eNews - February 27, 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

Welcoming Jeremy Bell and Enjoli Dixon to the National RTAP Team

National RTAP Introduces its New John Martin Series - Harnessing the Forces of Change

Upcoming Learn About TACL Webinar with Featured Resource on Homelessness

Participate in a TCRP Survey about Technology Needs of Transit Agencies and State DOTS

Interim Final Rule on Removal of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementation

Welcoming Jeremy Bell and Enjoli Dixon to the National RTAP Team

National RTAP is delighted to announce our newest staff members, Tribal Transit Liaison Jeremy Bell and Rural Transit Project Manager Enjoli Dixon!

Jeremy Bell is the new National RTAP Tribal Transit Liaison. Jeremy was the Director of Choctaw Regional Transportation/Choctaw Transit for over 13 years. From 2012-2025, Jeremy served as the Mobility Manager for the EZTAG region and for Choctaw Transit before being promoted to Assistant Director from 2015 to 2021 and Director from 2021 to 2025. Jeremy is a Graduate of the Emerging Leaders Academy sponsored by the Community Transportation Association of America and served as a National RTAP Review Board Member from 2020 to 2025 before taking his new position in February 2025 with National RTAP.

Enjoli Dixon is the new National RTAP Rural Transit Project Manager. In this role she is responsible for providing technical assistance to rural, tribal, and mobility management as well as eLearning product administration, outreach, and training. Enjoli Dixon is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the design and transportation industry, both in the U.S. and internationally. She is renowned for her advocacy in public transit and mobility management, making significant contributions across public, private, and non-profit sectors, particularly through the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).

National RTAP Introduces its New John Martin Series

Harnessing the Forces of Change

At the 2023 National RTAP Conference held in Myrtle Beach, SC, the opening keynote speaker was John W. Martin, President and CEO of S.I.R. and the Institute for Tomorrow. In his keynote, John shared the 10 trends that will shape rural and Tribal transit in the years ahead, adding implications and recommendations for agency leaders to embrace today to ensure the success of their operations in the future. He also profiled examples of National RTAP stakeholders already operating “on trend,” practicing the strategies of winning agencies tomorrow. 

This educational program turns John’s keynote into a video series that you can use at your agency. This program replaced the webinars and technical briefs that John developed for National RTAP in 2010, updating the trends he is seeing for the next decade and beyond.

Learn more about the John Martin Series at our Spring into New National RTAP Resources webinar, which will be held on March 20, 2025, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

U.S. DOT provides guidance on Understanding Non-Federal Match Requirements. A chart outlines steps to determine match amounts, and guidance is provided on what programs allow a reduced match, and meeting match requirements.

U.S. DOT will not take enforcement action against regulated entities for failing to comply with the Accessibility Standards for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way until March 20, 2025.

U.S. DOT’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fiscal Year Phase I Solicitation is open through March 7, 2025. The program awards contracts to small businesses to pursue research on and develop innovative solutions to our nation’s transportation challenges.

FTA will not take enforcement action against regulated entities for failing to comply with the State Safety Oversight final rule, published on October 18, 2024, until March 20, 2025.

The Native Learning Center will be holding a Strategic Planning for Tribal Professionals Workshop in Hollywood, FL on April 2-4, 2025. The training session is designed to benefit Tribal professionals and will focus on building effective strategic planning skills to enhance organizational success and community development initiatives. 

The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) is accepting proposals for its Spring 2025 Agricultural Worker Health Symposium. They are seeking abstracts for 90-minute workshops. This would be an opportunity to bring farmworker transportation to the table. The deadline is March 7, 2025.

The ADA Guru is holding an ADA Compliance Seminar in Honolulu, HI which has been rescheduled to October 7-9, 2025. Training topics include key ADA compliance operating requirements for public transportation providers, understanding your role as an ADA compliance professional, and other topics.

TCRP's Assessing Lifecycle and Human Costs of Bus Operator Workstation Design and Components provides guidance on the long-term safety of bus operator workstations and describes ways that workstations can be designed to increase the health and safety of bus drivers. Supplemental to the report is a spreadsheet tool that estimates what percentage of a bus driver population is accommodated by bus workstation designs.

In Making Broadband Work for Rural Communities and Native Nations, the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group performed research to provide guidance on lessons learned, gaps in current approaches, and potential models that could move the country toward full broadband coverage at a sustainable cost.

NCHRP's Automated Applications for Infrastructure Owner-Operator Fleets provides the current status of and barriers to the implementation and application of AVs and other automated technologies that may potentially supplement or replace IOO fleets. The report includes a chapter with case studies on autonomous transit implementations throughout the country.

The San Jose State University Mineta Transportation Institute's Assessing GTFS Accuracy presents a suite of methods and metrics to assess the temporal accuracy of GTFS Realtime and the spatial accuracy of GTFS Schedule feeds, such as using measured divergence between the planned and provided transit service, which yields a series of location accuracy metric. The report covers GTFS Static, Realtime, and Schedule.

NFI offers a Charger Catalog that provides details on various charger types, dimensions, weights, manufacturers, and other technical specifications.  

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated its Transportation Economic Trends data. Updated data included investment in transportation, household spending on transportation, and other topics.

APTA’s Public Transportation Fare Database reports transit agency fare structures. The report includes fixed-route adult base fares, surcharges, common fare payment options, special categorized passenger fares, demand response, and paratransit passenger fares. The zip file includes Microsoft Access, Excel, and Adobe PDF formats.

TCRP seeks to identify the technology-related resource needs of rural, Tribal, small, and mid-sized transit agencies and State DOTs. Applying insight from two surveys, along with a literature review, market analysis, and understanding of existing training opportunities, the project team will develop resources to help your agency “right-size” technology investments. Transit agencies – take the Provider Survey. State DOTs – take the DOT Survey.

The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) is conducting a scan of paratransit workforce issues and needs related to recruitment, retention, training, data tracking, and more. If you're interested in providing input, please contact Shayna Gleason. 

The ADA Guru is conducting a survey of transit agencies and contractors throughout the U.S. to learn about software products used for documenting passenger complaints and managing the complaint investigation process, including data reporting.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) is seeking transportation innovations through March 1, 2025, targeted to the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. 

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) seeks input from transportation stakeholders on what courses it should develop over the next year.

ITS America, on behalf of the American World Cup regions, invites innovative solutions by March 12, 2025 to the following priority challenges: multilingual, real-time communications; accessible route navigation; public mobility integrated trip planning, ticketing and payment; and efficient taxi & ridehailing.

The National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) is conducting a survey seeking to identify the data needs of small urban, rural, and tribal transit operators. Transit agencies can help N-CATT create the most useful and relevant data-focused curriculum and resources for transit providers to strategically employ their data.

The Environmental Protection Network’s (EPN) Pro Bono Capacity-Building Technical Assistance Program aims to help disadvantaged communities, community-serving NGOs, and under-resourced agencies navigate and understand government programs, data, and processes; gain access to partners, allies, and decision-makers; and apply for funding.

The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) Awards celebrate the TSMO strategies and tools that leverage existing infrastructure to increase safety and reliability and the individuals who lead the way in advancing the practices. Submissions are due April 4, 2025.

A National Energy Dominance Council was established on February 14, 2025 that includes U.S. DOT. Functions of the Council include advising the President on improving the processes for permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, and export of all forms of American energy.

An Interim Final Rule removed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from the Code of Federal Regulations. In addition, this rule requests comments on this action and related matters. This rule is effective April 11, 2025. Comments are due by March 27, 2025. Please note that the NEPA statute is still in force.

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).



Portland State University

Mobility Matters 2025

February 27, 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

February 27, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Chaddick Institute

Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry Webinar February 2025 Webinar

February 27, 1:00-1:50 PM

New

TRB 

Quality Assurance of Transportation Materials and Construction—Part II Webinar

March 3, 1:00-2:30 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 4, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)

CTAA Legislative Fly-In

Washington, D.C., March 5-7

Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and Living Cities and Communities (LCC)

A Design Framework: Mobility Hubs for Women & Caregivers Webinar

March 6, 12:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

March 6, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Texas Transit Association (TTA)

TTA Annual State Conference, Expo, and Roadeo

McAllen, TX, March 7-12

We're participating

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) 

2025 NADO & DDAA Washington Conference

Arlington, VA, March 9-12

StateRAMP

2025 StateRAMP Cybersecurity Framework Harmonization Symposium

Washington, DC, March 10, 12:00-4:30 PM 

Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University

Ethics Virtual Learning

March 10, 2:00-4:00 PM

Registration deadline March 5, 2025

Billington Cybersecurity

State and Local CyberSecurity Summit

Washington, DC, March 10-12

National Transit Institute

Procurement IV: Contract Administration Course

Birmingham, AL, March 10-13

ACL Office for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Programs

2025 National Title VI Training & Technical Assistance Conference

Minneapolis, MN, March 10-13

We're presenting!

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 11, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

World Bank and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Transforming Transportation

Washington, DC, March 11-12

American Bus Association (ABA)

Empower Your Business With Purposeful Leadership Webinar

March 12, 2:00-3:00 PM

New

TRB 

Strategic AI Implementation and Developing Agency Policies Webinar

March 12, 3:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

March 13, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Employment-Focused Transit Manager Peer Roundtable

March 13, 2:00-3:00 PM

American Bus Association (ABA)

The Morality Matrix: Understanding Ethical Decision Making Webinar

March 14, 2:00-3:00 PM

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Legal Affairs Seminar

Phoenix, AZ, March 16-18

New

Trapeze Group

ThinkTransit 2025 

Kansas City, MO, March 16-19

ActivEnviro

2025 Active Living Conference

Manhattan, KS, March 16-20

New

SWTA, NMTA, and NMDOT

2025 New Mexico Transit Roadeo & Conference & EXPO

Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, March 17-18

We're participating

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2025 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange

Bellevue, WA, March 17-20

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

A Deep Dive into Why GTFS and Trip Planning Webinar

March 18, 2:00-3:00 PM 

New

FTA

2025 FTA Drug & Alcohol Conference

Kansas City, MO, March 18-20 

American Bus Association (ABA)

Women in Buses Meet & Eat Virtual Event

March 19, 1:00 PM 

New

National RTAP

A Cost Allocation Tool You Can Use Webinar

March 19, 2:00-3:00 PM

U.S. DOT

Nature-Based Solutions for Transportation Resilience Webinar

March 19, 2:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

March 20, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Spring into New National RTAP Resources

March 20, 2:00-3:00 PM

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Transit CEOs Seminar

San Antonio, TX, March 21-23

National RTAP

2025 National RTAP Rural & Tribal Transit Training

Anchorage, AK, March 24

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 25, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Safe, Efficient, Affordable Transportation (SEAT)

Small Operator's Summit

Perrysville, OH, March 25-26

We're presenting

Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group (ATTWG)

21st Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium

Anchorage, AK, March 25-27

We're presenting

National Transit Institute

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

March 26, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

March 27, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

2025 National RTAP Rural & Tribal Transit Training

Anchorage, AK, March 28

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 1, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Native Learning Center

Strategic Planning for Tribal Professionals Workshop

Hollywood, FL, April 2-4

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Association of Mobility Managers

Inaugural Annual Conference

Edmond, OK, April 5-8

Please stop by our booth!

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Mobility Conference 

Austin, TX, April 6-9

Self Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium

2025 Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Chandler, AZ, April 7-10

We're participating

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 8, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Arizona Transit Association (AzTA)

Arizona’s 38th Annual Statewide Transit Conference

Flagstaff, AZ, April 14-16

Please visit our booth!



National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 15, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New Jersey Transaction

New Jersey Transaction Conference

Atlantic City, NJ, April 15-17

We're presenting

New

The Drug & Alcohol Testing Institute, Inc. (DER)

2025 Drug and Alcohol Testing Institute Summit for DER's and Program Managers

Omaha, NE, April 15-17

New

Local Motion

Moving Missouri Forward Summit

Columbia, MO, April 16-18

Please visit our table!

New

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making

St. Louis, MO, April 16-18

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 22, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

AASHTO

AASHTOWare Connect Conference

Providence, RI, April 22-24

National Safety Council (NSC)

2025 NSC Spring Safety Conference & Expo (SSCE) and NSC Networks Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) Summit 

Charlotte, NC, April 22-25

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

North American Fleet Association (NAFA)

NAFA 2025 Institute & Expo (I&E)

Long Beach, CA, April 28-30

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 29, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

ALTRANS & Transit Association of Alabama

2025 ALTRANS & Transit Association of Alabama Conference

Gulf Shores, AL, April 29 - May 1

Please visit our booth!

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