eNews - March 3, 2022
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
National RTAP Marketing Workshop on Passenger Information Next Week
Upcoming National RTAP Building Better Bus Stops Webinar
Upcoming National RTAP Intercity Bus and Tribal Transit Peer Roundtables
FTA Publishes Annual Model Plans and Research Outlook and New Census Webpage
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Holding NEMT Listening Sessions
Next Week - National RTAP Marketing Workshop Series: Step Three - Passenger Information

This is the third of six virtual marketing workshops in 2022 geared to rural and tribal public transit providers. Join us on March 10, 2022, from 2:00-3:30 PM ET.

While a transit agency’s website is the Swiss Army tool of passenger information, it does not serve every need. There are occasions when other tools are more useful. This class will examine the role of passenger guides, signage, information displays, and mobile apps, and will provide best practices for selecting and creating these tools.

The first hour of this session will be a presentation by Selena Barlow of Transit Marketing LLC. During the final 30 minutes, those who volunteer will share their agency's passenger guide, their ideas for how it could be improved, and ask for feedback from the group. If you are interested, sign up in registration. (This segment will not be recorded.)

If you missed the first two workshops in this series, the recordings and slides are available at www.nationalrtap.org/webinars.
Join our March Events to Learn to Build Better Bus Stops and Discuss Intercity Bus and Tribal Transit Issues

On March 14, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, we are hosting a Building Better Bus Stops: Planning and Partnerships webinar that will provide an overview of the Building Better Bus Stops Resource Guide, highlight ways to incorporate transit in local plans and policies, build strategic partnerships to implement better bus stops, and provide insights and real-world examples of rural bus stop improvement projects.

Panelists are Andy Batson, Chief, Planning and Project Delivery, Pennsylvania DOT - Bureau of Public Transportation; Natasha Manbeck, Senior Project Manager, McMahon Associates, Inc.; and Rich Schlameuss, Assistant Executive Director, Monroe County Transit Authority. Register for the webinar.
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Join the Discussions in our March Intercity Bus and Tribal Transit
Peer Roundtables

In addition, you can join your peers on March 16, 2:00-3:30 PM ET, for an Intercity Bus Peer Roundtable to discuss issues of interest to intercity bus stakeholders. Topics of discussion to be determined - please let us know when you register what topics most interest you.

We are also holding a Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable on March 28, 2022 from 2:30-3:30 PM ET, held in conjunction with the in-person Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group’s 18th Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium as part of National RTAP’s Mini-Conference Series: Alaska 2022.
Learn about TACL Recording Posted

The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination, coordinate among federally funded transit programs, and share resources across agencies to improve transit in their communities. We held a training webinar on TACL on February 22, 2022 and posted the webinar recording and slides.

TACL also extends a warm welcome to its newest Task Force member: Adrianne Malasky, FTA, and new reviewers: Christy Allen, Utah Transit Authority, and Jessie Schmitzer, Ohio DOT.

National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP Hold Transit Insurance and Risk Management Webinar

National RTAP and AASHTO Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) are hosting a Risky Business: Transit Insurance and Risk Management webinar on March 31, 2022 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET to provide training on two very important components of rural transit management: insurance and risk management. Participants will also learn about statewide insurance pools.

The webinar will be moderated by Mike Spadafore, Director of Mobility Management, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, and panelists are Jill Nagy, President and Managing Partner, Summers Nagy Law Offices; Brenda Schweitzer, Review Board Member, National RTAP; and Glen Griffin, Executive Director, Michigan Transit Pool (MTP). Register for the webinar.

National RTAP Participation in Upcoming In-Person Conferences and Meetings

We're presenting and exhibiting at the following conferences and meetings:
National RTAP Solicitation for New Review Board Members

National RTAP is soliciting nominations through March 31, 2022 for new Review Board members to join the Board in 2022 and 2023. There will be vacancies to fill for 2 state transit officials in fall 2022 and 2 in spring 2023. For rural or tribal transit providers there will be 3 vacancies in 2023. Read more and access the nomination form.

National RTAP Disasters Topic Guide Updated

National RTAP updated its Disasters Topic Guide. New resources include:

Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in June

Northwest Pennsylvania Mobility Alliance, Inc., in partnership with National RTAP, N-CATT, NCMM, SUMC, NABSA, Propane Education & Research Council, and PennTRAIN, will be hosting the Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in Erie, PA on June 15-16 2022. Topics will include mobility management, alternative fuels, transit's role in economic development, and more. The Retreat has sold out, but a waiting list for attendees is available.

Join our #Every1OnTheBus Twitter Chat in April

Mark your Calendars for April 12, 2022, for the second #Every1OnTheBus Twitter Chat. The chat will be moderated by Nate Seeskin, Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), and Marcela Moreno, National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT). RSVP for the chat.

The Books in Transit Discussion Group Selects our Next Book

The Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected Set my Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson for our next book to read. We're excited to announce that the author will be joining our discussion. The book takes place in a future where robots live and work alongside humans and driverless cars and buses fill the roads. Save the date - August 17, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
FTA is currently in the process of preparing for the 2020 Census changes and how those changes will impact FTA grant programs. FTA has developed a webpage that includes information related to the implementation of the Census changes.

FTA published its Annual Modal Research Plans FY 2022 and Program Outlook FY 2023. FTA major research programs focus on safety, mobility, climate, sustainability, economic strength, modernization, technology transfer, performance, and dissemination.

The February 2022 FTA Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight Newsletter has been published. The issue provided an update on the FTA Transit COVID-19 Response Program Information Collection and datasets that can assist National Transit Database (NTD) reduced reporters (such as rural and tribal transit agencies) with Safety Management System Safety Analysis.

U.S. DOT, AASHTO, and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on February 23, 2022 to coordinate investment in electric vehicle charging station infrastructure nationwide.

U.S. DOT proposes to amend the transportation industry drug testing program procedures regulation to include oral fluid testing. The updated regulations will align with Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Comments should be submitted by March 30, 2022.
Webinars and Training
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host four listening sessions centered on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). All four sessions are open to the public. These sessions will be held on March 10, March 31, April 7, and April 13, 2022. Through these listening sessions, CMS would like to obtain your input regarding potential practices for improving Medicaid program integrity for NEMT.

National RTAP is holding a Tribal Transit Peer Roundtable on March 28, 2022 from 2:30-3:30 PM ET, held in conjunction with the in-person Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group’s 18th Annual Alaska Tribal Transportation Symposium as part of National RTAP’s Mini-Conference Series: Alaska 2022.
Publications
TCRP's An Update on Public Transportation's Impacts on Greenhouse Gas Emissions provides a national analysis of public transportation’s role as a climate solution by documenting its greenhouse gas impacts.

Expectations and Understanding of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems among Drivers, Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Public Transit Riders by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the SAFER-SIM University Transportation Center examines the perceptions, understanding, and behaviors of road users in relation to advanced driving features. Public transit riders were more likely to keep driving with advanced driving features active, compared to the other road users.

Understanding Transport Demands and Elasticities: How Prices and Other Factors Affect Travel Behavior by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute describes concepts related to transport demand and how this can be measured using elasticity values. For example, vehicle miles traveled tend to have higher fuel-price elasticities and rural households tend to be more price elastic than urban households.
Databases and Tools
National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) offers a searchable Health and Transportation Resource Center for exploring the relationship between health, well-being, and transportation. The center can be searched for tools, guides, white papers, websites, and additional resources.
Opportunities
An international competition is underway to replace the International Symbol of Accessibility with a new design. The design competition for a completely new symbol is being sponsored jointly by the International Union of Architects and Rehabilitation International. Entries must be submitted by March 25, 2022.

Administration for Community Living is soliciting applications through April 4, 2022 for its Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRP) Program: Community Living and Participation. Governments, Tribes, and other applicants must propose a research project that is aimed at improving community living and participation outcomes among people with disabilities.

National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) is soliciting community Promising Practices through a database of current and recent mobility management practices from across the country. NCMM is requesting submissions for its Promising Practices database, focused on showcasing innovative mobility management practices. NCMM is seeking nonprofit or public organizations eligible to receive federal funds to write a case study on a collaboration addressing social isolation and will fund write-ups from 3 communities. Proposals are due March 14, 2022.

Through March 18, 2022, community-based organizations may submit an entry for the innovations showcase competition Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Academy Innovations Showcase.

The National Operations Center of Excellence and the U.S. DOT ITS JPO's Professional Capacity Building Program are hosting a competition for students to work directly with public agencies to solve real-world transportation problems utilizing intelligent transportation systems and transportation systems management and operations solutions. Sign-ups will be accepted through March 13, 2022.
Legislation
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) established the Spectrum Coordination Initiative. The Initiative will improve the two agencies’ ability to address gaps in governmental coordination.

A Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships reaffirmed Executive Order 13175, charging all executive departments and agencies with engaging in regular, meaningful, and robust consultation with Tribal officials in the development of federal policies that have Tribal implications. In addition, a Memorandum on Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Federal Decision Making recognizes Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge as an important body of knowledge that contributes to the scientific, technical, social, and economic advancements, and to the collective understanding of the natural world.

A Fact Sheet explains the federal plan to expand the Administration for Community Living’s Disability Information and Access Line to support people with disabilities who face difficulty using or cannot use a self-test, in part by assisting callers with transportation to visit a community-based testing site.

FMCSA announced that the term "x-ray examination" is a diagnostic procedure and should no longer be considered ‘‘medical treatment’’ in determining whether a crash should be included on a motor carrier’s accident register for accident reporting purposes.
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.

Native Learning Center
March 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

New Mexico Transit Association
Albuquerque, NM, March 5-8
Please visit our info table!

FORTH
March 8, 1:00-2:00 PM

Native Learning Center
March 8, 2:00-3:30 PM

Administration for Community Living (ACL)
March 8, 3:00 PM

TRB
March 9, 2022, 2:00-3:30 PM

Global Mass Transit
Washington, D.C., March 9-10

Native Learning Center
March 10, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
March 10, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP
March 10, 2:00-3:30 PM

NADTC
Open Forum on Aging, Vision Loss & Transportation
March 10, 3:00 PM

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 
March 10, 2:30-4:00 PM

APTA
Washington, DC, March 13-15

National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA) 
Arlington, VA, March 13–16

NADTC
NADTC's Office Hours: Community Health Impact using Transportation 
March 15, 2:00-3:00 PM 
RSVP 

National Transit Institute
March 15, 2:00-3:30 PM

ITE - Community of Transportation Professionals
March 15-16

National RTAP
March 16, 2:00-3:30 PM ET

FHWA
March 16, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM

Q'Straint / Sure-Lok 
March 22, 12:00-1:15 PM

Nebraska Association of Transportation Providers (NATP)
Grand Island, NE, March 22-23
Please visit our info table!

UMass Transportation Center
March 22-23

Transit Workforce Center (TWC)
March 23, 1:00 PM

NADTC
March 24, 2:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP
March 28, 2:30-3:30 PM

Arkansas Transit Association
North Little Rock, AR, March 29
Please visit our info table!

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
March 29, 12:00-1:00 PM

Alaska Tribal Transportation Working Group
Anchorage, AK, March 29-31
We're participating.

National RTAP and AASHTO MTAP
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
March 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

Intelligent Transport
April 6-8

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
April 7, 2:00-3:30 PM

Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL)
April 12, 2:00-3:00 PM

U.S. DOT
April 12, 2:00-3:30 PM

Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT)
Ann Arbor, MI and Online, April 12-13, 2022

AzTA & ADOT
Tuscon, AZ, April 12-14
Please visit our booth!

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
April 13, 2:00-3:30 PM EST

Q'Straint / Sure-Lok 
April 14, 12:00-1:30 PM

AASHTO
Washington, DC, April 25-28
Application Deadline: March 11, 2022

HIRTA Public Transit
April 26, 10:00 AM - 4:45 PM

U.S. DOT
April 26, 2:00-3:30 PM


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