National RTAP eNews - March 21, 2019

eNews - March 21, 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.

Updates to the National RTAP Cloud and ProcurementPRO

We have updated the National RTAP Cloud that hosts our Web Apps: ProcurementPRO, GTFS Builder and Website Builder. The first time users log in after February 14, 2019, they will need to create a new account.

The new ProcurementPRO 2.0 includes changes to the Micro-Purchase and Simplified Acquisition Thresholds based on the Uniform 2018 Guidance put out by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This guidance increased the micro-purchase threshold from $3,500 to $10,000 and the simplified acquisition threshold from $150,000 to $250,000 for all entities, except states. Because of this, ProcurementPRO 2.0 users need to enter a budget greater than $250,000 to generate federal clauses and certificates for competitive solicitation methods like IFBs and RFPs.

Transit's Role in Emergency Response

How can transit agencies plan for the unexpected? By their very nature, emergencies are unpredictable. That’s why the time to develop a detailed plan—and to convey that plan to key community partners—is before disaster strikes. This National RTAP Technical Brief, Transit's Role in Emergency Response, provides important information for transit providers keep in mind to plan for unexpected emergencies. The brief was updated in 2018 with new resources, a recovery checklist and detailed recommendations on emergency response from transit managers throughout the country.

Featured Resource

Resources and Events

National RTAP FAQ Page Updated

We've updated our FAQ Page to define and clarify the ten types of products that National RTAP Provides (training modules, technical briefs, eLearning, etc.). All National RTAP products are free to rural and tribal transit organizations.

Upcoming National RTAP/CTE Zero-Emission Transition Twitter Chat

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 #ZeroEmissionTransitionTwitter 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

National RTAP Welcomes Analyst Nancy Doherty

Nancy Doherty was recently hired as an analyst for National RTAP, and will be working with our team in our Woburn office. To learn more about Nancy and other National RTAP staff, visit our staff web page.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

FTA has published FY 2019 Apportionments on their website. Allocations include $716,416,160 for both Section 5311 and 5340, as well as $11,888,475 for Section 5311(b)(3).

As part of the American Broadband Initiative, U.S. DOT collaborated with the General Services Organization (GSA) and other federal agencies to revise the current SF299 Application for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands. The revision expands its use to include wired and wireless antenna installations and allows it to be more responsive to stakeholder needs.

FTA announced the opportunity for eligible applicants to apply for up to $85 million in competitive grant funds through FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. Apply through grants.gov by May 14, 2019

FTA is holding a public meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) in Arlington, VA, March 26-27. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information, advice and recommendations to the Secretary and FTA Administrator on matters relating to the safety of public transportation systems.

Publications

TCRP's Research Report 201: Understanding Changes in Demographics, Preferences, and Markets for Public Transportation explores how an individual’s demographic factors affect long-term values, current attitudes, and type of neighborhood they choose to live in. Each of these factors also affects their overall likelihood to use transit.

FHWA's Expanding Traveler Choices Through the Use of Incentives: A Compendium of Examples provides case studies based on programs that provide rewards, perks and incentives designed to encourage individuals to consider transportation alternatives.

In Exploring the Relationships Among Travel Multimodality, Driving Behavior, Use of Ridehailing and Energy Consumption, researchers from University of California at Davis National Center for Sustainable Transportation focus on vehicle miles traveled, the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for transportation purposes of various groups of travelers.

FMCSA updated their Implementation Guidelines for Drug and Alcohol Regulations in February 2018. The guidelines explain elements of a compliant program and contain sample documents, checklists, and forms. Updates include testing procedures and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Webinars and Training

The Transportation Research Board has a number of upcoming webinars, including:

Four Databases with a Common Goal: Promoting Transportation Research, March 21
One Federal Decision: Requirements and Tips for Achieving This Goal, March 27
Programs to Support the Deployment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, April 3

Find out more and register on the TRB webinars web page.

National RTAP Disasters Topic Guide Updated

We've updated our Disasters Topic Guide in March 2019. New resources include Rural Health Information Hub's Rural Emergency Preparedness and Response and the NACCHO, ASTHO, ASPR and ACL Capacity-Building Toolkit for including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning .

Opportunities

Government Technology is accepting applications for their IT innovation and Leadership Awards. Award catagories are for delivering technology to citizens, technology innovation and leadership. Closing dates are March 21 to June 27, depending on region.

USDA is offering grants nationwide and to U.S. territories without broadband through the Community Connect Broadband Grant Program. Applications must be received by April 15, 2019.

AASHTO is asking State DOTs to identify and document recently completed “high-value” research projects. States must nominate projects by March 31, 2019.

SAMHSA is providing Building Communities of Recovery grants to support development, enhancement, expansion, and delivery of addiction recovery support services. The application is due April 2, 2019.

Legislation

FMCSA seeks comment on the Commercial Driver’s License Standards, Requirements and Penalties; Regulatory Guidance, specifically on the deletion of 47 FMCSA guidance statements. These statements include guidance about foreign drivers and conditional licenses. Comments must be received on or before May 7, 2019.

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.

Another Facebook Milestone

The National RTAP Facebook page received our 300th like on March 18!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

TRB

Four Databases with a Common Goal: Promoting Transportation Research

March 21, 1:00- 2:30 PM

Webinar

National Transit Institute

Project Management for Transit Professionals

Salem, OR, March 25-26

Training

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

Coalition for Smarter Transportation

Transportation 101 – Transit Benefit Ordinances

March 26, 2:00 PM

Webinar

FTA

Transit Advisory Committee for Safety Public Meeting

Arlington, VA, March 26-27

Meeting

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

Digital Signage Federation

Digital Signage Expo 2019

Las Vegas, NV, MARCH 26-29

Expo

TRB

One Federal Decision: Requirements and Tips for Achieving This Goal

March 27, 2:00-3:30 PM

Webinar

Center for Transportation Studies

Toward Zero Deaths Technical Assistance and Training

March 27, 12:00-1:00 PM

Webinar

New Mexico Transit Association

NM Transit Roadeo, Conference and Expo, Santa Fe, NM, Mar. 31-Apr. 2

Conference

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

TRB

Programs to Support the Deployment of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

April 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

Webinar

Mass Transit

Best Practices: Real-Time Information

April 3, 3:00 PM

Webinar

MassDOT

Transportation Innovation Conference

Worcester, MA, April 9-10

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

CASTA

Fleet Electrification Workshop

Denver, CO, April 16

Workshop

TRB

International Conference on Demand Responsive and Innovative Transportation Services

Baltimore, MD, April 15-17

Conference

National Council on Aging

Aging in America Conference

New Orleans, LA, April 15-18

Conference

NTI

Title VI and Public Transit Course

Allentown, PA, April 18-19

Training

Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety

Safe Systems Summit: Redefining Transportation Safety

Durham, NC, April 23-24

Conference

AASHTO

GIS for Transportation Symposium

Kissimmee, FL: April 23-26

Symposium

FleetOwner

Advanced Clean Transportation Expo

Long Beach, CA, April 23-26

Expo

CALACT

CALACT Spring Conference and Expo

Coronado, CA, April 23-26

Conference

North Carolina Public Transportation Association

NCPTA Annual Conference & Expo

Wilmington, NC, April 26 - May 1

Conference

National Transit Institute

Procurement II: Risk Assessment and Basic Cost or Price Analysis

Pittsburgh, PA, April 29-May 3

Training

Oklahoma Transit Association (OTA)

OTA Annual Conference & EXPO Durant, OK, Apr 30- May 1

Conference

Utah's Urban & Rural Transportation Association (URSTA)

URSTA Conference

St. George, UT, May 2-3

Conference

National Transit Institute

Paratransit Management & Operations

May 7-8, 2019 - Orlando, FL

Training

National Transit Institute

Ridership Forecasting with STOPS for Transit Project Planning

Washington, DC, May 7-9

Training

Community Transportation Association of America

CTAA EXPO

Palm Springs, CA, May 19-24

Conference

Colorado Association of Transit Agencies

CASTA Spring Training Conference

Denver, CO, May 21-24

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

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 Council on Aging, Aging in America Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 15-18
CALACT, Coronado, CA, April 23-26
NCPTA Annual Conference & Expo, April 26-May 1
URSTA Conference, St. George, UT, May 2-3
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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