eNews - May 11, 2023
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
Customer Service Excellence Screen with person at a computer
New National RTAP Customer Service Excellence Training Modules

Delivering Excellent Customer Service in Rural Transit is a new National RTAP training module that is designed to provide all rural transit agency staff with the practical knowledge and skills they need to provide excellent customer service. Managing for Customer Service Excellence in Rural Transit is designed to help agency leadership, managers, and supervisors improve the quality of service provided by the agency as a whole or within a functional area. Both training modules are available in eLearning, print, disc, thumb drive, and online video formats.

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.
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.
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].

National RTAP will hold a How to Find (Almost) Anything in Transit with the Find Anything Toolkit webinar on June 13, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The Find Anything Toolkit was thoroughly updated and streamlined in 2023 to make it even easier to find anything and everything. Join United Community Action Program/Cimarron Transit Director Laura Corff and National RTAP Knowledge and Resource Manager Cara Marcus for an interactive tour of the Toolkit.

On June 29, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI) Transit Mobility program will lead a Challenges and Successes with Shared‐Use Mobility in Rural, Frontier, and Tribal Areas Virtual Workshop focused on needs for transportation in rural, frontier, and Tribal areas along with ideas and examples for solutions to service challenges. The session is co-hosted by National RTAP and SUMC.

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.

The next Learn about TACL training will be held on August 17, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination. The session will include a Resource Feature by Al Benedict and Nate Seeskin on SUMC's The Path to Mobility Interoperability.

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!
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences

We're presenting and exhibiting at the following conferences and meetings:

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

In Conversations on Equity and Inclusion in Public Transportation by Paul Comfort, 20 public transportation officials from around the world discuss how they are improving their services and providing more equity and inclusion both in their agencies and the communities they serve. The National RTAP Resource Library has two autographed copies of this book available for loan.

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

The deadline has been extended to May 31, 2023 for the Call for Presentations for our 5th Rural and Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Conference: Navigating the Tides of Change, which will take place on December 3-6, 2023 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Students are also invited to submit a poster by October 6, 2023. Students must be able to present their posters in-person on December 3, 2023.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
U.S. DOT, FTA, OST, FAA, FRA, and FMSCA published a joint Final Rule for Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs: Addition of Oral Fluid Specimen Testing for Drugs in the Federal Register, effective June 1, 2023. In order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under the regulation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will need to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing. This rule includes other provisions to align with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and removes or adjusts the word urine and adds references to oral fluid.

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.
Webinars and Training
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.

Several FTA TA Center events will be taking place in conjunction with the CTAA EXPO, which will be held in Oklahoma City, OK on May 20-25. National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) will be holding a Mobility Management Forum on May 22 and NCMM and National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) will be holding a Systems Thinking for Technology Decisions Workshop on May 22.
Publications
NCHRP/TCRP's Command-Level Decision Making for Transportation Emergency Managers is designed to assist public transportation agencies, State DOTs, and others to develop training and exercises as they prepare for natural or manmade disaster incidents.

National Center for Applied Transit Technology's (N-CATT) Micromobility’s Role in Transit Operations Fact Sheet describes operational considerations for launching and integrating micromobility with transit and provides small-town examples and case studies.

The Whitehouse published the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Tribal Playbook: A Roadmap for Delivering Opportunity and Investments in Indian Country to identify programs and sources of funds specifically set aside for Tribal communities under the law and provide a guide to Tribal eligibility for other programs under the law.

TCRP's Considering the Unbanked in Cashless Fare Payment at Point of Service for Bus/Demand-Response Services helps to inform transit systems of the impacts of going cashless. Several emerging trends are identified, including that transit agencies are seeking to understand how many riders are unbanked and how to meet their needs.
Databases and Tools
The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) updated its Personal Consumption Expenditures on Transportation by Subcategory data. The sharpest rise in personal consumption expenditures over the past ten years has been for gasoline and oil and new and used trucks and recreational vehicles.

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.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released its spring 2023 update to the National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD) and updated several layers in the National Transit Map stops, routes, and agencies.
Opportunities
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.
Legislation
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.
Upcoming Events
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
Register to [email protected] by July 1, 2023

National RTAP
July 27, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our Calendar. Also, see the FTA Events Calendar. To submit an event, email [email protected].
National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | [email protected] | nationalrtap.org