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
New National RTAP Customer Service Excellence Training Modules
Upcoming RideSheet Pilot Program Introduction Webinar
National RTAP Review Board Spotlight: Angie Jones
Call for 2023 National RTAP Conference Presentation Submissions Extended
Final Rule: Addition of Oral Fluid Specimen Testing for Workplace Testing Programs
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New National RTAP Customer Service Excellence Training Modules
And for those of you who enjoyed our Customer Driven Service Word Search, we are providing a new Customer Service Excellence Word Search. The first person to complete it and submit it to [email protected] will receive a $25 gift card (if you entered our last word search puzzle contest, you may not enter again). We will post the answers in our Resource Library after there is a winner.
These training modules update our former Customer Driven Service training module, which was retired in 2023. National RTAP appreciates the review and contributions from Doug Pilant, General Manager, Tillamook County Transportation District; Laura Corff, Transit Director, Cimarron Transit; Shauna Miller, Idaho RTAP Program Manager; Neil Sherman, Director of Statewide Transit Programs, Virginia DRPT; and Julia Castillo, Executive Director, HIRTA.
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Upcoming RideSheet Pilot Program Introduction Webinar
Are you a small agency looking for a simple, effective way to manage your operations? RideSheet, a free and open-source web application, might be just what you need. National RTAP is seeking agencies wanting to participate in a RideSheet Pilot Program. During this webinar, we will discuss the successful implementation of RideSheet in Lake County, Oregon, and how it can improve productivity and professionalism for rural providers. Join us to learn more about RideSheet and explore the opportunity to use it for your agency. Register for the webinar on May 31, 2023, 2:00-3:30 PM ET.
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National RTAP Review Board Member Spotlight - Angie Jones
Angie Jones, CCTM, Past Chair of the National RTAP Review Board, is the Regional Transit Coordinator for Region 5 of the Oregon DOT Public Transportation Division. Her board participation gives Angie many opportunities to contribute to improving transit – she has led our chats and forums and reviewed toolkit sections, technical briefs, TACL resources, and more. Read about her early career (she studied nursing!) and how she led a transportation district to grow significantly. Read more about Angie.
News from Northern Mariana Islands RTAP
National RTAP began its State and Territorial RTAP outreach calls and we want to share some good news from Alfreda Camacho Maratita, Northern Mariana Islands RTAP Manager. The Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Transit Authority received FTA 5339 funding and moved into a new facility, purchased 10 new buses, and launched a new website.
Upcoming National RTAP Events
In support of the forthcoming National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements for General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) for fixed and deviated fixed route service, National RTAP is offering free, live GTFS support Thursdays between 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Meet with our instructor, share your screen, and ask questions. Use this link to join the Zoom meeting – no preregistration is needed. GTFS support is also available Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET by contacting [email protected].
Our fifth #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat will be held July 14, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. (Rural Transit Day is always July 16, which is a Sunday this year.) This is an event where participants share thoughts about the benefits of rural transit, along with challenges and solutions. The chat will be moderated by Stephanie Lewis, Instructional/Multimedia Project Manager, Florida RTAP, Paula Smith, Executive Director, Tri River Transit, and National RTAP staff. RSVP for an invite.
Our next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable will be held on July 18, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This is an informal session for State RTAP Managers to meet with their peers for a discussion of issues of interest to them. One issue we will be discussing will be the implementation of and training on the new NTD GTFS requirements.
Our Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman as our next book to read. A mother and daughter travel in a bus full of strangers for a college tour all along the east coast. Register for our meeting on August 22, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The author will be joining us!
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National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
We're presenting and exhibiting at the following conferences and meetings:
- 2023 CASTA Spring Training Conference, May 9-12
- MTA Spring Training Conference and Vendor EXPO, May 15-19
- MLA/SLA Annual Conference, May 16-19
- CTAA EXPO, May 20-25
- U.S. DOT and FTA Tribal Transit Symposium, May 24-25, 2023
- Public Health Improvement Training (PHIT) 2023, June 5-7
- PPTA Forging New Frontiers: 2023 Annual Meeting & Products Showcase, June 5-7
- West Virginia Public Transit Association Annual Conference, July 25-27
- CTE Zero Emission Bus Conference (ZEB Con), September 26-28
National RTAP Livability Topic Guide Updated
National RTAP continues our annual Topic Guide updates with our Livability Topic Guide. New resources include:
Recordings Posted for Entry-Level Driver Training and Succession Planning Webinars
National RTAP and NADTC co-hosted an Understanding the Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements webinar on May 8, 2023. This webinar outlined the requirements and introduce resources from FMCSA, National RTAP, NADTC, and Minnesota DOT to help you successfully navigate the rules. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides.
National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP held a Succession Planning 101 webinar on May 9, 2023. An expert panel of transit agency and State DOT managers discussed the components and steps to a successful succession plan. National RTAP’s new eLearning course on succession planning, which includes customizable templates, was demonstrated. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides.
Paul Comfort's Book on Equity and Inclusion is Available from National RTAP Resource Library
Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Features TACL
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program posted a brief article about TACL, The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library. TACL provides a sustainable methodology and platform for access and findability of rural and tribal transit coordination resources across a diverse range of transportation technical assistance centers and FTA.
Call for Presentations Extended and Student Poster Solicitations for the National RTAP 2023 Conference
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The U.S. DOT Build America Bureau is soliciting applications for its Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program. Accelerators assist in project planning, evaluating innovative financing, accessing technical assistance and best practices, and developing a pipeline of projects ready for investment. Applications are due May 30, 2023.
FTA's April 2023 Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight Newsletter includes a spotlight article about Lisa Staes, Associate Director of Transit Safety and Workforce Development Program, Center for Urban Transportation Research, who works with the Florida RTAP. The newsletter also includes guidance on causal analysis activities and a data spotlight on transit vehicle collisions with people not within motor vehicles.
The U.S. DOT Transforming Intersection Safety Challenge is seeking solutions through September 25, 2023 for innovative application of emerging technologies including machine vision, sensor fusion, and real-time decision-making to identify and mitigate unsafe conditions involving vehicles and vulnerable road users.
FTA published a Dear Colleague letter to inform recipients that they will no longer be able to use annual Section 5307 and non-Tribal 5311 funding at a 100 percent federal share for capital expenditures related to the COVID-19 response.
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The newly launched Transit ADA University YouTube channel is designed to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance information to the public transit and human services transportation industries.
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FHWA recently released version 2.0 of its Database for Air Quality and Noise Analysis (DANA) tool. DANA combines traffic data from existing data sources into properly formatted inputs to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) model and FHWA’s Traffic Noise Model Aide (TNMAide). The update includes 2021 Travel Monitoring Analysis System data.
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FHWA is accepting applications through June 14, 2023 for the Tribal High Priority Projects Program. The program will provide funding to a Tribe or governmental subdivision of a Tribe whose annual allocation of funding under the Tribal Transportation Program is insufficient to complete the highest priority project of the Tribe, or to any Tribe that has an emergency or disaster occur on a Tribal transportation facility that renders the facility impassible or unusable.
The Tribal Transportation Safety Management System Steering Committee is implementing a special project to help Tribes improve crash data collection and analysis capabilities. Interested Tribal transportation organizations can fill out a survey to assist with this pilot program.
Submissions are open for problem statements for TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program through June 16, 2023. The TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Commission will select the research problem statements for the program this fall.
Applications are now open through June 12, 2023 for the Tribal Crash Reporting Tools Pilot Program. The Tribal Transportation Safety Management System Steering Committee is implementing a special project to help Tribes improve crash data collection and analysis capabilities.
The Micromobility Innovation Awards competition aims to celebrate companies that are at least 10 years old that have successfully integrated emerging technologies and environmental impact into their business model.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) is accepting applications for a cooperative agreement for the National Indian Health Outreach and Education (NIHOE) program. The IHS seeks to collaborate with local communities, not-for-profit organizations, universities and schools, foundations, businesses, and federal agencies. The application deadline is July 10, 2023.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue that no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. The national COVID-19 public health emergency officially ended today, May 11, 2023. Many regulations and mandates will expire, but the federal government will still ensure access to vaccines, tests, and other protections (individuals should check with their insurance provider regarding coverage).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now allow an additional updated (bivalent) vaccine dose for adults ages 65 years and older and additional doses for people who are immunocompromised. Monovalent (original) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for use in the United States.
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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.
Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA)
Pueblo, CO, May 9-12
Please stop by our table!
WTS International (Women's Transportation Seminar)
Atlanta, GA, May 10-12
National RTAP
May 11, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
U.S. DOT
May 11, 1:00-2:00 PM
Vision Zero Network
May 11, 1:00-2:00 PM
55+ Driver Safety Program
May 15, 10:00 AM
FORTH
Portland, OR, May 15-17
Montana Transit Association
Missoula, MT, May 15-19
Please visit our booth!
C2SMART University Transportation Center, New York University
May 16, 12:00 PM
Q'STRAINT Training Academy
May 16, 12:00 PM
National Transit Institute
May 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
U.S. DOT ITS JPO
May 16, 2:00-3:30 PM
Medical Libraries Association/Special Libraries Assortation
Detroit Michigan and Virtual, May 16-19
We're presenting
CALSTART
San Diego, CA, May 17, 11:00 AM - 9:30 PM
Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR)
May 17, 12:00 PM
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
May 17, 2:00-3:30 PM
National Safety Council (NSC)
Indianapolis, IN, May 17-19
National RTAP
May 18, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
May 18, 2:00-3:00 PM
TRB
May 18, 2:00-3:30 PM ET
Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)
May 18, 3:00 PM
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
May 18, 3:00-4:30 PM
National Safety Council (NSC)
Indianapolis, IN, May 18-19
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and Oklahoma Transit Association
Oklahoma City, OK, May 20-25
Please visit our booth and our poster presentation!
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM)
Oklahoma City, OK, May 22, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) and the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT)
Oklahoma City, OK, May 22, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
TRB
May 22, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
U.S. DOT
May 22, 3:30-4:45 PM
Southwestern Tribal Technical Assistance Program (SWTTAP)
Albuquerque, NM, May 23-25
Registration deadline: May 17, 2023
U.S. DOT and FTA
Oklahoma City, OK and Virtual, May 24-25, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
We are participating
National RTAP
May 25, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
May 25, 1:00-2:00 PM
ADRC, ACL, and RTI International
May 25, 3:00-4:00 PM
Intelligent Transport
May 31, 2:00 AM
National RTAP
May 31, 2:00-3:00 PM
U.S. Census Bureau
May 31, 2:00-3:00 PM
TRB
June 1, 12:00-1:30 PM
National RTAP
June 1, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies
Burlington, VT, and Virtual, June 4, 9:00 AM - June 8, 1:00 PM
University of Arizona Center for Rural Health
Flagstaff, AZ, June 5, 1:00-6:00 PM
Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC)
June 5, 4:00-5:00 PM
Pennyslvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA)
Lancaster, PA, June 5-7
CDC, CSTLTS, and NNPHI
June 5-7
We are presenting!
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
June 6, 1:00-2:00 PM
TRB
June 6, 2:00-3:30 PM
Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC)
June 8, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
National RTAP
June 8, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC)
June 8, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Transit Institute
June 8, 2:00-3:30 PM
Drug and Alcohol Testing Institute
Colorado Springs, CO, June 12-13
National RTAP
June 13, 2:00-3:00 PM
White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
Phoenix, AZ and Virtual, June 13-15
National RTAP
June 15, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
June 15, 3:00-4:00 PM
Q'STRAINT Training Academy
June 22, 12:00 PM
National RTAP
June 22, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium (SGCETC)
Tulsa, OK, June 26-29
National RTAP
June 29, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National Transit Institute
June 29, 1:00-5:00 PM
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Transit Mobility Program, Co-hosted by National RTAP and SUMC
June 29, 2:00-3:30 PM
National RTAP
July 6, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National Transit Institute
July 6, 2:00-3:30 PM
FTA
Boston, MA, July 9, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Q'STRAINT Training Academy
July 11, 12:00 PM
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
New Orleans, LA, July 11-12
National RTAP
July 13, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
National RTAP
July 20, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
U.S. Access Board
U.S. Access Board Public Town Hall Meeting
Baltimore, MD, July 25, 1:30-3:30
National RTAP
July 27, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting
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