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.
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National RTAP Honors Outgoing Review Board Members and Welcomes New Review Board Members
National RTAP honored outgoing Review Board Members Curtis Sims, Jr. and Marcele J. Edington
(pictured in photo) by sending plaques and letters of appreciation from our Executive Director, Robin Philips. Curtis Sims, Jr., CSSO, serves as the National RTAP Review Board Chair, and is the Training, Safety/Security, and RTAP Program Manager for the Office of Public Transit, South Carolina. He has served on our Review Board since 2016. Marcele J. Edington, is the Program Manager for the Office of Passenger Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, and has served on our Review Board since 2017.
Effective April 29, 2020, our new Review Board Chair will be Connie J. Sipe, Transit Program Administrator for Center for Community in Sitka, AK, who has served on our Review Board since 2017.
We extend a warm welcome to the newest members of our Review Board:
- Laura Corff, Transit Director, United Community Action Program, Inc./Cimarron Transit, Ponca City, OK
- Shauna Miller, RTAP Program Manager, Idaho Transportation Department, Boise, ID
- Pradip Pant, Planning Program Administrator, Statewide Transportation Planning Office, Hawai’i Department of Transportation, Honolulu, HI
- Pamela West, Operations Management Analyst Principal, Mississippi Department of Transportation, Jackson, MS
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New Date for National RTAP, AASHTO MTAP and Florida DOT Webinar on Vehicle Specifications
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On May 13, 2020, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, join AASHTO’s Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) and National RTAP for a webinar with Carlton Allen, Florida DOT’s Transit Research Inspection Procurement Services (TRIPS) Program Manager about the state purchasing process. Robert E. Westbrook, Assistant State Transit Manager at Florida DOT, will moderate and provide a state’s perspective.
Register for the webinar.
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If you want safer and more reliable vehicles you have to ask for them. This webinar will give you the information to help you use a state safety tested vehicle specification with safety and reliability built-in.
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National RTAP Twitter Chat Next Week on Climate Change and Transit
We're hosting a
#ClimateTransit Twitter chat on April 21, 2020, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET to discuss how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. We will also discuss how transit agencies can prepare for potential effects of a changing climate, as well as tackle their emissions to mitigate potential climate impacts. RSVP to
info@nationalrtap.org.
COVID-19 Focused Peer Assistance - Register for Upcoming Roundtables and Panel Discussions and Read Summaries of Recent Ones
We have been holding COVID-19 Peer Roundtables and Panel Discussions. Our next
Peer Roundtable is for Tribal Transit Managers on April 22, 2020 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET.
Our next
Panel Discussion is for State RTAP Managers on April 23, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Panelists are Don Chartock, Washington DOT; Marcele Edington, Michigan DOT; Jacklyn Montgomery, CALACT; and Lea Sheridan, NJ Transit.
Register for the State RTAP Manager COVID-19 Panel Discussion.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
U.S. DOT issued a
Safety Advisory to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among transit employees & passengers on April 14, 2020. The Advisory recommends that transit agencies develop and implement procedures and practices consistent with all applicable guidance and information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Opportunities
SAMHSA is accepting applications for
Treatment, Recovery, and Workforce Support grants. The program will support individuals in substance use disorder treatment and recovery to live independently and participate in the workforce. Applications are being accepted through June 1, 2020.
The Native Learning Center is looking for speakers on all topics to help Native Communities for upcoming Hoporenkv Podcasts. Anyone who is interested can contact
Wilma Noah or
Krystal Cedeno.
SAMHSA is accepting applications for
State Opioid Response grants. The program aims to address the opioid crisis by increasing access to medication-assisted treatment. Grants will be awarded to states and territories via formula. The application due date is May 19, 2020. SAMHSA is also accepting applications for
Rural Opioid Technical Assistance grants through May 8, 2020 and
Tribal Opioid Response grants through May 4, 2020.
The TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Commission is soliciting letters of interest. The TOPS Commission is the independent governing board that oversees TCRP, a cooperative undertaking between TRB, APTA and FTA. Interested persons should provide a letter of interest and a biographical sketch to
Cynthia Owens by May 1, 2020.
Mass Transit recognizes outstanding young individuals showing innovation, leadership, and a commitment to making an impact in transit in their
40 Under 40
competition. Nominations are due July 1, 2020.
Cigna Foundation
World of Difference Grants
help people overcome barriers to their health and well-being related to factors such as ethnicity, race, gender, age, geography, or economics and emphasize partnership. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Webinars and Training
The Shared Use Mobility Center (SUMC) has a new online learning module:
The Importance of Shared, Electric Mobility. The module aims to explore a broad array of electric and shared mobility pilot projects across the U.S. and to build a greater understanding of these innovative projects across various disciplines.
Publications
Google has started to publish
COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports, which includes mobility trends for public transit stations. The data are available for the United States and individual states.
TCRP's
Attracting, Retaining, and Advancing Women in Transit explores the strategies that have been deployed in transit and other related industries in order to attract, retain, and advance women in a variety of roles. The report provides successful case examples, such as a Transit Careers Ladders Program and a Leadership Academy.
A National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) article on
Tri-County Transit Coordination in the Lake of the Ozarks describes how the Lake of the Ozarks Transportation Council partnered with OATS, the local transit provider, to launch a new bus route that connected multiple counties.
National RTAP Drug and Alcohol Programs Topic Guide Updated
Legislation
NHTSA published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register on
Occupant Protection for Automated Driving Systems on March 30, 2020. This proposal is limited to adapting current crashworthiness Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and provides a unified set of proposed regulatory text applicable to vehicles with and without automated driving system functionality. Comments are due by May 29, 2020.
The Federal Communications Commission published a Proposed Rule in the Federal Register on March 31, 2020 on
Disruptions to Communications that seeks to provide state and federal agencies with access to communications outage information. Comments are due on June 1, 2020.
Through June 30, 2020, FCMSA is providing a
waiver from certain regulations for interstate and intrastate commercial driver’s license and learner’s permit holders and other interstate drivers operating commercial motor vehicles. Another FCMSA
waiver was granted concerning Third Party CDL Skills Test Examiners, which is also in place through June 30, 2020.
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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.
National Safety Council
Distracted Driving Twitter Chat
April 16, 12:00-1:00 PM
APTA and CDC
Keeping Public Transit Workers and Riders Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 16, 1:30-2:15 PM
eRepublic
COVID-19 Market Briefing: Unpacking $400+ Billion for States & Localities
April 16, 2:00 PM
BraunAbility
BraunAbility Dual Parallel Arm (DPA) Lift technical Overview
April 16, 2:00 PM
TRB
Demanding Data - Transactional Data for Demand-Responsive Transportation
April 16, 2:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
Components of Effective Financial Training for Asset Programs
April 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
FTA
FTA COVID-19 Call
April 16, 2:30 PM
Government Fleet
Focusing on People: Safety, Morale, & Staffing Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 17, 12:00 PM
National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL)
COVID-19: Therapies and Vaccines
April 17, 2:30-3:30 PM
National Indian Council on Aging
COVID-19 Weekly Call
April 17, 3:00 PM
National LTAP & TTAP Association
Diagnose Situation – Make Multiple Tough Interpretations
April 21, 12:00-1:00 PM
National RTAP
#ClimateTransit Twitter Chat
April 21, 2:00-3:00 PM
Automotive Fleet
COVID-19 Impact on New-Vehicle Fleet Ordering and Deliveries
April 21, 3:00 PM
Vision Zero Network
Understanding Safe Systems as the Foundation of Vision Zero
April 22, 1:00-2:00 PM
National RTAP
Tribal Transit Manager Peer Roundtable - COVID-19 Focus
April 22, 1:00-2:00 PM
U.S. HUD's Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development
Rural Gateway Peer-to-Peer Conference Call: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Communities
April 22, 2:00-3:00 PM
TRB
Greener in Many Ways: Environmentally Sustainable Funding and Financing
April 22, 2:00-4:00 PM
National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL)
COVID-19: Broadband and Technology Issues
April 22, 2:30 PM
AASHTO
CTSSR COVID-19 Virtual DOT Panel Series
April 22, 3:00-4:00 PM
U.S. DOT
Complete Trip - ITS4US Deployment Program Webinar Series: Webinar #7: Procurement Path
April 23, 1:00-2:00 PM
National RTAP
COVID-19 State RTAP Manager Panel Discussion
April 23, 2020, 2:00-3:00 PM
ACL/CMS
Promising Practices Training Series: Ensuring Continuity of HCBS During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 23, 3:00-5:00 PM
Portland State Univeristy Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)
A No-Crash Course in Vision Zero Data
April 24, 2:30-3:30 PM
TRB
The Intersection between Health and Transportation
April 27, 1:00-2:30 PM
National LTAP & TTAP Association
Manage Self – Know Your Strengths, Vulnerabilities, and Triggers
April 28, 12:00-1:00 PM
Smart Growth America
Charrettes Go Virtual: Missoula, Montana Hosts an Online Charrette to Advance a Community Vision
April 28, 2:00 PM
FHWA
TTP Finance
April 29, 2:30 PM
AASHTO
CTSSR COVID-19 Virtual DOT Panel Series
April 29, 3:00-4:00 PM
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
COVID-19 Public Health Webinar Series: Advice from People who have a Disability on Dealing with COVID-19
April 29, 2020, 4:00-5:30 PM
Government Fleet
Analyzing ANG: What Is It? And Why Does My Fleet Need It?
April 30, 2:00 PM
TRB
What Role does Ecology Have in Sustainable Transportation?
April 30, 1:00-2:30 PM
BraunAbility
BraunAbility Dual Parallel Arm (DPA) Lift technical Overview
April 30, 2:00 PM
AgileFleet/Government Fleet
Enhance Your Fleet Maintenance Program with Best-in-Class Motor Pool Technology
May 5, 2:00 PM
Shared Use Mobility Center
Shared Use Mobility Summit Live
May 5-6
FHWA
FHWA ER/ERFO/FEMA
May 6, 2:30 PM
TRB
Data Sharing Tips for Public Transportation Agencies
May 13, 1:00-2:30 PM
National RTAP/AASHTO MTAP/FDOT
Vehicle Specifications Webinar
May 13, 2:00-3:00 PM
FHWA
Grant Writing
May 13, 2:30 PM
Q'Straint Training Academy
Wheelchair Securement Training
May 14, 12:00-1:30 PM
BraunAbility
BraunAbility Dual Parallel Arm (DPA) Lift technical Overview
May 14, 2:00 PM
FHWA
National Tribal Symposium to Advance Transportation
San Diego, CA, May 14-16
HRSA/AAFP
Assessing Your Community Using the UDS Mapper
May 19, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
BraunAbility
BraunAbility Dual Parallel Arm (DPA) Lift technical Overview
May 28, 2:00 PM
National Safety Council (NSC)
Addressing Opioids at Work: From Confusion to Clarity – Creating Your Roadmap
Pittsburgh, PA, June 5
Oklahoma Transit Association
2020 Oklahoma Transit Association Annual Conference & EXPO
Lawton OK, July 6-9
Conference and Training Cancellations and Postponements
Many rural and tribal transit conferences and trainings have been cancelled or postponed due to concerns surrounding COVID-19. Check the
March 19, 2020 edition of eNews and
editions published after that date for previously listed events, as we are not repeating them here. Cancellations and postponements include, but are not limited to:
- APTA Risk Management Seminar
- APTA Transit CEOs Seminar
- FTA Safety Promotion Agency Safety Plan Section Lessons Learned, Outstanding Agency Safety Plan Questions #1 and #2
- International Conference on Transportation and Development
- MnDOT Spring Workshop may be virtual
- National Transit Institute (NTI) in-person trainings through June 30, 2020
- National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC) moved to September or October 2020
- Native Learning Center Internal Controls for Tribal Programs
- New Jersey TransAction Conference, postponed to October 27-29, 2020
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Look for Us at these Upcoming Conferences
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- 2020 Oklahoma Transit Association Annual Conference & EXPO, Lawton, OK, July 6-9
- National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC), Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, September or October, 2020
- TriState Transit Conference, Woodstock, VT, September 9-11
- National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC), Charleston, SC, October 18-21
- New Jersey TransAction Conference, Atlantic City, NJ, October 27-29
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