National RTAP eNews - July 31, 2025

eNews - July 17, 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

Upcoming National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group Meeting: Bus People

Upcoming Mobility Management Focused Transit Manager Peer Roundtable

New National RTAP Best Practices Spotlight Article on Supporting Scheduling Operations

U.S. DOT Request for Information on Surface Transportation Reauthorization

New Flexibility in FTA's Low or No Emission Grant Program

Upcoming National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group Meeting:

Bus People

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.

Help us decide the next book our Books in Transit Discussion Group will read. Vote here.

The Maintenance of Headway - a comic tale about a driver maintaining distance

If I'm Ever Back This Way - bus travels around America for over two decades

The New Life by Orhan Pamuk - A student takes bus trips in pursuit of a vision

Upcoming Mobility Management Focused Transit Manager Peer Roundtable

Transit Managers, please join National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips, Tribal Transit Liaison Jeremy Bell, and Rural Transit Project Manager Enjoli Dixon on August 13, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET for a Transit Manager Peer Roundtable focused on mobility management.

New National RTAP Best Practices Spotlight Article on Supporting Scheduling Operations

This new Best Practices Spotlight Article on Supporting Scheduling Operations highlights the operations and impact of demand responsive transportation (DRT) services in Clay County, Kansas, moving countywide transportation from a largely paper-based system to a more efficient, data-driven model. Since implementing RideSheet 2.5 years ago, the agency has expanded its vehicle fleet from 2 to 5 vehicles, and the number of monthly transit trips has grown more than threefold, from around 300 to 1,000.

Featured Resource

Upcoming National RTAP Events

We are holding a webinar today, July 31, 2025 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET where you can learn more about the Community Rides Grant Program, including project development, performance measures, National RTAP's Cost Allocation Calculator, and the grant application portal.

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.

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.

Apply for a National RTAP Community Rides Grant

National RTAP is pleased to announce the Community Rides Grant Program, which offers current recipients and subrecipients of FTA's Formula Grants for Rural Areas (Section 5311) program the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $100,000 for projects that develop or strengthen transportation partnerships that improve transportation access in rural communities. Download the Community Rides Grant Program request for proposals (RFP). The project duration is 12 months. The application deadline is August 29, 2025. Watch the recording and access the presentation slides and questions and answers for our webinar on July 22, 2025.

Rural Transit Day Chat Summary Available

Rural Transit Day was July 16, 2025. We held a Facebook Live Rural Transit Day Chat moderated by John Andoh, Stephanie Bushong, Stephanie Lewis, and National RTAP staff. Read the summary.

National RTAP ProcurementPRO Webinar Recording Published

National RTAP held a workshop on ProcurementPRO: Tools and Tactics on July 24, 2025. This virtual workshop provided an overview of the ProcurementPRO features, including procurement types, methods, thresholds, and an introduction to the State Portal. Access the webinar recording, presentation slides, and questions and answers.

National RTAP Bus Roadeo Toolkit Update Request for Proposals (RFP)

National RTAP will be updating its Bus Roadeo Toolkit and has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP). We held a Pre-Proposal Call on July 29, 2025. Read the Q&A document. Proposals must be received by 5:00 pm EST on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest

Our National RTAP 2025 Photo Contest: Wrap It Up is all about how you beautify your bus. We are looking for photos of visually appealing bus wraps, graphics, and decorations, including holiday embellishments. For those who enjoyed our 2024 Art of Transit Photo Contest, artistic creations are welcome. Your photo should embrace the theme - "No more boring buses!" Each transit agency may submit up to 3 photos to info@nationalrtap.org by August 22, 2025. All photos must be accompanied by a Photo Release Form.

National RTAP Site Index Updated

National RTAP updated its Site Index, which is a comprehensive linked list of pages on our website. New pages in the Site Index include the Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Form and Directory of Grant Writers.

National RTAP Directories Updated

National RTAP updated its Directory of Trainers and Directory of Grant Writers with new trainers, new biographies, and new training and grant writing topics.

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

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.

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

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 Participation in Upcoming Conferences

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

Updated National RTAP Procurement Topic Guide

National RTAP continues its annual Topic Guide update with our Procurement Topic Guide.

New resources include:

NCHRP's Practices for Transportation Agency Procurement and Management of Advanced Technologies, 2025
North Carolina DOT's Procurement File Sample Checklist
FTA's Third Party Contract Provisions Matrix

RFP for Innovative Marketing and Customer Communication Strategies for Rural Transit

Qualified proposers may submit a proposal for TCRP B-57: Innovative Marketing and Customer Communication Strategies for Rural Transit by August 14, 2025. National RTAP Knowledge and Resource Manager Cara Marcus serves on the panel for this project and has submitted the Problem Statement.

Opportunities for Rural Mobility as a Service MaaS Added to TACL

National RTAP's webinar on Opportunities for Rural Mobility as a Service MaaS has been added to the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) TACL Resources collection. View the resource.

National RTAP Presentations at the National Regional Transportation Conference Posted

The All Things National RTAP presentation by National RTAP's Enjoli Dixon and Al Benedict on Rural Resources and Funding Opportunities from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) National Regional Transportation Conference (NRTC) in Des Moines, Iowa, July 15-17 is now available for download.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

U.S. DOT issued a Request for Information on Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal that Focuses on America’s Most Fundamental Infrastructure Needs. U.S. DOT invites the public to provide ideas, comments, and information for consideration in the development of the next surface transportation authorizing legislation. The current Surface Transportation Authorization expires on September 30, 2026. Comments must be received by August 20, 2025.

FTA announced that grant recipients of FTA's Low or No Emission Grant Program will now have the flexibility to request to change their project proposals from "no emissions" to "low emissions" technology. Grant recipients interested in making a zero-emission vehicle or zero-emission infrastructure project change request, or requesting reconsideration of a previously denied request, should contact their FTA Regional Office and submit a written request detailing the requested change and the reason(s) why.

On July 17, 2025, the Secretary of Transportation published a letter to state governors asking them to take advantage of unique statutory authority and assume the Federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Webinars and Training

The National Transit Institute (NTI) is holding an in-person course on Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Familiarization in Buffalo, NY from August 26-27, 2025. The course covers electrical safety, personal protective equipment, battery charging technologies, demonstrations of technicians performing de-energization of a BEB, and other hands-on exercises.

The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC) is working with Yellow Wood Associates and Community Roots, LLC to offer “You Get What You Measure” training. This training can help organizations create outcome measures that matter through a participatory process that integrates evaluation and a focus on outcomes into the process of project design. To learn more, email Bill Wagner.

The Western TTAP is holding a Tribal Grant Writing Workshop in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 18-20, 2025. Attendees will learn how to:

Effectively search for and identify the right grant funding opportunities
Craft grant narratives that showcase the need, impact, and viability of their projects
Manage grant awards and fulfill reporting requirements to maintain funding

Publications

The New Jersey Micromobility Guide, a project of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center and the New Jersey Department of Transportation, summarizes the laws and safety best practices that can make riders safer. The Guide also explains how micromobility can safely integrate with public transit. While the laws listed in the Guide are specific to New Jersey, it could serve as a starting point for other areas developing micromobility policies.

Carsharing is a transportation model where individuals have access to a fleet of vehicles on a short-term basis. Carsharing in Rural Areas by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) outlines approaches to carsharing in rural areas, such as subsidized carshare programs and carsharing integration with Public Transit. Case studies of various carsharing models are provided.

NCHRP's Practices for Transportation Agency Procurement and Management of Advanced Technologies includes successful strategies and practices for procuring new and innovative transportation system technologies. A case study is included on a multi-agency coordination between a State DOT, a statewide transit provider, and a statewide division of strategic planning.

AI.Gov is a new federal website about artificial intelligence (AI). It includes an AI Action Plan that includes the development of AI testbeds for piloting AI systems in transportation.

Databases and Tools

The U.S. Government Publishing Office, through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), distributes government information free of cost to FDLP libraries, and the libraries provide free access for all users to this information. An interactive map lets users see all FDLP libraries in their state.

The National Zoning Atlas (NZA) is a project of Land Use Atlas, Inc. To date, over 400 people from across the ideological spectrum have collected information for, analyzed zoning texts and maps, and otherwise contributed to the NZA. Use the Zoom To filters to pick a state, metropolitan or micropolitan area, or county. Then use the Select drop-down to select a jurisdiction and view zoning data.

The Earth Fire Alliance's FireSat, a Google Research initiative, uses high-resolution multispectral satellite imagery and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide near real-time insights on wildfires.

Project ScanGov rates government websites in terms of accessibility, domain, performance, security, search engine optimization (SEO), content, security, and social media.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated its National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) with updated data on National Transit Map agencies, routes, and stops and additional topics.

The Native Learning Center's Tribal Funding Registry is a new searchable grants database for Tribes and Native-led nonprofits.

Opportunities

The University of South Florida is conducting a research study on transportation cybersecurity practices. Rural transit agencies are asked to participate in a survey through September 30, 2025 designed to identify typical components of cyber risk assessments and cyber risk mitigation strategies with a goal of providing common or best practices to peer agencies that could benefit from cyber risk assessment and mitigation details. The resultant report should be very beneficial to rural transit agencies.

TCRP is soliciting problem statements for legal research through September 15, 2025 on the legal aspects of transit and intermodal transportation programs.

Legislation

The President’s FY 2026 Discretionary Budget Request has been published. It includes additional funding for the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program (INFRA) grant program and cancellation of several grants related to green transportation.

The U.S. Department of Labor is soliciting information about prevailing pooled employer plan market practices for small businesses. The Department will consider the responses as part of a process aimed at developing a potential regulatory safe harbor or safe harbors that comprehensively encourage market participants to offer and employers to join such plans. Comments must be received by September 29, 2025.

The tax credit for businesses buying or leasing commercial electric vehicles ends on September 30, 2025.

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).

Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)

ATI Annual Conference

Quincy, MA, July 29-31

Please visit our booth!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

July 31, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

2025 APTAtech

Miami, FL, August 3-6

TRB

Rethinking Public Transit in Emergency Evacuations—Lessons from Wildfires Webinar

August 4, 12:00-1:30 PM

Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)

Easy Read Icons Webinar

August 4, 4:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)

Empowering Mobility Together: FTA Section 5310 Webinar

August 5, 3:00 PM

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making

Minneapolis, MN, August 5-7

Project ECHO, Dartmouth Health, University of New Mexico

Cannabis in the Workplace: An ECHO on Health, Safety, and Management Cohort 1 - Session 5 - Intervention, Management of Leave, Treatment, Re-entry into the Workplace

August 6, 12:00-1:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation and AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence

Rural Transportation Peer Exchange: Public Engagement Process in Rural Areas

August 7, 2:00 PM

National Transit Institute

NTD Report Declarations, Certifications, and Common Requests Webinar

August 7, 2:00-3:30 PM

Rural Progress

2050 Fest

Lititz, PA, August 9

New

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop

Denver, CO, August 10-13

New

Kansas Public Transit Association (KPTA)

KPTA 2025 Annual Meeting and Expo

Wichita, KS, August 11-13

Please visit our booth!

National Safety Council (NSC)

Road to Zero: Frontiers of Technology Webinar

August 12, 1:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

NTD Reporting Fundamentals Webinar

August 12, 2:00-3:30

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)

Empowering Mobility Together: FTA Section 5310 Webinar

August 12, 3:00 PM

New

North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program

Succeeding in Today's Grant Funded World

West Fargo, ND, August 13, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Registration deadline: August 11, 2025

National RTAP

Transit Manager Peer Roundtable - Mobility Management Focused

August 13, 2:00-3:00 PM

New

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)

CTAA Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference

St. Cloud, MN, August 13-15

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

August 14, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

TRB

Innovating AI Engagement to Shape Public Involvement Webinar

August 15, 10:00-11:30 AM

National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO)

NAMO 2025 Annual Conference & Marketplace

Williamsburg, VA, August 17-20

Washington State Transit Association (WSTA)

Washington State Public Transportation Conference, Vendor Expo, and State Roadeo

Tukwila, WA, August 18-20

Please visit our table!

New

Western TTAP

Tribal Grant Writing Workshop

Las Vegas, NV, August 18-20

Transportation Association of South Carolina (TASC)

TASC 2025 Annual Conference and Expo

Myrtle Beach, SC, August 19-21

Please visit our booth!

Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV)

2025 CTAV Conference and Expo

Roanoke, VA, August 19-21

We're participating!

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

TOM Talks

August 19, 1:00-2:30 PM

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

TMS Emerging Topics Series: AI and Machine Learning for Performing TMS Functions

August 20, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

New

National Center for Rural Road Safety

Transit as a Safety Strategy Webinar

August 21, 1:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Feonix Mobility Rising

Prescribing Access: How the Transportation Rx Supports Recovery from Substance Use Disorders and Beyond Webinar

August 21, 2:00 PM

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission (NEMTAC)

NEMTAC Transform 2025 Annual Conference

Dallas, TX, August 24-26

Please visit our table!

ITS America

ITS World Congress 2025

Atlanta, GA, August 24-28

North American Association of Transportation Safety & Health Officials, Inc. (NAATSHO)

NAATSHO Conference

Cody, WY, August 24-28

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transportation Conformity

Arlington, TX, August 25-27

Iowa State University Institute for Transportation

15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management

Chicago, IL, August 25-28

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

August 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

2025 Annual NTD Reporting Clarifications Webinar

August 26, 2:00-3:30 PM

New

National Transit Institute

Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Familiarization

Buffalo, NY, August 26-27, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

August 27, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

UKi Media & Events

ADAS & Autonomous Vehicle Technology Summit

San Jose, CA, August 27-28

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 2, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making

Portland, OR, September 2-4

Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Transportation Associations

Tri-State Transit Conference

Portland, ME, September 3-5

We're presenting and exhibiting!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 4, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE)

Planned Special Events (PSE) Spotlight Series: September 2025

September 4, 1:00-2:30 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 9, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Utah Urban Rural Specialized Transit Association (URSTA)

URSTA Conference and Roadeo

St. George, UT, September 10-13

Please visit our booth!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 11, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Safety Council (NSC)

2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo

Denver, CO, September 12-18

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Transform

Boston, MA, September 14-17

New

Zephyr and University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies

2025 Modeling Mobility Conference

September 14–17, Minneapolis, MN

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 16, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

FTA Uniform Act Basics for Transit Agency Personnel Online Course

September 18, 1:00-5:00 PM

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2025 AASHTO TransComm

Chicago, IL, September 21-24

National Transportation in Indian Country (NTICC)

NTICC 2025

Gila, River AZ, September 21-25

We're presenting and exhibiting!

Bobit Business Media

Public Transit & Technology Exchange

Scottsdale, AZ, September 22-24

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making

Phoenix, AZ, September 23-25

Terrapinn

MOVE America 2025

Detroit, MI, September 24-25

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

September 25, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)

IATR Annual Conference 2025

Nashville, TN, September 26-30

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

September 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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