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National RTAP Solicits  Nominations for New 
Review Board Members

For 2018, National RTAP is soliciting nominations for two state transit officials and three rural or tribal transit operators for its Review Board.  The term is three years starting at the member's first meeting.

Serving on the board involves attending two Review Board meetings per year;  providing input on the development of training and technical assistance products; and representing National RTAP at your state transit conference.  It is a great opportunity to share your experience and perspective, to learn from your peers from other parts of the country, and to contribute to the advancement of rural and tribal transit.

More information, including the nomination form, is  available here .  If you have any questions, email [email protected]. The deadline for nominations is January 15, 2018. 
Recording of the "Understanding  the Updated Drug & Alcohol Testing Regulation Webinar" Available

The US DOT drug and alcohol testing regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, has been revised, with an effective date of January 1, 2018. 

During our w ebinar  on December 12, 2017, Robbie Sarles of RLS & Associates provided a summary of the changes and how they will impact transit systems.  Visit our Webinars page to view the Recording, Transcript, Q&A, and Slides from the webinar. 

National RTAP is planning a follow up webinar on Fitness for Duty policies.  Stay tuned for more information.
National RTAP ADA Topic Guide Updated

The  ADA Topic Guide  in our Resource Center was updated in December 2017.  Links to the resources below were added:
  • National RTAP eLearning Wheelchair Securement videos
  • 49 CFR 27 Transportation for Individuals with Disabilities; Reasonable Modification of Policies and Practices (within Section 27.7 - Discrimination prohibited)
  • U.S. General Services Administration website on Section 508 compliance for federal agencies on accessible websites for people with disabilities.
Call for Abstracts for RIBTC 2018

National RTAP is a sponsor of the 23rd National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC):  Changing Lives, Strengthening Communities , which will take place in Breckenridge, Colorado between September 30 - October 3, 2018. 

Transit professionals can present on a variety of topics: Planning, Design and Research; Policy, Funding and Finance; Special Topics on Rural Mobility; Rural and Tribal Transportation in Today's Operating Environment; and Better Mobility through Technology. The deadline for abstract submissions is January 7, 2018.
FTA and U.S. DOT Updates

U.S. DOT has published a Notice pertaining to how the regulatory changes to drug and alcohol testing regulations affect the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF).  The Revised CCF can be used effective January 1, 2018 and is required to be used effective June 30, 2018.  In addition, DOT has provided Guidance for DOT-funded agencies to update their policies in light of the changes to 49 CFR Part 40.

Did you know that FTA has a Transit Asset Management Peer Library?  The Library contains TAM plans, capital improvement plans and asset inventories from a number state DOTS and transit agencies.  And you can share yours with others too!
Resources and News

Opportunities

The Tribal Transportation Unity Caucus Meeting will take place on January 17-18, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ.  The meeting's goal is to discuss issues associated with tribal transportation and to develop a national tribal unified position to take forward to Congress and the Administration.   Register to participate.

Training

Plan to start of the new year with NTI training on a variety of trainings on topics in transit operations and management, including:  RFPs and Competitive Contract Negotiations, Project Management for Transit Professionals, Quality Assurance and Quality Control, and Orientation to Transit Procurement.  Visit NTI Online for upcoming offerings. 

Publications

National RTAP participated in AOTA Inc's Older Driver Initiative Twitter Chat on December 4, 2017.  Some of the many helpful resources that were discussed in the chat included:
  • AOTA's Podcasts and resources for friends and families of older adults, such as "Staying Engaged in the Community With or Without a Car"
  • Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence brochures, "We Need to Talk: Family Conversations with Older Drivers"
  • Safe Mobility for Life Coalition's Lifelong Community Checklist

FHWA has published Integrating Emerging Data Sources into Operational Practice: Opportunities for Integration of Emerging Data for Traffic Management and TMCs. The report aims to identify how big data technologies can be used in traffic management systems (TMCs) and develop potential use cases for integrating big data. Potential data could include connected vehicles, transit incident management and transit asset management.
National RTAP Poster at TRB Annual Meeting
 
Planning on attending the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.? On January 10, 2:30-4:00 pm ET, National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips will present a research poster created by her and Resource Center Manager Cara Marcus, "National RTAP's Resource Share Curation Project: Development of a Collection Tailored Toward Rural and Tribal Transit Technical Assistance."
Look for us at these upcoming conferences!
  • Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 7-11
  • South West Transit Association, Denver, CO, March 5-7
December 14, 2017
Events
TRB 
Annual Meeting
Washington  D.C
January 7-11, 2018

World Bank Group
Transforming Transportation 2018
January 11-12
Washington, DC

NTI
RFPs and Competitive Contract Negotiations
January 15-19
Lewisville, TX
Training

TTUC
Tribal Transportation Unity Caucus Meeting
January 17-18
Phoenix, AZ

NTI
Project Management for Transit Professionals  
January 17-18
Houston, TX
Training

Idaho Technology Transfer Center
Safety Fest of the Great Northwest
January 23-26
Boise, ID

NTI
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
January 24-25
Miami, FL
Training

NTI
Orientation to Transit Procurement
January 29-February 2
Chicago, IL

South West Transit Association
2018 SWTA Freedom Through Transit Annual Conference
March 5-7
Denver, CO

RIBTC
National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
Sept 30-Oct 3
Breckenridge, CO
Conference

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our  Calendar . To submit an event, email 
 [email protected].

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
Recording of the "ADA Riders Guide and Policies for Tribal Transit Peer Call" Available

National RTAP and the National Aging & Disability Transportation Center hosted a conversation about ADA and Tribal Transit on November 30. Facilitators included Ken Thompson of NADTC and Easterseals, Jennie Rowland of Big Woods Transit, and National RTAP Staff. The recording and call notes can be  accessed here. 
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