Please join us on September 27, 2022, 3:00-4:00 PM ET, for an informal discussion of issues of interest to managers at rural and tribal transit agencies. We plan to have a volunteer to kick off the discussion on each topic, but we encourage everyone to participate and share questions, information, and tips with their peers.

Potential topics include:

National RTAP updated its technical brief on Developing, Designing and Delivering Community Transportation Services this year. The brief provides recommendations on developing transit leadership, service design, policies, financial considerations, and training. Updates include new descriptions of service modes, such as zone service and shared mobility, and information about new entry-level driver training requirements.

FTA provides a Bus Safety Risk Register tool and guide, to help you determine the tools or methods that best suit your agency’s Safety Management System (SMS). FTA also gathered Agency Safety Plan (ASP) resources in a directory to support the transit industry in developing, implementing, and updating their ASPs.

FTA published a Civil Rights/ADA Programs and Requirements for Indian Tribes Fact Sheet. It includes a chart that details the applicability of FTA Civil Rights Programs and ADA Compliance for Indian Tribes receiving FTA Funds and examples of requirements and exemptions.

FTA's Analysis of Challenges Facing Pregnant Women Riding Transit outlines its research on the challenges of public transit use by pregnant women. Ways to overcome challenges include transit agencies involving pregnant women in designing and planning transit services, reviewing lighting at transit stations and stops, and partnering with local health departments to find ways to improve access to prenatal/postpartum health care.

Many of the presentations held at the National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC) held in Louisville, Kentucky on August 22-26, 2022 have been posted. Presentation topics include planning, funding, safety, procurement, and more.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) offers an eLearning course on Ethical Considerations: Working with Individuals Who Have Experienced Trafficking. The course covers potential ethical dilemmas related to documenting, discussing, and reporting potential trafficking.

The Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida offers a Social Marketing in Transportation Certificate program. Learners will define social marketing and identify appropriate uses of social marketing in transportation and develop a social marketing plan.

TCRP's Assessing and Mitigating Electrical Fires on Transit Vehicles provides transit systems with information and techniques to avoid the interruption of revenue service, passenger injuries, and expenditures of operating and capital funds that occur as the result of fires on buses.

The Evaluating Public Transit Benefits and Costs Best Practices Guidebook by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute describes how to create a comprehensive framework for evaluating the impacts, benefits, and costs of a particular transit service or improvement. It identifies categories of impacts and how to measure them. Many techniques in the guide can be used to evaluate other modes, such as ridesharing, cycling, and walking.

National Center for Mobility Management's (NCMM) State Referral Networks Improve Access to Transportation and Community Services describes case studies of states that are establishing coordinated care and resource referral networks to better streamline communication between transit, health, and social service providers.

Businesses that make structural adaptations or other workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities may be eligible for certain tax incentives such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Disabled Access Credit, and Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction. These opportunities are outlined in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Employer Guide To Tax Credits For Hiring Employees With Disabilities.

The FHWA Interagency NEPA & Permitting Collaboration Tool (INPCT) is a web-based collaboration tool designed to aid project managers and teams throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for surface transportation projects. The tool provides a singular platform to manage the development of environmental documents and facilitate real-time collaboration and interagency reviews.

The U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs provides a Regulatory Review Dashboard. Users can find regulatory actions, such as proposed rules, final rules, etc., by agency (such as U.S. DOT) and rule stage.

Electricity Maps offers a Climate Impact by Area interactive map that shows the carbon intensity of electricity consumed by worldwide electricity producers. Data can be displayed over the past five years.

Minnesota DOT provides a Connected Autonomous Vehicles Frequently Asked Questions interactive online PowerPoint tool. Sections cover questions about timing and preparation for implementation, policy and standardization, safety, and rural issues. Users can click tabs and/or questions for more information.

ADA-PARC is a collaborative research project of ten Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Regional Centers. Its database includes national, state, city, and municipal-level data on disparities experienced by people with disabilities and their use of transportation, such as the percentage of persons with a disability who commute to work by public transportation.

The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) works to improve access to transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. They are currently planning activities for the upcoming year and would like your input to ensure their work aligns with your needs. Please take a few minutes to complete their survey and share your perspective, then forward this on to others who might also have ideas to share. The survey will be open until September 28, 2022.

Partnership for Public Service offers a Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program. Students will receive a 10-12 week summer internship at the U.S. Department of Commerce or U.S. DOT, along with a stipend, and professional development sessions, including orientation and networking events. Applications are due November 17, 2022.

Today is the last day to apply for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program and the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF) Program.

The FHWA Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program provides funding for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of nationally-significant projects within, adjacent to, or accessing Federal and Tribal lands. Applications are due on October 24, 2022.

Applications are open through October 25, 2022 for the USDA Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I. Funding focuses on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. USDA is also accepting applications for its Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and its Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program through September 30, 2022. USDA is now accepting applications for its ReConnect Program loans and grants to expand access to high-speed internet for rural areas. Grants are available for Alaska Native Corporations, Tribal Governments, Persistent Poverty Areas, and socially vulnerable communities.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is providing penalty relief to small businesses that filed certain 2019 or 2020 returns late (such as the 1099 series). To qualify, eligible 2019 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2020, and eligible 2020 returns must have been filed by August 1, 2021. Any eligible income tax return, not already filed, must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.

The Reeve Foundation Quality of Life Grants Program awards grants to nonprofit organizations that impact and empower people living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Transportation grants are available. Applications are due October 13, 2022.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is issuing a Request for Information to receive input from the public as CISA develops proposed regulations required by the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022. Comments are due November 14, 2022.

NHTSA proposes charging fees for Fiscal Year 2023 and beyond relating to the importation of motor vehicles not certified as conforming to the federal motor vehicle safety standards. Comments are due September 29, 2022. FMCSA also is extending the comment period for its notice of proposed regulatory guidance relating to the draft Medical Examiner’s Handbook to October 31, 2022.

September 12-16

September 15, 10:30-11:30 AM

September 15, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

September 15, 1:00-2:00 PM

September 15, 1:00-2:30 PM

September 15, 2:00 PM

September 15, 3:00 PM

Aberdeen, SD, September 16-20

Los Angeles, CA, September 18-22

September 19, 2:00-3:00 PM

September 19, 2:00-3:00 PM

September 19, 3:00-4:30 PM

Washington, D.C., September 19-21

Anaheim, CA, September 19–21

Washington, DC, September 20, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Keene, NH and Virtual, September 21, 10:00 AM - September 22, 5:30 PM

September 21, 11:00 AM

September 21, 12:30 PM

September 21, 12:30 PM

September 21, 1:00-2:00 PM

September 21, 1:00-2:30 PM

September 21, 2:00-3:30 PM

September 22, 1:00-2:00 PM ET

September 22, 2:00-3:00 PM

Memphis, TN, September 22-25

Dallas, TX, September 23-24

September 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

Washington, DC, September 27, 2:00-3:30 PM

Austin, TX, September 27-28

Snowmass Village, CO, September 27-30

September 28, 2:00 PM

September 28, 2:00 PM

Springfield, MO, September 28-29

September 29, 2:00-3:00 PM

September 29, 2:00-3:30 PM

October 4, 12:00-1:30 PM

October 6, 2:30-4:00 PM

October 11, 2:00-3:00 PM

October 12, 1:00 PM

Durant, OK, October 12-13

Pittsburgh, PA, October 15-18

October 16, 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Indianapolis, IN, October 19-21

October 20, 1:00 PM

October 20, 1:00-2:30 PM

October 25-27

Albany, NY, October 25-27

October 27, 1:00 PM

Greenwood Village, CO, November 1-3

Washington, DC, November 3-4

Interagency NEPA & Permitting Collaboration Tool (INPCT) Webinar

November 9, 1:00-2:30 PM

To register, contact David Williams

November 9-10

Fleet Forward Conference / Fleet Safety Conference

Santa Clara, CA, November 9 - 11

November 15, 1:00-2:00 PM

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.