National RTAP eNews - March 7, 2019

eNews - March 7, 2019

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.

Save the Date: National RTAP/Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) Twitter Chat

Please join National RTAP and the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) on April 10, 2019 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET for a #ZeroEmissionTransition Twitter Chat moderated by Jennifer Fundora and the experts at the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE). The chat will focus on ways to improve the health of our climate and communities through clean, efficient, and sustainable transportation technologies. Those interested in attending can RSVP to info@nationalrtap.org

Updated National RTAP Technical Brief on Training Adult Learners

Training programs are successful when learners are able to apply new knowledge to everyday workplace responsibilities. National RTAP's Training Adult Learners: How to Reach and Engage Your Audience Technical Brief, updated in January 2019, discusses characteristics of adult learners, the process of learning, and provides tips on planning and delivering training programs. Updates include new case studies and resources.

Featured Resource

Trainer Michael Noel delivering training to adult learners. Photo by Kelly Marsocci.

Photo of Michael Noel training by Kelly Marscocci

Resources and Events

Now You can Follow Us on Instagram

After launching YouTube and LinkedIn pages in 2018, we have enlarged our social family with a new Instagram page in February 2019. We will be featuring photographs that showcase rural and tribal transit vehicles, staff and riders from our photo contests, Marketing Toolkit Photo Library and conferences.

National RTAP Welcomes Executive Assistant Nelly Cubahiro

Nelly Cubahiro was recently hired as Executive Assistant to National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips, and will be working with Robin in our Washington, DC office. To learn more about Nelly and other National RTAP staff, visit our staff web page.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

U.S. DOT is soliciting applications for its SBIR program, which awards contracts to domestic small businesses to pursue research on and develop innovative solutions to transportation challenges. The FTA topic is “Cost Allocation Technology for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation." The solicitation period ends April 22, 2019.

FTA will be hosting a webinar on Putting TAM Data to Use on March 19, 3:00-4:00 PM. Presenters will discuss how their Transit Asset Management (TAM) programs track condition data, use analytical tools and visualize data using dashboards.

U.S. DOT announced the award of $5 million in grant funds to improve public transportation on Tribal lands. The grants will support 36 projects in 14 states.

A Joint Statement was issued from the White House,U.S. DOT and EPA on the SAFE Vehicles Rule on February 21, 2019. A final rule is being planned for 2019 with the goal of promoting safer, cleaner, and more affordable vehicles.

Publications

Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Philanthropy Toolkit compiles emerging practices and resources to support rural communities seeking to build relationships with philanthropies across the United States. The toolkit includes sections on describing unique rural assets and understanding expectations for grant recipients.

TCRP's Handbook for Examining the Effects of Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Brokerages on Transportation Coordination describes models available to states for providing non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for Medicaid beneficiaries. The handbook discusses coordination of NEMT with other transportation services.

The Small Urban and Rural Livability Center and the National Center for Transit Research prepared the report Transit and Livability: Results from the National Community Livability Survey. In non-metro areas, 18.8% of the transit riders responding rode public transit 2-3 days/week and 35.4% started riding transit because of the convenience.

The January/February FTA Transit Safety Oversight Spotlight newsletter is available. The issue provides guidance on using a system safety program plan to develop an agency safety plan and an article about the role of the Chief Safety Officer in PTASP implementation.

Webinars and Training

National Transit Institute (NTI) regularly holds training throughout the country. Some of their upcoming offerings include:

Risk Assessment for Transit Capital Projects, March 13-14
Managing Community Mobility, April 10-11

View their list of upcoming trainings.

National RTAP Defensive Driving Topic Guide Updated

We've updated our Defensive Driving Topic Guide in February 2019. New resources include TCRP's Successful Practices and Training Initiatives to Reduce Accidents and Incidents at Transit Agencies and Texas Department of Insurance's Take 5: Defensive Driving.

Opportunities

NCHRP invites interested individuals to join their Rural Transportation Research Roadmap Final Stakeholder Workshop on March 7, 2:00-3:30 PM ET. Participants will answer the question, "What Are Your Rural Transportation Needs?"

AARP is soliciting quick-action projects to help communities become more livable and improve transportation, public space and other elements. Applications are due April 17, 2019.

Legislation

An Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI) was issued on February 11, 2019. Agencies involved will be determined by the NSTC Select Committee. The initiative targets agencies that conduct research and development, develop technologies, provide educational grants, and regulate and provide guidance on AI.

Calling All Students!

Students who have already written a paper or just have ideas can consider submitting a research poster to the 4th National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference: Charting New Trails for Rural & Tribal Transit. Students can share original studies on transportation with top industry leaders at a national conference. Winners receive awards.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

NCHRP

Rural Transportation Research Roadmap Final Stakeholder Workshop

March 7, 2:00-3:30 PM

Workshop

Portland State University, Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)

Public Transportation and New Mobility

March 8, 2:30-4:00 PM

Webinar

HealthLandscape

Mar 11, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Rural Health Explorer

Webinar

National Transit Institute

Transit Fare Policy

March 11-12, Newark, NJ

Training

Alaska Tribal Transportation Workgroup

Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium

Anchorage, AK, March 11-13

Symposium

Easterseals Project Action Consulting

Introduction to Travel Training Workshop –

Sparks, NV, March 11-13

Workshop

National Transit Institute

Transit Maintenance Leadership Workshop

Denver, CO, March 11-15

Workshop

National Transit Institute

National Transit Database: 2019 Safety and Security Non-Rail Mode Reporting

March 12, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Webinar

Illinois RTAC

Illinois RTAC Spring Conference

Springfield, IL, March 12-13

Conference

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transportation Conformity

San Antonio, TX, March 12-14

Training

National Transit Institute

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise

Sacramento, CA, March 12-14

Training

Federal Transit Administration

Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Final Rule (PTASP) Frequently Asked Questions

March 13, 2:00-3:00 PM

Webinar

National Transit Institute

Paratransit Management & Operations

Denton, TX, March 13-14

Training

National Transit Institute

Risk Assessment for Transit Capital Projects

Phoenix, AZ, March 13-14

Training

Easterseals Project Action Consulting

Advanced Travel Training Strategies

Sparks, NV, March 14-15

Workshop

FTA

Putting TAM Data to Use

March 19, 3:00-4:00 PM

Webinar

TRB

Four Databases with a Common Goal: Promoting Transportation Research

March 21, 1:00- 2:30 PM

Webinar

National Transit Institute

Introduction to Transportation Conformity

Oakland, CA, March 25-27

Training

National Transit Institute

Procurement I: Orientation to Transit Procurement

Pittsburgh, PA, March 25-29

Training

National Transit Institute

Managing the Environmental Review Process Seminar

Seattle, WA, March 26-27

Training

National Transit Institute

Performance-Based Planning & Programming

Seattle, WA, March 26-27

Training

National Transit Institute

Procurement I: Orientation to Transit Procurement

Kansas City, MO, April 1-5

Training

Federal Transit Administration

Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference

Milwaukee, WI, April 2-4

Conference

National Transit Institute

Paratransit Management & Operations

April 8-9, 2019 – Wilmington, DE

Training

WAMM

2019 WAMM Spring Conference

Eau Claire, WI, April 8-10

Conference

National Transit Institute

Managing Community Mobility

Providence, RI, April 10-11

Training

North Carolina Public Transportation Association

NCPTA Annual Conference & Expo

Wilmington, NC, April 26 - May 1

Conference

For a list ing 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

Look for Us at these Upcoming Conferences

Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium, Anchorage, AK, March 11-13
Illinois RTAC Spring Conference, Springfield, IL, Mar 12-13
MAHSLIN Annual Meeting, Waltham, MA, Mar 15
Transportation Association of South Carolina Vendor Show and Roadeo, Clemson, SC, Mar 21-24
NM Transit Roadeo, Conference and Expo, Santa Fe, NM, Mar. 31-Apr. 2
WI Association of Mobility Managers Spring Conference, Eau Claire, April 8-10
MassDOT Transportation Innovation Conference, Worcester, MA, April 9-10
National Conference on Aging, New Orleans, LA, April 15-18
CALACT, Coronado, CA, April 23-26
NCPTA Annual Conference & Expo, April 26-May 1
Oklahoma Transit Association (OTA) Annual Conference & EXPO, Durant, OK, Apr 30- May 1
CTAA EXPO, Palm Springs, CA, May 19-24
CASTA Spring Training Conference, Denver, CO, May 21-24
NEPTA Conference & Expo, Warwick, RI, Jun. 26-27

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