eNews - March 30, 2023
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
New National RTAP GTFS Support Office Hours on Thursday Afternoons
Join our Climate Change and Transit Twitter Chat to Celebrate Earth Day
FTA Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Tribal Transit Program
FTA Accepting Applications for Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program Grants
New Resources from Peer TA Centers on Partner Agreements and Transit Workforce Data
New National RTAP GTFS Support Office Hours on Thursday Afternoons

In support of the forthcoming National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements for General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) for fixed and deviated fixed route service, National RTAP is offering free, live GTFS support Thursdays between 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Meet with our instructor, share your screen, and ask questions. Use this link to join the zoom meeting – no preregistration needed. GTFS support is also available Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET by contacting info@nationalrtap.org.
Join our Climate Change and Transit Twitter Chat to Celebrate Earth Day

Our third #ClimateTransit Twitter chat on April 21, 2023, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, will discuss how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. Learn how transit agencies can prepare for the potential effects of a changing climate and tackle emissions to mitigate potential climate impacts.

The chat will be moderated by Kate Mason, Communications Manager, Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), and Harrison Carpenter-Neuhaus, Communications Associate, Climate Nexus. RSVP for an invite.
Upcoming National RTAP Events

National RTAP and NADTC are co-hosting an Understanding the Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements webinar on May 8, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This webinar will outline the requirements and introduce resources from FMCSA, National RTAP, and Minnesota DOT to help you successfully navigate the rules.

National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP will be holding a Succession Planning 101 webinar on May 9, 2023, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Learn from an expert panel of transit agency and State DOT managers about the components and steps to a successful succession plan. Be among the first to preview National RTAP’s new eLearning course on succession planning, which includes customizable templates.

National RTAP will hold a How to Find (Almost) Anything in Transit with the Find Anything Toolkit webinar on June 13, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The Find Anything Toolkit was thoroughly updated and streamlined in 2023 to make it even easier to find anything and everything. Join United Community Action Program/Cimarron Transit Director Laura Corff and National RTAP Knowledge and Resource Manager Cara Marcus for an interactive tour of the Toolkit.

On June 29, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI) Transit Mobility program will lead a Challenges and Successes with Shared‐Use Mobility in Rural, Frontier, and Tribal Areas Virtual Workshop focused around a discussion of needs for transportation in rural, frontier, and Tribal areas along with ideas and examples for solutions to service challenges. This session is co-hosted by National RTAP and SUMC.

Our next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable will be held on July 18, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This is an informal session for State RTAP Managers to meet with their peers for a discussion of issues of interest to them. One issue we will be discussing will be the implementation of and training on the new NTD GTFS requirements.

Our Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected I was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman as our next book to read. A mother and daughter travel in a bus full of strangers for a college tour all along the east coast. Register for our meeting on August 22, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The author will be joining us!

National RTAP Offices Closed for Review Board Meeting

National RTAP staff are off-site, meeting with our Review Board from March 28-30, 2023. Users can still access technical support and eLearning support through chat or email.
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences

We're presenting and exhibiting at the following conferences and meetings:

National RTAP Drug and Alcohol Programs Topic Guide Updated

National RTAP continues our annual Topic Guide updates with our Drug and Alcohol Programs Topic Guide. New resources include:

Call for Presentations and Student Posters are Open for the National RTAP 2023 Conference

The Call for Presentations is now open for our 5th Rural and Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Conference: Navigating the Tides of Change, which will take place on December 3-6, 2023 in Myrtle Beach, SC. The deadline to submit a presentation proposal is April 30, 2023. Students are also invited to submit a poster by October 6, 2023. Students must be able to present their posters in-person on December 3, 2023.

GTFS Builder, Veteran Transportation, Microtransit vs. Micromobility Webinar Resources Published

We've published webinar recordings and handouts for four of our recent webinars:
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
FTA announced the opportunity to apply for $8,935,753 in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year 2023 Public Transportation on Indian Reservations/Tribal Transit Program. Applications must be submitted by June 26, 2023.

FTA has waived the local match for Complete Streets planning activities required of the Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP) and the State Planning and Research Program (SPRP). This waiver is in effect through the end of FY 2026.

U.S. DOT announced awardees for its Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. Funded rural and Tribal projects include a rural open data standards program and use of drone technology for medical care and equipment delivery for Tribal nations.

FTA's March 2023 Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight Newsletter provides guidance on how transit agencies can help prevent human trafficking and a link to the FTA presentation on FTA's National Transit Database Safety and Security Reporting Changes, Risk-Based Inspection Program Updates given at the APTA Mobility Conference.

FTA announced the opportunity to apply for grants under the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program for states, territories, local government authorities, Tribes, and other FTA recipients affected by major declared disasters in calendar years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Proposals must be submitted by May 26, 2023.

Through May 10, 2023, U.S. DOT invites public comment on the Increasing Public Access to the Results of USDOT Funded Transportation Research Plan and issues or topics it should consider as it updates the plan.
Webinars and Training
The National Highway Institute (NHI) Air Quality Planning free, web-based training series is designed for transportation practitioners. It includes four modules: Clean Air Act Overview, State Implementation Plan and Transportation Control Measure Requirements and Policies, SIP Development Process, and Transportation Conformity. Visit the NHI website and search for “Air Quality Planning.”

FHWA’s Resource Center Environment, Air Quality & Realty Team offers EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) and other trainings. Contact Mike Roberts, for additional information or to discuss scheduling a training.

National Center for Mobility Management's (NCMM) new eLearning course on Exploring Types of Agreements to Guide Your Partnerships defines three types of agreements: memorandum of understanding, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements, and explains their differences and situations in which they are most appropriate.
Publications
FHWA published the Pedestrian Lighting Primer to be a resource for transportation
practitioners interested in the safety and security benefits of pedestrian lighting as well as lighting design considerations at locations with existing or future pedestrian activity. The primer gives recommendations for streets with nearby transit lines and transit terminals.

In Food Access and Food Delivery Service: An Exploratory Study for the Role of Public Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020-2021, research by the Small Urban and Rural Center on Mobility (SURCOM) showed that many transit agencies provided food delivery years before the pandemic as one of their operational services to meet people's needs.

The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) explored what future transportation planners are learning in their college preparation programs to publish Higher Education Practices to Prepare Future Transportation Professionals Regarding Disability, Accessibility, and Mobility Management. Future professionals should have knowledge about disability issues, and the needs of individuals with disabilities, so they can use this knowledge to facilitate the accessibility of transportation systems.
Databases and Tools
The Transit Workforce Center (TWC) Transit Workforce Data Dashboard presents quantitative, descriptive data about the composition of the transit workforce and trends in transit employment using a series of charts and graphics. Data includes employment, workforce demographics, trends, projects, wages, education, and training.

Google Immersive View uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to fuse Street View and aerial images to create digital scenes. It layers helpful information on top like the weather, traffic, and how busy a place is. Search with Live View also lets users identify transit stations by lifting their phones while on the street.

Micromobility Industries and Ride Review have an Incentive Program Tracker with an interactive map that lets users search for small electric vehicle incentives by state. For example, Connecticut has an electric bicycle incentive and Texas has an electric ride rebate program.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory to disseminate LockBit 3.0 ransomware mitigation.

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.
Opportunities
The FinImpact Embracing Equity Women’s Empowerment Business Grant will provide funding to eligible women-run/women-owned businesses with fewer than 99 employees which have at least one female founder. The application deadline is April 30, 2023.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC) Program: RERC on Physical Access and Transportation is accepting grant applications through April 10, 2023. Awards will help provide access to safe, accessible, and useable transportation options for people with disabilities.

The USDA Community Connect program provides grants to eligible applicants that will provide broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where service does not exist. Applications are being accepted through June 20, 2023.

Nominations are open through May 14, 2023 for Mass Transit's 40 Under 40 Class of 2023. Criteria for selection include such things as job commitment, industry involvement and contribution, achievement in their position, and innovation in their field.
Legislation
The U.S. Copyright Office launched an initiative to examine the copyright law and policy issues raised by artificial intelligence technology, including the scope of copyright in works generated using AI tools and the use of copyrighted materials in AI training. After convening public listening sessions, the Office will publish a notice of inquiry in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Census Bureau amended regulations for the Population Estimates Challenge Program to provide eligible local governments with the opportunity to file requests for the review of their population estimates for 2021 and subsequent years in forthcoming estimates series, beginning with the Vintage 2022 series that is scheduled to be published in 2023. Under this program, a governmental unit may file a challenge to its official population estimate by submitting additional data to the Census Bureau for evaluation, or by identifying a technical error in processing input data or producing the estimates.
Upcoming Events
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.

ATTWG
Anchorage, AK, March 28-30
We're participating

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
March 30, 12:00 PM

TRB 
March 30, 1:00-2:30 PM

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Washington, DC and Virtual, March 30, 1:00-4:00 PM ET
No preregistration necessary

National RTAP 
March 31

Native Learning Center
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

APTA
Portland, OR, April 2-4

AzTA/ADOT
Mesa, AZ, April 3-5
We're presenting

Mcity and UMTRI
Ann Arbor, MI, April 4-5 and Virtual

FTA
April 5, 1:00 PM

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (OIEA) 
April 5, 2:00 PM

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
April 6, 12:00 PM

Great Lakes ADA Center
April 6, 2:30-4:00 PM

FHWA/FTA
April 6, 3:00 PM

HMP Global
Atlanta, GA, April 10-13

National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
Notre Dame, IN and Virtual, April 11, 1:00-3:30 PM ET
No preregistration necessary

N-CATT 
April 11, 18, and 25, 3:00-5:00 PM

TRB
Washington, DC, April 11-12

AASHTO
Oklahoma City, OK, April 11-14

Texas Transit Association
Corpus Christi, TX, April 11-15
Please visit our booth!

FTA
April 13, 1:00 PM

North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA)
Concord, NC, April 14-19

California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalAct)
Truckee, CA, April 17-20
Please stop by our table!

National Transit Institute
April 18, 2:00-3:00 PM

New Jersey TransAction
Atlantic City, NJ, April 18-20
Please visit our booth!

Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA)
April 19, 10:00 AM - 4:10 PM

FTA
April 20, 2:30 PM

National RTAP, CTE, and Climate Nexus
April 21, 2:00-3:00 PM

APTA
Minneapolis, MN, April 23-26

Cross Timbers Consulting, FHWA, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Glenpool, OK, April 24-26

ITS America
Grapevine, TX, April 24-27

FHWA
April 26, 1:00-3:00 PM

Mineta Transportation Institute
April 27, 1:00 PM

DePaul University
Chicago, IL, April 27-28

U.S. DOT 
Grapevine, TX and Virtual, April 28, 9:30-6:00 PM

Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
Chicago, IL, May 2, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

National Transit Institute
May 2, 2:00-3:30 PM

Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Worcester, MA, May 2-3
We're presenting and exhibiting

Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
Chicago, IL, May 2-4, 2023
We're moderating a session

STRIDE
May 3, 12:00 PM

U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 3, 2:00-3:00 PM

TRB
May 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

Safe-D 
May 4, 2:00 PM

National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP
May 9, 2:00-3:00 PM

engAGED
May 9-10, 1:00-4:00 PM

WTS International (Women's Transportation Seminar)
Atlanta, GA, May 10-12

FORTH
Portland, OR, May 15-17

National Transit Institute
May 16, 2:00-3:00 PM

Medical Libraries Association/Special Libraries Assortation
Detroit Michigan and Virtual, May 16-19
We're presenting

National Transit Institute
May 18, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Safety Council (NSC)
Indianapolis, IN, May 18-19

National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
Oklahoma City, OK, May 22, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) and the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT)
Oklahoma City, OK, May 22, 10:00 AM - 5:00 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.
National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | info@nationalrtap.org | nationalrtap.org