. If you would like to get in touch with Penny or any other RTAP Managers, visit our Directory of State RTAP Managers.

Save the Date - Upcoming Tribal Transit Training Conference

National RTAP is planning a Tribal Transit Training Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona on June 27-28, 2022. More information and registration to come!
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
FTA announced the opportunity to apply for approximately $1.1 billion in competitive grants under the fiscal year 2022 Low or No Emission Grant Program and approximately $372 million in FY 2022 funds under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. Proposals must be submitted through grants.gov by May 31, 2022.
Register for upcoming webinars:

FTA posted 16 revised pandemic relief Frequently Asked Questions regarding the expiration of availability of Section 5307 and 5311 formula funds for operating expenses to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic at 100% federal share (CA25, ER1, ER2, ER4, ER11, ER12, ER14, ER16, CE2, CE4, CE5, CE7, CE9, CE12, CE18, and AD17).

FTA will host a webinar on the Tribal Transit Funding Opportunity at 2:00 PM ET on March 24, 2022. The webinar will cover project eligibility, evaluation criteria, and program requirements. No pre-registration is necessary; click on the webinar link on the Tribal Transit Program webpage to join the webinar.

U.S. DOT and U.S. Department of Labor signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 7, 2022 to promote cooperative efforts to create and support pathways to millions of good-paying infrastructure and transportation jobs.

A Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Interagency Coordination and Collaboration for the Protection of Tribal Treaty Rights and Reserved Rights was published by 17 federal agencies, including U.S. DOT. The signatories signed the MOU to affirm their commitment to protect tribal treaty rights, reserved rights, and similar tribal rights to natural and cultural resources. U.S. DOT also signed a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Interagency Coordination and Collaboration for the Protection of Indigenous Sacred Sites.

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation invites public comment on projects, issues, or topics that U.S. DOT should consider through the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council through April 8, 2022.

Participate in a U.S. DOT Research Development & Technology Strategic Plan Call for Ideas on March 18, 2022 at 1:30 PM ET. U.S. DOT welcomes the views of the transportation research community on their vision, strategic goals, and priorities, and how research programs can advance the transportation system of the present and future.

FTA invites public comment through April 14, 2022 on initial guidance proposals to implement changes made to the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.

The deadline for applications to serve on the FTA Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) has been extended through April 8, 2022.
Webinars and Training
Several upcoming webinars will focus on the ITS4US Integrated Complete Trip Deployment Plan (all at 2:00-3:30 PM ET):

Easterseals Project Action Consulting offers many travel training courses this season, including Introduction to Travel Training, Travel Training Assessments: Determining Student Competency, Elements of a Travel Training Program, and more.

NADTC's newest virtual course, Building Skills for Successful Transportation Program Delivery, aims to improve skills needed to develop accessible materials and collect data from surveys and other available tools for transportation programs. The course takes place between April 13 to May 4, 2022.
Publications
TCRP's Guide to Joint Development for Public Transportation Agencies outlines how transportation agencies can plan, implement, and manage a joint development project and provides examples of successful projects, such as hub stations and district value capture.

National Center for Applied Transit Technology's (N-CATT) Data Practices Guidebook addresses the state of the practice and emerging trends in data collection, management, and use of open data, and provides prompts and checklists to guide small urban, rural, and tribal transit agencies on how to use data for planning, performance monitoring, partnerships, access, and equity.

National Center for Mobility Management's (NCMM) Leveraging Mobility and Transportation to Support Community Needs by Building Partnerships describes several innovative partnerships and coordination efforts between housing and social service organizations and transit agencies.
Databases and Tools
YouTube has developed new copyright tools for its users: a copyright match tool and a content ID tool.

The Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF) Public Transit Map displays the primary campuses of 1,373 community and technical colleges. Data includes the nearest transit stop to the colleges and the distance to the stop.

The Council on Environmental Quality's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool identifies disadvantaged communities that are underserved and overburdened by pollution.
Opportunities
The USDA RISE program supports jobs accelerator partnerships to improve the ability of distressed rural and energy communities to create high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, and help rural communities identify and maximize local assets. Applications may be submitted through April 19, 2022.

Through April 8, 2022, State DOTs may nominate up to three projects in the America’s Transportation Awards competition. This competition, sponsored by AASHTO, AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlights the exceptional projects completed by State DOTs that make a difference in their communities.

TCRP is seeking potential synthesis study topics for the 2022 Synthesis Program. The deadline for the upcoming submission cycle is March 18, 2022. TCRP is also soliciting problem statements identifying research needs through June 17, 2022.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services invites public comment through March 29, 2022 on a draft of the Vaccines Federal Implementation Plan 2021-2025.
Legislation
At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommendation, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the security directive for mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs through April 18, 2022.

FMCSA amended Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to increase the area on the interior of commercial motor vehicle windshields where certain vehicle safety technology devices may be mounted. This final rule is effective May 6, 2022.

A Joint Secretarial Order on Fulfilling the Trust Responsibility to Indian Tribes in the Stewardship of Federal Lands and Waters was signed by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. This order established that the agencies will manage federal lands in a manner that seeks to protect the interests of federally recognized tribes.

A Memorandum on Maximizing Assistance to Respond to COVID-⁠19 published on March 1, 2022 outlined the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Guard in providing support and assistance during the pandemic. A Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency Concerning the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-⁠19) Pandemic was published on February 18, 2022.

FMCSA withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking to allow States to permit a third-party skills test examiner to administer the Commercial Driver’s License skills test to applicants to whom the examiner has also provided skills training. FMCSA also withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking to allow driver applicants to take the commercial driver’s license general and specialized knowledge tests in a state (the testing state) other than the applicant’s state of domicile.
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.

ITS America
March 17, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults
March 17, 1:00-2:00 PM

FTA
March 17, 1:00-2:30 PM

National Safety Council (NSC)
March 17, 2:00-3:00 PM

Native Learning Center
March 17, 2:00-3:30 PM

U.S. DOT
March 18, 1:30 PM

Population Association of America
March 18, 12:00-1:00 PM

Portland State University Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)
March 18, 2:30-3:30 PM

Q'Straint / Sure-Lok 
March 22, 12:00-1:15 PM

National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID), Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
March 22, 1:00-2:00 PM

ITS America
March 22, 2:00-3:00 PM

FTA
March 22, 2:00-3:30 PM

Climate Communications Initiative
March 22, 3:00-4:00 PM

Lead Center, Office of Disability Employment Policy
March 22, 3:00-4:30 PM

Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers (NATP)
Grand Island, NE, March 22-23
Please visit our info table!

UMass Transportation Center
March 22-23

Transit Workforce Center (TWC)
March 23, 1:00 PM

FTA 
March 24, 2:00 PM

NADTC
March 24, 2:00-3:00 PM

U.S. Census Bureau
March 24, 3:00-4:30 PM
No preregistration - the link to join is on the document

National RTAP
March 28, 2:30-4:00 PM

Arkansas Transit Association
North Little Rock, AR, March 29
Please visit our info table!

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
March 29, 12:00-1:00 PM

Alaska Tribal Transportation Working Group
Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium (see our agenda for our Mini-Conference Series: Alaska 2022 on March 28 and April 1)
Anchorage, AK, March 29-31
We're participating.

Montana DOT Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC)
March 30, 1:00-2:00 PM

National Center for Sustainable Transportation (NCST)
March 30, 1:00-2:00 PM

FTA
March 30, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

NADO Research Foundation 
April 5, 2:00-3:15 PM

National RTAP
April 5, 2:00-3:30 PM

Intelligent Transport
April 6-8

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
April 7, 2:00-3:30 PM

APTA
Denver, CO, April 9-11

University of Minnesota Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Outcome Measurement
April 11, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL)
April 12, 2:00-3:00 PM

U.S. DOT
April 12, 2:00-3:30 PM

Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT)
Ann Arbor, MI and Online, April 12-13, 2022

Vision Zero Network
Bismarck, ND and Virtual, April 12-13

AzTA & ADOT
Tuscon, AZ, April 12-14
Please visit our booth!

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
April 13, 2:00-3:30 PM EST

Q'Straint / Sure-Lok 
April 14, 12:00-1:30 PM

N-CATT
April 19, 2:00 PM

Michigan Public Transit Association 
Mt. Pleasant, MI, April 19–20
Please visit our info table!

HIRTA Public Transit
April 26, 10:00 AM - 4:45 PM

U.S. DOT
April 26, 2:00-3:30 PM

New Jersey Transit Association
Atlantic City, NJ, April 26-28
Please visit our info table!

U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

APTA
Columbus, OH, May 1-4

Q'Straint / Sure-Lok
May 10, 12:00-1:30 PM

U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 10, 2:00-3:30 PM

CTAA
Louisville, KY, May 10-14
Please visit our booth!

Native Learning Center
May 13, 1:00-4:00 PM

National Transit Institute
May 16-19, 1:00-3:30 PM

Shared-Use Mobility Center
Chicago, IL, May 17-18

Government Fleet
Detroit, MI, May 23-26

National RTAP
May 19, May 26, and June 9, 2022, 1:00-2:00 PM

TRB 
Irvine, CA, May 31-June 2

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.
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