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.
Newsletter Highlights:
Books in Transit Discussion Group Starting Soon
National RTAP HIPAA Technical Brief Updated
Tribal Transit Topic Guide Updated
Rural Transit Day Twitter Chat Summary Posted
FTA Seeking Feedback on Safety and Capital Investment Grants
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Join our Books In Transit Discussion Group |
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Join our friendly Books in Transit Discussion Group for a discussion of novels about buses and bus drivers. During our first meeting, we will discuss John Steinbeck's The Wayward Bus, about a group of people on a bus traveling through the backroads of the California countryside, each for different reasons and each with a different background. National RTAP staff will lead the discussion. Our first meeting will be held on August 18, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Participants may buy or borrow the book anytime before the meeting. |
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National RTAP HIPAA Tech Brief Updated.
National RTAP updated its The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Rule's Effect on Rural Transit Agencies technical brief in June 2021. Updates include a case study about how NEMT brokers in one state transmit necessary appointment information and justification for a certain type of non-emergency medical transportation, and guidance on HIPAA regulations during federally declared emergencies. Thank you to National RTAP Review Board member Angie Jones, District Manager, Grant County Transportation District (People Mover) for reviewing the tech brief update.
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Upcoming Intercity Bus Peer Roundtable
National RTAP will be hosting an Intercity Bus Peer Roundtable on August 19, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. When you register, you can suggest topics to be discussed during the Roundtable.
Rural Transit Day Twitter Chat Summary Posted
Our Rural Transit Day Twitter Chat took place on July 16, 2021. H ighlights: Governor Mike Dunleavy proclaimed July 16 as Rural Transit Day in Alaska. Georgia DOT announced the Let’s Ride Rural transit website and app in coordination with the day, and we reached our target of 125 Rural Transit Day pledges. Congratulations to our contest winners: Jeremy Johnson-Miller, NADTC Communications Manager and Delilah Garcia, NCRTD Transit Operations Director, for their answers to the question "What does rural transit mean to me?" Read the summary.
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
We are excited to announce our participation at the following in-person and virtual conferences:
Implementation of National and Statewide Transportation Knowledge Management Initiatives
A peer-reviewed research paper by National RTAP Resource Center, Oklahoma Transportation Library, and Idaho Transportation Department staff, has been accepted by Special Libraries Association and will be presented at their annual meeting in August 2021. |
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National RTAP Tribal Transit Topic Guide Updated
National RTAP continues our annual update of topic guides. Our Tribal Transit Topic Guide was updated in July 2021. The guide includes training and technical assistance geared toward tribal transit managers, operators and riders.
New resources include:
Enter the National RTAP 2021 Buses are Beautiful Photo Contest
Is your bus sparkling, sleek, colorful, and altogether gorgeous? Show it off in all its glory in the National RTAP 2021 Photo Contest – Buses are Beautiful! We’re looking for photos that showcase how special and unique your bus is, and how it adds to the majestic landscapes of rural communities and tribal lands.
State RTAP Manager's Peer Roundtable Summary Posted
State and U.S. Territory RTAP Managers met for a Peer Roundtable on July 12, 2021. Discussion topics included electric bus cutaway specifications, consultant labor rates, and Title VI training. We posted the Roundtable Summary.
Recording Posted for Transportation Librarians Roundtable Featuring National RTAP
On July 8, 2021, National RTAP Resource Center Manager Cara Marcus presented the National RTAP website update, Resource Share, and TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library at the Transportation Librarians Roundtable. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides. |
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FTA launched the Enhanced Transit Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative to provide information and resources to help transit agencies address and prevent crime on their systems and protect transit workers and riders. FTA announced a Request for Information to solicit feedback from transit riders and transit agencies to help identify high-priority safety concerns and help better assess and mitigate them.
FTA is seeking suggestions from transit stakeholders and the public on improvements that could be made to the evaluation process for projects seeking funding from the Capital Investment Grants Program, particularly measures and data sources that can better capture the benefits and costs of transit and how the program can facilitate outcomes that maximize those benefits. Comments must be submitted by October 13, 2021.
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NHTSA unveiled a new cloud-based recall dashboard to make it easier to search for auto safety recall data. Users can filter by component, recall type, corrective action, and other data.
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National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) announced a new funding opportunity, Equity and Accessibility: Transportation Planning Grant Program. Planning grants provide an opportunity for communities to consider current and future needs, engage older adults and people with disabilities in planning, and develop a written plan of action. Applications are due August 27, 2021. A meeting for prospective applicants will be held on July 27, 2021 at 3:00 PM ET (no registration necessary, use link above).
FHWA published a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund. Tribal governments may apply for funding to conduct transportation safety planning, improve crash data, and implement other infrastructure projects that reduce the risk of fatal and serious injury motor-vehicle crashes. Applications must be received by September 9, 2021.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion invites organizations to become Healthy People 2030 Champions. Champions will receive recognition, a digital Champion badge for their website to highlight their support, and information, tools and resources for dissemination.
Nominations are open through August 5, 2021 for the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health's Community Stars Recognition Program. Community Star criteria include people who are innovative, demonstrate leadership, grow rural programs, and are mission-driven.
Health Resources and Services Administration is recruiting grant reviewers. Non-federal grant reviewers are compensated. Their grants cover enabling non-clinical services that enable individuals to access health care and improve health outcomes. Transportation is considered an enabling service.
Participate in a TCRP survey through August 6, 2021 aimed at gathering information about challenges, the state of the industry, and best practices in bus operator workforce management from pre-employment through retirement. |
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On June 29, 2021, NHTSA issued a Standing General Order requiring manufacturers and operators of vehicles equipped with SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems or SAE Levels 3-5 automated driving systems to report crashes. SAE standards apply to any form of self-driving vehicles.
A Final Rule published in the Federal Register, effective July 7, 2021, allows FMCSA and state personnel to conduct off-site compliance reviews of motor carriers following the same safety fitness determination criteria used in on-site compliance reviews. |
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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.
Institute of Transportation Engineers
July 22
NADTC
July 22, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
ITS America
July 22, 2:00-3:00 PM
Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety
July 23, 1:00-2:30 PM
FTA
July 26, 1:00-1:30 PM ET
National Transit Institute
July 26, 1:00-4:30 PM
ITS America
July 26, 1:30-3:00 PM
SUMC
July 27, 12:00-4:30 PM
N-CATT
July 27, 1:00 PM
FTA
July 27, 3:00 PM
NADTC
July 27, 3:00 PM ET
FTA/APTA
July 27, 3:30 PM
West Virginia Public Transit Association
Roanoke, WV, July 27-30
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
U.S. DHHS ODPHP
July 28, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Center for Rural Road Safety
July 28, 1:00-2:30 PM
FTA
July 28, 2:00-3:30 PM
TRB
July 29, 1:00-2:30 PM
National Transit Institute
July 29, 1:00-4:30 PM
NADTC
July 29, 2:00 PM
Volpe Center
August 3, 12:00 PM
FTA
August 3, 1:00 PM
FHWA
August 4, 1:00-3:00 PM
Busing on the Lookout
August 4, 2:00-2:45 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 4, 2:30-4:00 PM
NADTC
August 5, 12:30-1:15 PM
National Transit Institute
August 5, 1:00-4:30 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 5, 2:30-4:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 9, 1:00-2:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 10, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
TRB
August 10-12
FTA
August 10, 1:00 PM ET - August 12, 5:00 PM ET
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 11, 1:00-2:30 PM
Busing on the Lookout
August 11, 2:00-2:45 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 11, 2:30-4:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 12, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 12, 11:00 AM -12:30 PM
National RTAP and NCMM
August 12, 2:00-3:00 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 12, 2:30-4:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
August 13, 1:00-2:30 PM
West Coast Collaborative
Tacoma, WA, August 16-18
Busing on the Lookout
August 18, 2:00-2:45 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 18, 2:30-4:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 19, 1:00-4:30 PM
National RTAP
August 19, 2:00-3:00 PM
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
August 19, 2:30-4:00 PM
National Transit Institute
August 23-26, 1:00-3:30 PM
Volpe Center
August 24, 12:00 PM
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program
August 24, 2:00–3:00 PM
FHWA
August 25, 1:00-3:00 PM
Busing on the Lookout
August 25, 2:00-2:45 PM
National Transit Institute
August 26, 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Pittsburgh, PA, August 30 – September 1
National Transit Institute
September 2, 1:00-4:30 PM
Iowa Public Transit Association, Kansas Public Transit Association, and Missouri Public Transit Association
St. Louis, MO, September 7-9
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
September 9, 12:00-1:30 PM
National Transit Institute
September 9, 1:00-4:30 PM
TRB
September 9, 10, 13 and 14
Volpe Center
September 14, 12:00 PM
FHWA
Sept. 15, 1:00-3:00 PM
National Transit Institute
September 16, 1:00-4:30 PM
Drive Smart Virginia
Virginia Beach, VA, September 16-17
Dakota Transit Association
Fargo, ND, September 17-21
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
TransCen's Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
Baltimore, MD, September 21-23
Automotive Fleet Magazine
September 21-24
UC Davis
September 21-30
Micromobility Industries
San Francisco, CA, September 23
Volpe Center
September 23, 12:00 PM
National Transit Institute
September 23, 1:00-4:30 PM
National Transit Institute
September 27-30, 1:00-3:30 PM
NTICC
September 27-30
We're presenting!
NCMM
September 30, 3:00 PM
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