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National RTAP 101 Webinar: Procurement for Contracted Services

Join National RTAP, Washington State DOT Transit Division, and Main Street Connections consulting for this 101 webinar to learn about procuring services, from janitorial to consulting contracts. You'll also learn about how National RTAP's ProcurementPro tool can help you with identifying the federal clauses and correct procurement processes to comply with FTA procurement rules. 

Register now  for this webinar next Thursday, July 20 at 2:30-3:30 p.m. Bring your questions and procurement issues to this table of experts!
Reminder: National RTAP Peer Call Today on Tribal Transit Management

National RTAP is partnering with the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) to have a conversation about Tribal Transit. FTA's Tribal Program has grown and the need for continuity and shared learning has also expanded. 

Register now  for this Peer Call today, Thursday, July 13 at 2:30-3:30 p.m. ET to hear an overview of tribal transit management and join a discussion of what's happening nationally.  Share your perspective and best practices for others, and hear about resources and opportunities for making your system even better!
National RTAP 2017 Marketing Contest

Reminder: instead of our annual Photo Contest, this year we're asking for your passenger guides!  Check out our   Marketing Transit Toolkit for ideas on how to improve your existing brochure, or submit it as is. The deadline is July 31!
 
The grand prize is one free registration for our 2017 Conference in Omaha, October 29-November 1, and t wo runner-ups will receive $50 gift cards.  Brochures will be judged on: passenger in formation provided;  clarity;  visual quality; and  overall user-friendliness.  For full details and the consent form, go to our Marketing Contest page.  
Register for National RTAP's 2017 Conference

Registration is open for the 2017 National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference: Transportation at the Center! Join us in Omaha, Nebraska from October 29 to November 1 for workshops, presentations, keynote speakers, and round-tables with a focus on training and practical solutions for rural and tribal transportation. 

Visit the Conference Website for more information and to register!
FTA and U.S. DOT Updates
 
FTA just announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $226.5 million for transit bus projects nationwide through the competitive Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program (Section 5339), with a minimum of 10% allocated for rural projects.   Pull out your transit asset management plans and see what your priorities are for bus rehab and replacement, then call your state transit program to find out their time-frame and available resources. Read the NOFO for full details.  The application period closes August 25 , 2017 at 11:59 PM.

Register now for FTA's 17th Biennial State Programs Meeting and State Public Transit Partnerships Conference in Washington, DC, August 16-18. The audience includes State 5311 and 5310 Program Managers and State Transit Staff. Keep an eye on the 5311 page for more information and plan to attend the meeting to :
  • get a refresher on TAM, 
  • review safety initiatives, 
  • hear about emerging options in coordinated mobility, and
  • share your vision of the future of rural transit!  
Resources and News

Publications

The Small Urban and Rural Livability Center published an Intercity Bus Stop Analysis. Results from this research should help state DOTs as they determine whether intercity bus service needs are being met in their states.

TRB recently released the Public Transportation Guidebook for Small- and Medium-Sized Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), a resource to explore, evaluate, initiate, plan, and implement public-private partnership initiatives. 

AASHTO published a Communications Guide for State Departments of Transportation. Learn more and download the free guide from the AASHTO Bookstore.

Training and Webinars

Listen to NADTC's recently recorded Reduced Fare Podcast  about requirements and applications of reduced fare programs for public transit. Included in the 12 minute podcast are types of programs, reduced fare incentives for both riders and transit systems, and eligibility for people with disabilities, older adults, and students.

Also check out the NADTC June E-Alert for new resources on Transportation Information & Assistance, including a recorded webinar and new blog series.

Below are some upcoming NTI courses. See the  NTI Website for details and the full calendar: 
  • Procurement Series III: RFPs and Competitive Contract Negotiations -- July 31-August 1, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Ridership Forecasting with Simplified Trips-on-Project Software package (STOPS) for Transit Project Planning -- September 6-7, Philadelphia, PA
Opportunities
 
TRB is seeking  nominations for the Sharon D. Banks Award recognizing excellence in people-oriented initiatives, due July 31.
Look for us at these upcoming conferences!
July 13, 2017
Events
National RTAP
Tribal Transit Manager Overview
July 13
2:30-3:30 p.m.

LTAP/TTAP 
2017 National Conference
July 17-20
Portsmouth, VA

NTI 
July 19
2:00-3:30 p.m. 

National RTAP
Procurement of Contracted Services
July 20
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Webinar

SWTA 
Freedom Through Transit Summer
University
July 25-6 & July 27-28
Dallas, TX

Easterseals
Transportation and the ADA Workshop
August 2-3
Des Moines, IA

FTA
State Programs Meeting
Washington, D.C.
August 16-18 
Save the Date

FTA
2017 TAM Roundtable
August 28-29
Cambridge, MA

NTTC
20th Annual National Tribal Transportation Conference
Tucson, AZ
September 25-29

National RTAP 
2017 Technical Assistance Conference
Omaha, NE
Oct 29-Nov 1,  2017
Early Bird: Sept 8

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our  Calendar . To submit an event, email 
info@nationalrtap.org.

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
Substance Abuse Awareness Training, Testing, and Compliance Technical Brief
 
Anyone designated by the US DOT as a safety-sensitive employee is subject to DOT drug and alcohol testing. But what does "safety-sensitive" mean? 

This brief will provide guidance for employers who must train and test safety-sensitive employees for drug and alcohol use and misuse, and prepare employees for what to expect. 

Download it from our  Resource Library  and refresh your understanding of this important compliance topic!
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.:  718 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001