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 Marketing Workshop on Community Based Marketing to Build Ridership
New National RTAP Technical Brief on Rural Transit and School Bus Coordination
Deadline Extended to June 30, 2022 for Nominations to National RTAP Review Board
U.S. DOT Combined Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Opportunity NOFO
U.S. Census Bureau New Definition of Rural Areas
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Next Week: Marketing Workshop #4: Community Based Marketing to Build Transit Ridership
As a small or rural agency, one of your greatest resources is your relationships within the community. This class will examine how to leverage those relationships to build awareness and ridership for your transportation services. We will discuss the “gatekeepers” who can provide access to key ridership markets; how those gatekeepers can give you access to low-cost, targeted marketing channels; and how marketing partnerships can provide long-term value to both sides.
The first hour will be a presentation by Selena Barlow of Transit Marketing LLC. During the final 30 minutes, those who volunteer will share examples of how they work with organizations in their community to promote transit ridership, including the marketing tools they have used and the results of their efforts. If you are interested, sign up in registration. (This segment will not be recorded.)
If you missed the other workshops in this series, the recordings and slides are available on our webinars page.
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New National RTAP Technical Brief on Rural Transit and School Bus Coordination
In many rural areas, there is no public transit, but there are school buses. School buses are usually not used during the middle of the day or the weekends, and many rural communities would like to use them for trips for persons with disabilities, low-income residents, or older adults. There are also many opportunities for public transit buses to transport schoolchildren. This National RTAP technical brief discusses regulatory, funding, safety, and planning issues and provides approaches and best practices for rural public transit and school bus coordination. |
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National RTAP/AASHTO MTAP Webinar Today on Transit Insurance and Risk Management
National RTAP and AASHTO Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) are hosting a Risky Business: Transit Insurance and Risk Management webinar today, March 31, 2022 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET to provide training on insurance and risk management. Participants will also learn about statewide insurance pools.
National RTAP Tribal Transit Mini-Conference This Week
Upcoming Marketing Workshop: Step 4 - Community Based Marketing to Build Ridership and Step 3 Recording Posted
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. Learn how to get your on-demand service published.
National RTAP Guest Blog Post on NADTC about TACL
National RTAP Resource Center Manager Cara Marcus wrote a guest blog post for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) to introduce TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library. The post discusses TACL's history and how users can access and utilize the library. |
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Deadline Extended: National RTAP Solicitation for New Review Board Members
National RTAP is soliciting nominations through June 30, 2022 (the deadline was recently extended) 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.
Upcoming National RTAP Webinar on Tools for Marketing & Trip Planning: Website Builder & GTFS Builder
A website with user-friendly route maps and schedules is a must for any transit agency. A webinar on April 20, 2022, 2:00-3:15 PM ET will provide an overview of our free tools for rural and tribal transit organizations: Website Builder and GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) Builder. Presenters will provide information and demonstrate schedules and maps online using these and other free or low-cost tools.
National RTAP Drug and Alcohol and Intercity Topic Guides Updated
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 is 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.
National RTAP Entry-Level Driver Training Featured in Missouri RTAP Newsletter
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!
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The FTA Drug and Alcohol Project Office offers free virtual seminars covering special topics relevant to grantee interests, such as an overview of FTA Drug and Alcohol regulations, program requirements, and current issues.
FTA launched a new Transportation Coordination webpage with guidance and resources on incidental use, vehicle and ride sharing, charter service, cost sharing, and federal fund braiding. The page includes National RTAP and Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) resources.
U.S. DOT is extending the comment period for its oral fluid notice of proposed rulemaking to April 29, 2022. Proposed changes include provisions to harmonize with the new Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and clarifications to provisions that cover urine drug testing procedures.
maintenance procedures and data on system safety hazards (such as smoke, fumes, and noxious odors).
- Contracted ridesourcing companies conducting drug and alcohol testing of employees and contractors performing safety-sensitive functions
- Who should be listed as the Certifying Official on the Annual Drug and Alcohol MIS Report
- The extension of Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals and Service Agents to June 30, 2022
- Section 5310 funding FAQs
- FTA Drug and Alcohol audits
- The extension for using the 2017 Federal CCF for urine specimens until August 31, 2023
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The Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility (SURCOM) offers a 2-part series of management training specifically designed for transit operators, supervisors, and managers. After completing Transit I: The Foundations and Transit II: The Pillars, participants are provided with an Advanced Transit Professional Certificate.
The ITS Professional Capacity Building Program ITS ePrimer provides transportation professionals with concepts and practices related to ITS technologies. Updated modules include Connected Vehicles and ITS Emerging Opportunities and Challenges. New modules include Application of ITS in Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Data in Decision Making, and ITS in Emergencies and Disasters.
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In Shared-Use Mobility Center's (SUMC) Using COMPASS to Navigate Cecil County, MD, a case study shows how Cecil Transit successfully applied for an FTA Integrated Mobility Innovation grant to pilot a microtransit solution and partnered with recovery houses, transportation and technology vendors, and other agencies.
The U.S. Department of Human Services (DHHS) Public Transportation Workers Toolkit contains resources for organizations and individuals regarding COVID-19 vaccines and public transportation workers. The toolkit is also available in Spanish.
NCHRP's Mainstreaming System Resilience Concepts into Transportation Agencies: A Guide provides transportation officials with a self-assessment tool to assess the current status of an agency’s efforts to improve the resilience of the transportation system through the mainstreaming of resilience concepts into agency decision-making and procedures. The tool can be applied to a broad array of natural and human-caused threats. |
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The tool is in beta form and will be updated based on feedback and research, which can be submitted through the tool or through the Request for Information by April 25, 2022.
The Indicators of Broadband Need Map was created by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The map uses several data sources to show information on broadband availability within the U.S.
NREL, NASEO, AASHTO, NARUC, Atlas Public Policy, and ICF established a free repository of information on electric vehicles available to state agencies. The EV States Clearinghouse contains a variety of documents such as sample requests for proposals or RFPs, sample contracts, EV infrastructure siting and assessment tools, and more. |
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Dell Technologies and Microsoft are inviting State and Local Governments to host an e-waste recycling drive for a chance to win $50,000 in technology. The sweepstakes ends on April 30, 2022.
Nominations are open through May 8, 2022 for Mass Transit's 40 Under 40 Competition. Criteria for selection include such things as job commitment, industry involvement and contribution, achievement in their position, and innovation in their field.
The TRB Forum on Preparing for Automated Vehicles and Shared Mobility Systems aims to bring together public, private, and research organizational partners to share perspectives on the critical issues surrounding the deployment of automated vehicles and shared mobility. Join the eGroup to discuss safety, congestion, accessibility, environmental and energy sustainability, and economic development and equity.
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The U.S. Census Bureau published Urban Area Criteria for the 2020 Census-Final Criteria. An urban area comprises a densely developed core of census blocks that meet minimum housing unit density requirements and an adjacent territory containing non-residential urban land uses and lower density territory, linking outlying densely settled territory with the densely settled core. To qualify as an urban area, the territory identified must have at least 2,000 housing units or at least 5,000 persons. The term “rural” encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an urban area.
The Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2023 has been published. The budget reauthorizes surface transportation programs for 5 years, prioritizes programs that reduce emissions and improve transportation access for people with disabilities and historically disadvantaged communities. Budget Appendices are also available. U.S. DOT has also published a Budget Highlights document. |
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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.
Alaska Tribal Transportation Working Group
Anchorage, AK, March 29-31
We're participating.
National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM
Vision Zero Network
March 31, 2:00-3:00 PM
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
April 5, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration Deadline March 31
TRB
April 5, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
NADO Research Foundation
April 5, 2:00-3:15 PM
National RTAP
April 5, 2:00-3:30 PM
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
April 6-7
Registration Deadline April 1
Intelligent Transport
April 6-8
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
April 7, 2:00-3:30 PM
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
April 7, 2:30-3:30
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
National Aging and Disability Training Center (NADTC)
Apr 13, Apr 20, Apr 27, and May 4, 2:00 PM
United for Infrastructure
April 14, 12:00 PM
Q'Straint / Sure-Lok
April 14, 12:00-1:30 PM
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
April 14, 2:30-4:00
The White House
April 15, 4:00 PM
N-CATT
April 19, 2:00 PM
Sacramento State College of Continuing Education / California LTAP
April 19-20, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)
Newport Beach, CA, April 19-22
Please visit our info booth!
Michigan Public Transit Association
Mt. Pleasant, MI, April 19–20
Please visit our info table!
National RTAP
April 20, 2:00-3:15 PM
U.S. DOT
April 20, 2:00 PM
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
April 21, 12:30 PM
AASHTO
Washington, DC, April 25-28
HIRTA Public Transit
April 26, 10:00 AM - 4:45 PM
FORTH
April 26, 1:00-2:00 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!
FTA
April 28, 1:00 PM
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
April 28, 2:00 PM
APTA
Columbus, OH, May 1-4
U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 3, 2:00-3:30 PM
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
May 3, 2:30-4:00 PM
FTA
May 4, 1:00-4:00 PM
Q'Straint / Sure-Lok
May 10, 12:00-1:30 PM
U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 10, 2:00-3:30 PM
Sacramento State College of Continuing Education / California LTAP
May 10-11, 11:30 AM - 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
U.S. DOT
May 17, 2:00 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
Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA)
Colorado Springs, CO, May 24-27
Please stop by our info table!
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
May 24, 3:00-4:30 PM, and June 7-8, 1:00-6:00 PM
TRB
Irvine, CA, May 31-June 2
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