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National RTAP Peer Call: Engaging Community Stakeholders

Transit succeeds when it is a visible, valued part of the surrounding community. Join National RTAP for this Peer Call about integrating your agency into your community. Transit veterans Deb Dauenhauer and Ernie Palmer will be participating in the discussion to contribute their own community success stories. Ask questions and share your experience with engaging local stakeholders on Wednesday, February 15 from 2:30-3:30 PM Eastern. Register Now!
Deadline for National RTAP 2017 Conference Session Abstracts Extended to February 15!

The National RTAP Conference Committee is soliciting presentation proposals for the 2017 Technical Assistance Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, October 29-November 1. 

The Committee seeks proposals on topics and tools relevant to rural public, tribal, veterans' and intercity bus transportation. We are especially interested in those who have implemented or developed successful approaches to issues related to Administration & Planning, Operations, Compliance, Coordination, and Technology.

Read the full Call for Presentations or visit the 2017 Conference Website . Presentation abstracts should be submitted via our Online Form by  February 15,  2017.
National RTAP 2017 Technical Assistance Program

This year we are looking to select two small rural or tribal transit providers to receive technical assistance regarding their marketing or communications.  

We anticipate that each project will involve, at a minimum, developing or updating the agency's marketing plan and an assessment of the system's visibility, image, and passenger experience.  We will use the Worksheets from the Marketing Toolkit  as a starting point.  

Applications are due Friday, March 17, 2017 at 12:00 PM Eastern. To learn more about the program, application requirements, and to submit your application, go to the  2017 Technical Assistance  Webpage.
Transit Asset Management 101 Webinar Recording Now Available

The Recording and Slides from our recent webinar with Kelly Shawn of RLS & Associates, is now on our website! The webinar discussed the  Transit Asset Management (TAM) requirements issued by FTA in July 2016 and the impact on small transit providers.

Want to learn more? Visit FTA's website for the Final Rule; recordings and slides from the Webinar Series; the  Guide for Small Providers and related TAM Plan Template; and other Resources.
FTA and US DOT Updates
 
The FY2017 Tribal Transit Program  Notice of Funding Opportunity for $5 million in competitive grants was recently released.  Visit the FTA's website for details. The deadline is March 20.

FTA released an updated Award Management Requirements Circular
(5010.1E) which will take effect on February 13. 

The DOT has issued an NPRM  for a possible change to its drug-testing program. The proposed change would add several additional substances to the testing list, among other changes. 

A new FTA Buy America Handbook is available, proving grantees, manufacturers, subcontractors, and suppliers the necessary steps to meet the pre-award and post-delivery audit requirements.

FTA's SMS Awareness course is now available via the Transportation Safety Institute's  Learning Management System, which also offers free online courses for transit employees on Distracted Driving and Fatigue & Sleep Apnea, as well as various instructor-led courses. Check out the  Catalog and register to get started! 

TSO's Spotlight newsletter for January is now  Available  and includes  a list of upcoming training opportunities and information about FTA's new Safety Management Systems (SMS) course.

DOT's January 17 Fastlane  post has additional remarks on Beyond Traffic, its forward-looking vision of our transportation system. 
Resources and News

News

NCMM recently launched a new eLearning site  featuring two new courses. Sign up and learn about Mobility Management Basics and Creating Innovative Transportation Solutions.

NCMM's January newsletter highlighted CTAA's Analysis of the new FHWA/FTA Planning Rule on MPO coordination and reform. If you aren't already signed up for NCMM's newsletter, you can do so Here.

Opportunities

A few upcoming NTI courses - see their website for the full calendar: 
National RTAP on Facebook

Want to stay up-to-date between editions of eNews? 'Like' us on Facebook and stay on top of rural transit news, resources, and opportunities!
January 26, 2017
Events
National Center for Rural Road Safety
Results of Research Project: Assessing the Operational and Cultural Environment 
January 31
2:30-4:00pm

Southwest Transit Association
Annual Conference
Baton Rouge, LA
February 13-15

2017 National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference: Call for Presentations
Deadline Extended to February 15

National RTAP
Peer Call: Engaging Local Stakeholders 
February 15
2:30-3:30pm

National RTAP
Introduction to TCRP Problem Statements
February 16
2:30-3:30pm

NTI
Bus Operator Workstation Design Part II, Design Guidance Tools
February 16 
2:00-3:30pm
Webinar 

TTA
Texas 2017 Spring Training, Expo, Roadeo
Lubbock, TX
March 21-26

NMTA
Transit Roadeo, Conference, Expo
Bernalillo, NM
March 25-28

Illinois RTAC 
Spring Conference
Springfield, IL
April 5-6
 
NTI
Transit Maintenance Leadership Workshop
Long Beach, CA
April 10-14, 2017

FTA
12th Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference
April 18-20, 2017
New Orleans, LA

National RTAP 
2017 Technical Assistance Conference
Oct 29-Nov 1,  2017
Omaha, NE

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our  Calendar . If you'd like to submit an event, please email info@nationalrtap.org.

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
Did you know? National RTAP recently released an Advertising Best Practices article with examples, tips, and lessons-learned regarding bus wraps and in-kind advertising from five rural transit agencies. 

Also be sure to check out our previous articles on Surveillance Programs, Fuel Efficient Driving, Travel Training, and more!
National RTAP is a program of the Federal Transit Administration dedicated to creating rural and Tribal transit solutions through technical assistance, partner collaboration and FREE training materials.

Contact us:
Main:  5 Wheeling Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801, 888-589-6821
Washington, D.C.:  50 F Street NW, Suite 7020, Washington, DC 20001