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:
Announcing the Buses are Beautiful Photo Contest Winners
TACL/NADTC/N-CATT Twitter Chat Next Week on Transportation Coordination
National RTAP Paratransit Topic Guide Posted
FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Pilot Program Funding
FAST Act Extended through October 31, 2021
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Congratulations National RTAP Buses are Beautiful Photo Contest Winners
The National RTAP 2021 Photo Contest – Buses are Beautiful - is all about photos that showcase how special and unique rural and tribal transit buses are, and how they add to the majestic landscapes of rural communities and tribal lands.
We received over 60 gorgeous photos. Read about the contest and see large photos of the winners on our Photo Contest webpage. View all of the winners and entries in our Facebook album. We're also posting all of the photos entered on our Instagram page over the next few months.
Congratulations to our winners!
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First Place: Valley Transit, Walla Walla Valley, Washington, Photograph by Briana Malmquist (shown above)
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Second Place: OATS Transit, Macon, Missouri, Photograph by Robin Seavey
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Third Place: North Central Regional Transit District, Española, NM, Photograph by Morningstar Tapia
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Honorable Mention: Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, Carbondale, CO, Photograph by Jennifer Balmes
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Honorable Mention: Sunset Empire Transportation District, Astoria, OR, Photograph by Paul Lewicki
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#LetsTACLcoordination Twitter Chat Next Week
Join TACL (Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library) for a #LetsTACLcoordination Twitter Chat on October 20, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, to discuss challenges, solutions, and resources for transportation coordination.
The chat will be moderated by Heather Edmonds, Program Associate, NADTC; Melissa Gray, Assistant Program Director of Transportation, NADTC; and Marcela Moreno, Transit Technologist, N-CATT. The chat will include discussions about community transportation plans, older adults and persons with disabilities, and transportation challenges and barriers. RSVP for the chat.
The TACL Task Force also extends a warm welcome to our newest resources reviewer: Grace Hoglund, Simmons University.
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Still Time to Register for Today's Service Contracting and Cost Allocation Webinar
Register for a webinar on Service Contracting and Cost Allocation on October 14, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Speakers Todd Hansen and Michael Walker from the Texas Transportation Institute will present highlights from National RTAP’s upcoming manual - Advanced Topics in Financial Management and demonstrate our updated Cost Allocation Calculator.
National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences
Please look for us at the following upcoming in-person and virtual conferences:
Massachusetts Library System Journal Alerts for our Users
National RTAP users who live and/or work in Massachusetts can now set up customized journal alerts for research through the Massachusetts Library System. Anyone interested in a training video can email [email protected].
MN/WI Public Transit Conference Presentations Posted
We have begun posting conference presentations from the 2021 MN/WI Public Transit Conference and our Tribal Transit Mini-Conference, held on October 4-7, 2021 in Duluth, MN. |
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Register for the RIBTC Conference and Preconference Training
New Dispatching and Scheduling Training and Upcoming Webinar
New National RTAP Paratransit Hot Topic Guide
We continue posting 2021 Hot Topics in our Find Anything Toolkit, generated from our surveys and questions that users ask us.
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FTA announced a funding opportunity through their Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) pilot program. This program improves coordination to enhance access and mobility to community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. The program finances innovative mobility management capital projects that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services. Applications must be received by December 6, 2021.
FTA added new FAQs to the TAM FAQs webpage, including information on condition assessment reporting requirements and determining whether your agency remains Tier I or Tier II. FTA will be holding a TAM Plan Updates webinar on October 27, 2021 at 2:30 PM ET. Updated TAM plans must be completed by October 2022.
The deadline to sign up for FTA's Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Climate Challenge is October 29, 2021. The program calls on transit agencies to develop climate action strategies with measurable goals to achieve greenhouse gas emission targets. Results and transit agency success stories will be showcased on Earth Day 2022. |
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Virtual training on training is available from Training Magazine. Their upcoming webinars and recordings webpage lists trainings on creating eLearning, holding successful virtual events, and more.
The Native Learning Center is holding a number of upcoming events for Tribes, including a Grants Management Online Workshop, a Create Your Own Internal Controls Workshop, and Procurement 101. The Internal Controls Workshop focuses on the analysis of federal regulations within 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance, best practices needed to develop internal controls, policies, and procedures for recipients of federal funding, and a look at sample policies. |
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TCRP's Redesigning Transit Networks for the New Mobility Future presents case studies and toolkits to plan and redesign bus networks. Rural examples include Clinton County Public Transit's rural-zone dial-a-ride service, Victor Valley Transit Authority's microtransit pilot, and IndyGo's last-mile transit facilities that can connect rural transit services to urban transit services.
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The Bureau of Transportation (BTS) provides updated data on Employment and Unemployment in Transportation. A chart lets users compare unemployment by mode, such as bus service, with other modes. Another chat shows reasons for unemployment.
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) increased the maximum loan cap from $500,000 to $2 million for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on October 8, 2021. In addition, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans will automatically convert to a standard loan at 1% interest if businesses don’t apply to the SBA for forgiveness within 10 months of the end of the covered period.
The APTA Local Coalition Grant Program prioritizes equitable transportation strategies that improve access for traditionally disadvantaged groups including improved infrastructure and fare affordability. Applications will be solicited until November 3, 2021. |
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FMCSA's Entry-Level Driver Training regulations go into effect on February 7, 2022. Under the new requirements, an entry-level driver must successfully complete a program of theory and behind-the-wheel instruction prior to taking the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) test. The requirements do not apply to individuals holding a valid CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement issued prior to February 7, 2022 or someone who meets one of the exceptions for taking a skills test in 49 CFR Part 383.
Motor carriers operating under FMCSA’s COVID-19 emergency declaration must report the number of trips that they used the exemption in October 2021 to FMCSA by November 5, 2021. The revised declaration added fuel and supplies to assist people affected by the pandemic to the list of qualifying items. Carriers will have 5 days after the end of each month to report.
FMCSA published a Final Rule in the Federal Register requiring that state driver’s licensing agencies must not issue, renew, upgrade, or transfer commercial driver’s licenses or commercial learner’s permits for individuals prohibited under FMCSA’s regulations from performing safety-sensitive functions, including driving a commercial motor vehicle, due to one or more drug and alcohol program violations. This rule also requires states receiving Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant funds to adopt a compatible driving prohibition. The effective date is November 8, 2021 and the compliance date is November 18, 2024. |
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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.
FTA
October 14, 2:00 PM
Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA)
October 14, 2:00 PM
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
October 14, 3:00-4:00 PM
UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
October 14, 3:30-5:00 PM
Native Learning Center
October 15, 1:00-3:30 PM
National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
Portland, OR, October 16-19
NAFA Fleet Management Association
Arlington, VA, October 18-20
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
October 19, 12:00-1:30 PM
NADTC
October 19, 12:30-1:15 PM
TRB
October 19, 1:00-2:30 PM
UMass Amherst Transportation Center
October 19- 20
Rural Assembly
October 19-20
FTA
October 19-20
In conjunction with the Rail Transit Agency Virtual Workshop
National RTAP
October 19-25
Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL)
October 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
Office of Disability Employment Policy
October 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
ITS America
October 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
FHWA
October 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
ITNAmerica
October 20-21
National Transit Institute
October 21, 1:00-4:30 PM
TRB
October 21, 2:00-3:30 PM
World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
October 21-22
Florida Public Transit Association/Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged
Daytona Beach, FL, October 24-27
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our table!
TRB
October 25-27
We're presenting and exhibiting.
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
October 25-28
NAS Committee on the Assessment of Technologies for Improving Fuel Economy of Light-Duty Vehicles - Phase 3
October 25-28, 1:00-5:15 PM
Global Fleet
Miami, FL, October 26-28
Active Transportation Resource Center (ATRC)
October 26-28, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
CALACT
Monterey, CA, October 26-29
We're presenting and exhibiting.
FTA
October 27, 2:30 PM
White House Council on Native American Affairs
October 27-28, 2:00-4:00 PM
TRB
October 27-29
Stanford Graduate School of Business
October 28, 1:30-5:00 PM
NADTC
Office Hours: Innovative Approaches to Communicate with Individuals with Dementia
October 28, 2:00-3:00 PM
Native Learning Center
October 29, 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
TRB
November 1, 2:00-4:00 PM
Kentucky Public Transit Association
Lexington, KY, November 1-5
We're exhibiting. Please visit our booth!
National RTAP
November 4, 2:00-3:00 PM ET
TRB
November 5, 1:00-2:30 PM
Community Transportation Association of America
Richmond, VA, November 7-11
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our table!
APTA
Orlando, FL, November 7-10
White House
November 8-12
Register by October 22, 2021
Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health
November 9-10
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
November 11, 12:00-1:30 PM
Government Fleet
Orlando, November 15-17
AzTA and ADOT
Riverview Mesa, AZ, November 15-19
We're presenting and exhibiting.
Intelligent Transport
November 15-19
National Network for the Transportation Workforce
November 17, 1:00-2:00 PM
EVNoire and Forth
November 17-18
Native Learning Center
November 19, 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Native Learning Center
November 29 - December 3
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