eNews - February 13, 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 - The Lost Ticket

Upcoming NADTC/National RTAP Webinar on Digital Accessibility

Updated National RTAP Technical Brief on Time Management

New Transit Award Management System (TrAMS) Requirements

DHHS Notice on Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs

Upcoming Books in Transit Discussion Group Meeting: The Lost Ticket

The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group selected the book The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson as its next book for our February 20, 2025 meeting, which will take place between 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

The novel is about a man who met a woman on a bus and lost the bus ticket with her phone number on it. For the past sixty years, he’s ridden the same bus trying to find her.

Thank you to Mallory Meier, Deputy Director, River Cities Public Transit, for review of and contributions to this brief.

The annual U.S. DOT Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award seeks to raise awareness among transportation stakeholders about human trafficking and increase training and prevention efforts to address this crime. The deadline to submit applications is March 7, 2025.

On December 5, 2024, FTA introduced enhancements to the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). A Dear Colleague Letter informed recipients about the enhancements and asked them to review and confirm that their required documents are correctly uploaded and labeled in TrAMS. Beginning March 5, 2025, TrAMS will prevent any recipients who have not properly identified the Opinion of Counsel and Authorizing Resolution in their Recipient Document profile from transmitting or submitting new applications unless they have correctly labeled and/or uploaded their required legal documents. 

FTA delayed the applicability date of its Third-Party Contracting Guidance Circular (C 4220.1G) to go into effect on March 20, 2025.

The Chaddick Institute will be holding an Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry Webinar on February 27, 2025 between 1:00-1:50 PM ET. This webinar will discuss notable changes in the strategic direction of intercity bus travel during the calendar year 2024 and early 2025. This webinar will introduce their new report Stepping Up Service: 2025 Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry in the United States.

The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and Living Cities and Communities (LCC) will be holding a Design Framework: Mobility Hubs for Women & Caregivers Webinar

on March 6, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET. It aims to develop a network that breaks from the transit system that primarily supports the typical 9-5 commute.

The Western, Southern, and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Programs and the FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation are holding a National Tribal Grant Writing Workshop in Las Vegas, NV on April 14-16, 2025. Attendees will learn to effectively search for and identify the right funding opportunities, craft narratives that showcase the need, impact, and viability of their projects, manage grant awards, and fulfill reporting requirements to maintain funding.

Business Intelligence can help transportation agencies improve current processes and transform manual processes to automated ones. Tools discussed in NCHRP's Business Intelligence Techniques for Transportation Agency Decision-Making include cloud-based tools and artificial intelligence. For example, data such as the activation of vehicle windshield wipers can obtain a real-time picture of the intensity of precipitation in an area. 

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation published Battery Energy Storage for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, which provides information on how battery energy storage systems can support electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure. The help sheet recommends battery-buffered fast charging and provides technical assistance on how to implement it.

The U.S. Department of Energy has developed a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building—a building that is highly energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases directly from energy use, and is powered solely by clean energy.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) published its Transportation Statistics Annual Report 2024. Data on transit includes transit fatalities by category, percent of transit buses by fuel type, transit vehicles and ridership, and other statistics.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a State Profiles on Disaster Funding visualization tool that provides insights into disaster funding that falls within a particular U.S. state or territory and can be filtered by state, county, hazard, and year to better understand historical disaster risk and potential disaster-related costs.

The University of Michigan created the Transportation Security Index, the first validated measure of transportation security that offers insights into who experiences transportation insecurity and enables researchers and practitioners to determine both the causes and consequences of transportation insecurity as well as identify which interventions can improve this condition. It is available as a 6-item and 16-item tool.

An article in Government Technology magazine has an interactive map that shows state government plans and accomplishments in cybersecurity, modernization, and digital government. Users can click on a state to find out details.

TCRP’s FY26 program is open for research proposals through June 20, 2025, which can be submitted through TCRP’s online portal. 

NADTC is seeking transportation innovations through February 28, 2025 targeted to the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers. This is an opportunity to showcase your innovative transportation programs and to be featured on NADTC's website.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is accepting applications for its Enhancing State No Wrong Door Systems for Efficient Access to Long-Term Services and Supports program. The program funds the design, implementation, and ongoing administration of No Wrong Door related policy, sustainability, continuous quality improvement, technology infrastructure, resource allocation, and projects about transportation. Applications are due March 17, 2025.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help local governments adopt policies, practices, and incentives that exemplify recognized best practices for enabling efficient electric vehicle (EV) charger expansion. The Charging Smart program has secured funding through July 2027.

Share your Cooperative Research Program project or standing technical committee's expertise by proposing a TRB Webinar. Ideas submitted by March 2, 2025 will be considered for the summer 2025 schedule.

The Department of Health and Human Services published a Notice in the Federal Register that Fentanyl and Norfentanyl were added to the list of Schedule I and II drugs authorized for testing in federal workplace drug testing programs. Methylenedioxyamphetamine and Methylenedioxymethamphetamine were removed. The change is effective July 7, 2025.

On February 6, 2025, FHWA published a letter announcing changes to the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and State Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment plans. The FHWA aims to have updated draft NEVI Formula Guidance published for public comment in the spring.

The Department of Interior published a Final Rule revising regulations for federal acknowledgment of American Indian Tribes. The rule created a conditional, time-limited opportunity for petitioners denied federal acknowledgment to re-petition through implementation of a re-petition authorization process. The effective date is March 21, 2025.

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).



National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

February 13, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Southwest Transit Association (SWTA)

SWTA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo

Tucson, AZ, February 18-21

MnDOT's Office of Research & Innovation and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board 

Research Radar: Sustainable Transportation Solutions Webinar

February 20, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

February 20, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP

Books in Transit Discussion Group Meeting - The Lost Ticket

February 20, 2:00-3:00 PM

United Motorcoach Association (UMA)

UMA Motorcoach Expo

Oklahoma City, OK, February 20-23

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Marketing, Communications & Customer Experience Workshop

Long Beach, CA, February 23-26

New

National Safety Council (NSC)

TechHub Marketplace: Navigating the Ongoing Relationship between Providers and Industry Webinar

February 25, 1:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

February 25, 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

February 26, 1:00-4:30 PM

U.S. DOT

The New Behavioral Science of Mode Choice Webinar

February 26, 2:00 PM

New

FORTH

EVAL Office Hours: Session 4

February 26, 4:00 PM

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

New

Chaddick Institute

Outlook for the Intercity Bus Industry Webinar February 2025 Webinar

February 27, 1:00-1:50 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 4, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

FHWA

DANA/TNMAide Peer Exchange

March 4-5, 1:00-1:30 PM

New

Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA)

CTAA Legislative Fly-In

Washington, D.C., March 5-7

New

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

New

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

New

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

New

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

2025 National Title VI Training & Technical Assistance Conference

Minneapolis, MN, March 10-13

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

National Transportation Safety Board 

Automation In Transportation: Lessons For Safe Implementation Public Forum

Washington, DC, March 11-12

American Bus Association (ABA)

Empower Your Business With Purposeful Leadership Webinar

March 12, 2:00-3:00 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

ActivEnviro

2025 Active Living Conference

Manhattan, KS, March 16-20

New

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

2025 AASHTO re:source Technical Exchange

Bellevue, WA, March 17-20

National Transit Institute

Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making Online Course

March 17-20, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

March 18, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

American Bus Association (ABA)

Women in Buses Meet & Eat Virtual Event

March 19, 1:00 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

New

National RTAP

2025 National RTAP Rural & Tribal Transit Training

Anchorage, AK, March 24

New

National Transit Institute

Procurement I: Orientation to Transit Procurement

Fort Myers , FL, March 24-27

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

National Environmental Justice Conference, Inc. (NEJC)

2025 National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program 

Washington, DC, March 25-27

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

New

National RTAP

2025 National RTAP Rural & Tribal Transit Training

Anchorage, AK, March 28

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transit Service Planning Online Course

March 31 - April 3, 1:00-5:00 PM

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 1, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Native Learning Center

Strategic Planning for Tribal Professionals Workshop

Hollywood, FL, April 2-4

New

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 3, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Association of Mobility Managers

Inaugural Annual Conference

Edmond, OK, April 5-8

Please stop by our booth!

New

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

APTA Mobility Conference 

Austin, TX, April 6-9

New

National Transit Institute

Procurement I: Orientation to Transit Procurement

Decatur, IL, April 7-10

New

Self Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium

2025 Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Chandler, AZ, April 7-10

We're participating

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 8, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 10, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

Western, Southern, and Eastern Tribal Technical Assistance Programs, FHWA Office of Tribal Transportation

National Tribal Grant Writing Workshop

Las Vegas, NV, April 14-16

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 15, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

New Jersey Transaction

New Jersey Transaction Conference

Atlantic City, NJ, April 15-17

We're presenting

New

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 17, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 22, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

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

New

National RTAP

GTFS Office Hours

April 24, 1:00-1:30 PM

No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

New

National RTAP

Website Builder Office Hours

April 29, 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