eNews - November 21, 2024

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

Introducing a New National RTAP Technology Tool - RideSheet

Updated National RTAP Transit Acronym Dictionary

NOFOs for U.S. DOT RAISE and FTA Bus Safety and Accessibility Research Program

FTA Extension of Partial Buy America Waiver for Vans and Minivans

New FTA/CMS Medicaid Transportation Coverage & Coordination Fact Sheet

Introducing a New National RTAP Technology Tool - RideSheet

National RTAP introduces its newest technology tool - RideSheet. RideSheet is a simple, spreadsheet-based tool for operating and reporting on small demand-response transportation services.

RideSheet supports rural, small urban, and urban specialized services ready to move away from paper, whiteboards, and ad-hoc spreadsheets and move to systematic and accessible tracking tools. RideSheet is a database for tracking trips, runs, customers, drivers, vehicles, and services.

Please join us for a webinar on January 21, 2025, 2:00-3:00 PM to learn about RideSheet.

U.S. DOT released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for its FY 2025 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program. RAISE funds planning and constructing surface transportation infrastructure. FY 2024 Projects of Merit must email RAISEgrants@dot.gov by December 2, 2024 if they want their FY 2024 application considered for award. For Round 2, All interested applicants must submit applications by January 30, 2025.

FTA published a Notice of Funding Availability for its Bus Safety and Accessibility Research Program under the Public Transportation Innovation Program. The program goal is to make existing and new buses safer for their operators and vulnerable road users, and safer and more accessible for their passengers. Submissions are due January 17, 2025.

Effective November 18, 2024, FTA extended its partial, time-limited, general nonavailability waiver from the requirements of Buy America for five years, or upon publication of a rescission notice if FTA determines that a fully Buy America-compliant vehicle has become available, whichever occurs first. 

FTA and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created a Medicaid Transportation Coverage & Coordination Fact Sheet to guide transportation coordination between state Medicaid agencies and State Departments of Transportation. The fact sheet helps clarify and encourage partnership at the state level and includes commonly asked questions and relevant resources. 

U.S. DOT developed the Rural Grant Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Federal Transportation Funding to guide potential applicants in identifying and navigating these discretionary opportunities for rural transportation projects. The Toolkit includes sections on the DOT Discretionary Grants Dashboard, federal funding and financing, the grant application process, and other topics.

FTA began a series of webinars to explain changes in its 9040 and 9070 Circulars. Recordings are available at:

• C 9040 Rural Areas Formula Grants Guidance Session 1 Circular & Program Overview
• C 9040 Rural Areas Formula Grants Guidance Session 2 Program Development & Management
• C 9070 Enhanced Mobility Programs Guidance Session 1 Circular & Program Overview
• C 9070 Enhanced Mobility Programs Guidance Session 2 Program Management

You will notice in the Upcoming Events section that we are highlighting new webinars and training as we add them to each newsletter now. Some of the new ones we've added include:

• ITS America's From Concept to Reality - Utilizing Connected Data Management Strategies to Advance Transportation Infrastructure Webinar
• TRB's Empowering Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Sensory Disabilities Webinar
• NREL's 2024 Transportation Annual Technology Baseline Update Webinar

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) offers a number of free online courses on Census Transportation Planning Products, including data tabulations, geography, margin of error, and others.

In the National Center for Applied Transit Technology's (N-CATT) Guidebook on Helping Users Navigate Your Agency’s Website, information and guidance are provided on website structure, site navigation, breadcrumb trails, content, visual guidelines, accessibility, and processes.

Transit Planning 4 All's (TP4A) Steering Towards Inclusion: Lessons Learned on Steering Committees for Inclusive Transit Planning brief explores inclusive strategies and lessons learned for developing steering committees that increase trust, strengthen communication, and improve coordinated transportation services for older adults and persons with disabilities. The brief discusses forming and leading a steering committee, steering committee diversity, and compensation of members.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) published a brief on Resources on Rides for Employment for Older Adults and People with Disabilities. It includes mini case studies and resources for ride-to-work programs, vanpools, and other transportation services to help workers access transportation.

In Autonomous Shuttle Implementation and Best Practices, researchers from the Mineta Transportation Institute analyze data related to 120 existing deployments of autonomous shuttles in the U.S. and other countries, looking at safety, operational, economic, and policy-related issues, and provide recommended best practices for deployment of autonomous shuttles.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides a Data Explorer where users can select Transportation as a Content Area. Indicators can include Commute Time or Types of Transportation to Work. For example, a query with these options could display a map of Tribal areas where adults over 16 years old took public transportation to work from 2018-2022.

The Thriving Communities Network (TCN) is a Federal interagency effort to coordinate place-based technical assistance and capacity-building resources in urban, rural, and Tribal communities experiencing a history of economic distress and systemic disinvestment. Users can filter by location, zoom in, or open a data table.

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, released the 2024 Transportation Annual Technology Baseline Update, which provides detailed data, estimates, and assumptions for current and future vehicle and fuel technologies in the United States through 2050.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, in collaboration with the HHS Office for Civil Rights, developed a downloadable Security Risk Assessment Tool to help organizations comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule. The tool is a desktop application that walks users through the HIPAA security risk assessment process using a wizard-based approach.

Reconnecting America provides an interactive map of state, regional, and local programs that fund transit-oriented development plans and projects. Clicking on the buttons displays information about the programs. There are also tabs for state, regional, and local programs displayed alphabetically.

The AARP Livability Index™ Top 100 measures communities and neighborhoods in the U.S. for the key amenities and services that affect the quality of life for people of all ages on topics that include transportation. Data are grouped by population size, including 5,000-24,999 people.

METRO Magazine is accepting submissions for its 2025 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Operator of the Year and American Bus Association (ABA) Innovative Operator awards through December 6, 2024.

The Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center offers an Equipment Loan and Help Desk for Vehicle to Everything (V2X) and connected vehicle deployments. Organizations can borrow devices and get help with setup, maintenance, and data analysis.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) Commit to Connect Initiative, in collaboration with engAGED: The National Resource Center for Engaging Older Adults, is launching a Call for Innovations to identify model interventions, programs, and services addressing social isolation and loneliness. Submissions are due December 13, 2024.

FHWA published Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program Interim Guidance, which provides information and guidance on eligibility, transfer, and other CMAQ Program requirements. New project and program-eligible groupings for CMAQ funding include vehicle/fuel technology (such as alternative fuel vehicles and diesel engine replacements/retrofits), and improved public transportation (such as transit facilities, bus replacements, and service expansion). Comments must be received by January 6, 2025. 

The Build America Bureau and FHWA proposed guidance to help the public understand statutory requirements to evaluate the appropriateness of using public-private partnerships to deliver infrastructure projects. Comments on Evaluation of the Appropriateness of Public-Private Partnership Project Delivery Including Value for Money or Comparable Analyses; Bipartisan Infrastructure Law must be submitted by December 31, 2024.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network began accepting beneficial ownership information reports. The Corporate Transparency Act requires many companies doing business in the U.S. to report information about the individuals who own or control them. Reporting companies created or registered to do business in the U.S. before January 1, 2024 must file by January 1, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business-Cooperative Service made changes to help simplify and streamline the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seeking public input through November 29, 2024 on its draft guidance for federal agencies on broadening public participation and community engagement and its draft outline of a toolkit to help agencies plan and conduct meaningful public engagement.

FMCSA amended its regulations by making technical corrections throughout the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The Agency also made a change to its rules of organization, procedures, and practice. Petitions for Reconsideration of this final rule must be submitted to the FMCSA Administrator no later than December 18, 2024.

FMCSA also proposed amendments to its property broker rules to revise the regulatory text to make clear that brokers have a regulatory obligation to provide transaction records to the transacting parties on request. Comments are due January 21, 2025.

Effective January 17, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency will facilitate compliance with the requirements of the Waste Emissions Charge in the Clean Air Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program. This program requires the EPA to impose and collect an annual charge on methane emissions exceeding specified waste emissions thresholds.

A Final Rule on Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees increased the annual salary threshold under which non-exempt workers were eligible for overtime pay from $35,568 to $43,888 in July 2024 and was going to increase it to $58,656 in January 2025. A U.S. District Court Final Judgement overturned this on November 15, 2024 and the original $35K threshold will now be back in effect.

NTHSA extended the comment period to December 18, 2024 for its proposed rule on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards - Pedestrian Head Protection.

Effective January 21, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) will update its regulations governing its Disaster Loan Program by revising the definition of contiguous counties and clarifying the timeline for a governor's request to be delivered to an SBA Disaster Assistance Field Operations Center. Comments are due December 20, 2024.

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).



New

FTA

Advancing Safety Risk Management and Safety Assurance Workshop

November 21-22

TRB 

Evolving the Practice of Benefit-Cost Analysis Webinar

November 21, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

November 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

U.S. DOT

Innovative Tools for Transportation Data Collection and Sharing in Tribal Communities Webinar

November 21, 1:00-2:30 PM

Broadband USA

Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities Applicant Webinar: Consolidated Budget Form

November 21, 2:00 PM

New

ITS America

From Concept to Reality - Utilizing Connected Data Management Strategies to Advance Transportation Infrastructure Webinar

November 21, 2:00-3:00 PM

New

TRB 

Empowering Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Sensory Disabilities Webinar

November 26, 12:00-1:30 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

November 26, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

2024 Transportation Annual Technology Baseline Update Webinar

December 3, 11:00 AM

New

National Safety Council (NSC)

Understanding the Challenges for Older Drivers Webinar

December 3, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE)

AV Safety InfoShare Workshop

McLean, VA, December 3-4

New

FTA Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS)

TRACS Public Meeting

Washington DC and Virtual, December 4-5

Requests to attend must be received by November 29, 2024.

Georgia Transit Association (GTA)

2024 GTA Annual Conference

Columbia, GA, December 4-6  

Please visit our booth!

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 5, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

CTS Webinar: Expanding the Transportation Workforce

December 5, 2:00-3:30 PM

New

Great Lakes ADA Center

Accessible Bus and Van Transportation Webinar

December 5, 2:30-4:00 PM

New

Center for Transportation Studies, Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)

CTS Webinar: Unlocking Autonomous Transportation Potential—Key Insights from the goMARTI Shuttle Pilot

December 6, 2:30-4:00 PM

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Safety and Risk Management Seminar

Atlanta, GA, December 8-11

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Transit Ballot Initiatives Workshop

Cincinnati, OH, December 9-11

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute

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

December 10, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

FTA

TAM Webinar: Resource Updates and Learning Opportunities

December 10, 3:00 PM

National Transit Institute

Crisis Communications for Transit Managers Online Course

December 10-11, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute

Ridership Forecasting with STOPS for Transit Project Planning

Durham, NC, December 10-12

Broadband USA

Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program for Native Entities Applicant Webinar: Additional Funding & Other Certifications

December 11, 3:00 PM

New

U.S. Census Bureau

Census Bureau Tribal Consultation

December 11, 3:00-4:30 PM

Q'Straint

Q'Straint: Q'LIVE Wheelchair Securement Training Webinar

December 12, 12:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 12, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

U.S. Access Board

Preliminary Findings on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Disability Community and AI Practitioners Webinar

December 12, 2:00-3:30 PM

National Transit Institute

Violence in the Transit Workplace - Prevention, Response and Recovery (Train the Trainer) Online Course

December 16, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

December 17, 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 17-18, 1:00-4:30 PM

New

National Transit Institute

Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment

Long Beach, CA, December 17-19

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

December 19, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

January 2, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 7, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Succession Planning LinkedIn Learnalong

January 7, 2:00-3:00 PM

Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE)

CES 2025 - PAVE Roundtable

Las Vegas, NV, January 8, 1:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

January 9, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable

January 9, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 14, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

U.S. DOT

Navigating Climate Challenges: Enhancing Transportation Resilience Webinar

January 15, 2:00 PM

New

U.S. Census Bureau

Census Bureau Tribal Consultation

January 15, 3:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

January 16, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 21, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

January 23, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Seminole Tribe of Florida 

Renewable Energy & Sustainability 7th Annual Conference 

Hollywood, FL, January 27-29

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

January 28, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

January 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. Also, see the FTA Events Calendar. To submit an event, email info@nationalrtap.org.

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