National RTAP eNews - July 9, 2020

eNews - July 9, 2020

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.

New National RTAP Training Module: Essential Spanish for Rural Transit - Find Out More in our Upcoming Webinar

Essential Spanish for Rural Transit is a National RTAP training that provides the most frequently asked questions passengers ask, as well as the most important messages that transit drivers need to give those passengers, in a simple English/Spanish format to facilitate effective communication.

The full training module includes:

8 1/2 " x 5 1/2 " training card
11 " x 8 1/2 " training card
technical brief
narrated PowerPoint presentation (available on the training module disc)
quiz.

The cards, technical brief, quiz, and disc can each be ordered from the Resource Library. The training was produced in partnership with Oregon Department of Transportation. Frank Thomas, ODOT Regional Transit Coordinator and Carroll J. Cottingham, ODOT Intermodal Civil Rights Manager, will introduce the training module and its applications in a webinar on August 6, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

Featured Resource

National RTAP/AASHTO ProcurementPRO State Portal Webinar

National RTAP and AASHTO’s Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) are co-hosting a webinar on creating a state procurement portal within National RTAP’s existing ProcurementPRO application. This webinar is recommended for all state level procurement officials.

The webinar will provide a brief overview of the widely used ProcurementPRO application, but will focus on the application’s capacity to upload state procurement thresholds and documents (clauses, certification, checklists, other) through the creation of a state procurement portal. Once a state portal is created, that state’s subrecipients can easily generate documents inclusive of federal and/or state procurement requirements.

The webinar will take place on July 29, 2020, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, and will be hosted by Nancy Doherty of National RTAP and Richard Price of MTAP. Panelists include Michael LaBello of Main Street Connections, procurement expert, and Justin Heavenridge of DevObal Technologies, ProcurementPRO Project Manager. Learn how a state portal may be useful for your state and understand what information is required to create a portal. The webinar will also include a demonstration of how the portal is created. Register for the webinar.

Resources and Events

Rural Transit Day is Next Week

Rural Transit Day will take place on July 16, 2020. This year there are many new ways to get involved. Visit our Rural Transit Day web page to learn more. Our #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat will take place from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. RSVP to receive an invite. Rural, Tribal, Intercity, and State Transit Agencies can take the Rural Transit Day Pledge to show their commitment to rural transit. As of July 8, 2020, 33 agencies have taken the pledge. Enter our "What Does Rural Transit Mean to You" contests on our Twitter and Instagram pages to win a prize.

Rural Transit Day is now listed on timeanddate.com, so you can add the observance to your calendar.

National RTAP ADA Toolkit Update Webinar Recording Available

Beth Hamby and Buffy Ellis of the KFH Group presented an overview of the comprehensively updated National RTAP ADA Toolkit on June 30, 2020. Access the webinar recording, slides, and Q&A document.

Upcoming MPTA/IPTA Webinar on National RTAP ADA Toolkit

Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) in partnership with Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA) will be holding a return engagement of our ADA Toolkit Overview Webinar on July 22, 1:00-2:00 PM ET. Register for the MPTA/IPTA webinar.

Upcoming State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable with a Training Focus

National RTAP will be holding a training-focused peer roundtable for State RTAP Managers on July 23, 2020, from 2:00-3:00 PM. No need to register, just join GoToMeeting at the time of the Roundtable or call 646-749-3112, Access Code 149-248-141. Topics covered will include training certifications, online training platforms, training scholarships, and in-person training safety protocols in light of COVID-19. Participants can also ask their own questions. RSVP for a calendar invite.

Enter the National RTAP Rural Transit Heroes Photo Contest

Do you know a someone who has gone above and beyond to make sure their passengers travel safely and comfortably in all situations? An innovator that helps rural and Tribal transit agencies overcome challenges and find solutions? A leader in providing essential services during the pandemic, curbing human trafficking, addressing the opioid crisis, or helping other vulnerable populations through transit?

All these heroes deserve to be celebrated, so the theme of our 2020 Photo Contest is “Rural Transit Heroes.” The contest ends August 20, 2020.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

FTA published their Fiscal Year 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Supplemental Apportionments, Allocations, Program Information and Guidance in the Federal Register on July 2, 2020. $1,989,462,090 has been apportioned for rural and Tribal areas.

The U.S. DOT COVID-19 Drug & Alcohol Testing Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals and Service Agents has been extended and continues to be effective through September 30, 2020.

FTA posted new COVID-19 FAQs:

Administrative Relief, including NTD reporting (AD6-AD17)
Civil Rights (CR15-CR18)
CARES Act and Emergency Relief (CE16-17, and an update to CE4)
FTA Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements (DA1-DA10).

U.S. DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office offers a list of educational institutions (universities, community colleges, technical schools,etc.) that offer coursework in ITS, connected vehicles, automated vehicles, smart cities, or other innovative transportation research.

FTA's Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) recently published a CCAM Cost-Sharing Policy Statement, which provides key transportation cost-sharing information to encourage greater State and local cost sharing. The three-page document includes principles specific to the provision of Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation and the Veterans Health Administration’s Highly Rural Transportation Grants program.

A new State Based Intercity Bus Service Map is available from U.S. DOT. The map is color-coded to show rural intercity routes, and displays trip, stop, departure, and other data.

Opportunities

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) solicits rural applications to support construction, non-construction, technical assistance, and revolving loan fund projects. The funding is designed to leverage existing regional assets to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities. There are no submission deadlines.

Veterans Health Administration (VHA) published a Notice of Funding Availability for approximately $200,000 for potential new grantees (not current grantees) under the Grants for Transportation of Veterans in Highly Rural Areas for fiscal year 2021. July 17, 2020 is the closing date for applications.

The Federal Communications Commission is accepting applications for their Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction. Applications Will be accepted through July 15, 2020, and bidding will begin on October 29, 2020.

USDA is soliciting applications to their Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant Program, which provides technical assistance to socially-disadvantaged groups through cooperatives and Cooperative Development Centers. The application deadline is August 10, 2020.

The University of South Florida is conducting a Free Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure research study and is seeking volunteers. Agencies that operate electric vehicles and would like to be contacted to participate can fill out this survey.

Studio Six Branding is deploying a national transit survey. The information gathered will help stakeholders to better understand the communication tools and information necessary for transit professionals to successfully navigate the unchartered territory caused by COVID. The analysis and results will be shared with those who submit the survey.

Webinars and Training

A number of conferences that have traditionally taken place in person have gone virtual. Some of these include virtual vendor showcases and networking opportunities. Upcoming virtual conferences include:

Q'Straint/Sure Lok is hosting a 2020 Virtual National Training Seminar on wheelchair securement from July 13-31, 2020. The training is free and can be accessed on-demand. Students will receive certificates for the segments they complete.

National RTAP Directory of Trainers Updated

Based on feedback to our 2020 State RTAP Survey, we added a number of new trainers to our Directory of Trainers. Search our directory by keyword, FTA region, first name, and/or state. Some of the new training topics we've added include Roadeo Preparation, PTASP, and Equal Employment Opportunity Program Compliance.

Welcome New State RTAP Managers

National RTAP extends a warm welcome to our community to our newest State RTAP Managers Kevin Lange of Wisconsin and Casey Lewis of Louisiana. To contact them or any RTAP Manager, visit our Directory of State RTAP Managers .

Publications

The Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group's Rural Community Toolbox: Funding & Tools to Build Healthy Drug-Free Rural Communities is a guide to resources that can help make a difference in rural communities. There are sections about transportation in relation to expert help and training, technical assistance, and funding. National RTAP participated in the development of this toolkit.

FHWA's Applications of Enterprise GIS for Transportation (AEGIST) Guidebook shows how government agencies can work together to develop a consistent means of collecting, maintaining, and publishing spatial data. For example, inventory routes (transit services are considered inventory) can be subdivided at county/parish boundaries to provide reasonable inventory route lengths in rural areas.

American Bus Association (ABA) has published Sample Policies for Post-Pandemic Cleanliness and Safety.

The latest installment in the National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN) Libguide Petting Zoo blog series focuses on the National Transportation Library Libguide on their ROSA P Library Database. Read the blog post and visit the Libguide.

NADTC's Medical Transportation Toolkit reviews transportation programs addressing gaps in access to health care services in their community and how these programs play a key role in providing medical transportation services to older adults and people with disabilities.

Mobility on Demand in the United States by the University of California at Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center reviews terms and definitions related to Mobility on Demand and Mobility as a Service, the mobility marketplace, stakeholders, and enablers.

Federal Public Transportation Program: In Brief is a Congressional Research Service report that provides data and explanations for how federal transportation funds, such as Rural Area Formula Program funds (49 U.S.C. Section 5311), are allocated.

National RTAP Wheelchair Securement Topic Guide Updated

The National RTAP Wheelchair Securement Topic Guide was updated in June 2020. Newly added resources include:

CTAA's COVID-19 Wheelchair Securement Best Practices
University of Massachusetts Medical School Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research Safe Transportation of People in Wheelchairs

N-CATT Launches Website

The National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) is the newest FTA Technical Assistance Center. They recently launched their website, which includes a calendar of events, a Tech University with webinar recordings, fact sheets and other resources, and information about their Technology Strike Teams technical assistance program.

Databases and Tools

University of Chicago’s Center for Spatial Data Science provides a U.S. COVID-19 Atlas with county-level clustering surveillance tool to provide quick access to county-level COVID-19 estimates, longitudinal exploration, and statistical cluster detection. A map overlay can be selected to show Native American Reservations.

Harvard’s Global Health Institute and partners provide a COVID Risk Level Map with color-coded risk levels by county.

Legislation

FMCSA plans to submit its Information Collection Request for the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Skills Testing Delays

Annual Survey. Those who wish to comment on this notice may do so through August 10, 2020. FMCSA also published responses to comments received on their Crash Preventability Determination Program. Motor carriers and drivers can submit eligible crashes for preventability determinations through FMCSA’s DataQs system.

FMCSA amended financial assistance programs on June 24, 2020 and adopted a new funding formula. The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) is effective for FY 2021 grant funds and beyond. MCSAP provides financial assistance to reduce the number and severity of crashes and hazardous materials incidents involving commercial motor vehicles. The new MCSAP formula includes State, Border, and Territory. Petitions for Reconsideration of this rule must be submitted by July 24, 2020.

The deadline for applying to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been extended to August 8, 2020. The PPP provides small business payroll loans on favorable terms to borrowers impacted by the current state of economic uncertainty.

The Federal Communications Commission published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register on July 6, 2020 about Modernizing and Expanding Access to the 70/80/90 GHz Bands. The Commission seeks to take advantage of the highly directional signal characteristics of these bands, which may permit the co-existence of multiple types of deployments. Comments are due on or before August 5, 2020.

Calendar of 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.

Eno Center for Transportation

Why Transit Agencies Need the Public to take Ownership of the Transit Experience

July 9, 2:00-2:30 PM