Cost allocation is the act of taking a sum of operating costs and distributing that sum to individual transit routes, transit services, or jurisdictions. State DOTs use a cost allocation process in the management of their statewide transit programs, including FTA Section 5311 and 5310.

This Best Practices in Cost Allocation webinar on August 4, 2022, 2:30-4:00 PM ET, co-hosted with AASHTO's Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program, will provide attendees with an understanding of cost allocation and how two state DOTs use it in managing human services transportation programs. A few easy-to-use tools for allocating operational costs will also be introduced. Speakers will include Richard Garrity of RLS & Associates, John Taylor of PennDOT, and Sheila Gombita of Freedom Transit.

The Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected Set my Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson for our next book to read. The book takes place in a future where robots live and work alongside humans and driverless cars and buses fill the roads. The meet the author and discussion will take place on August 17, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Register for the book discussion group meeting.

FTA published a Dear Colleague letter stating that intercity bus providers that use a nationwide allocation model to allocate costs are eligible to be reimbursed for net operating costs under Section 5311(f), including funding provided by supplemental COVID programs such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

FTA published corrections to the FY 2022 Section 5311 Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program and Rural Transportation Assistance Program funding apportionments.

U.S. DOT proposes a new system of records titled the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) Program. This system of records will allow U.S. DOT to collect and maintain records on safety performance and driving profiles of certain Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers voluntarily participating in the SDAP program and receiving an exemption to operate in interstate commerce before reaching the age of 21. Comments are due by August 14, 2022.

FTA proposed a partial general nonavailability Buy America waiver for a 2-year duration (or when a compliant solution becomes available) for mass-produced, unmodified non-ADA accessible vans and minivans. Instead of applying Buy America’s rolling stock standard to these vans and minivans, FTA would require the vans and minivans to have their place of final assembly and engine country of origin in the U.S. as reported under the American Automobile Labeling Act. Comments must be received by August 3, 2022.

FTA proposed the approval for the extension of a currently approved information collection on the National Transit Database (NTD). Comments must be submitted before September 19, 2022. FTA also published a notice that contains five proposed changes and clarifications on new NTD sample-based monthly data, GTFS, collecting geospatial data for demand response modes, energy contact information, and vehicle fuel type data. FTA is proposing to require GTFS data reporting from all full, reduced, tribal, and rural reporters moving forward.

FTA published a Dear Colleague Letter on Real Estate and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to remind project sponsors of FTA’s policies on the acquisition of real property where Federal funds will be, or are anticipated to be, used for the purchase or development of that property. It lists 3 exceptions: FTA’s corridor preservation statute, a hardship or protective acquisition categorical exclusion, or limited, standalone property acquisition categorical exclusion where there is no substantial change in the functional use of the property being acquired.

The DOT Navigator is a new resource from U.S. DOT to help communities understand the best ways to apply for grants and to plan for and deliver infrastructure projects and services. Users can apply for grants, find technical assistance resources, and learn about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

U.S. DOT is soliciting members for its new Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee (TTAC) through August 19, 2022. TTAC is tasked with advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation about needs, objectives, plans, and approaches for transportation innovations.

FTA published its July 2022 Drug and Alcohol Newsletter. This issue contains much new guidance, including:

RSVP for upcoming National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) Office Hours on "How Can I Assist You?" Reasonable Modification to Policy Considerations, that will take place on July 27, 2022, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET.

TCRP's Joint Development Agreements Using FTA Funds or FTA-Funded Assets addresses legal challenges that may arise during the FTA-assisted joint development process for transit oriented development and includes sample model agreement forms, developed by the Washington Area Transit Authority.

In Transportation Planning to the Extreme for Weather and Climate Change, TRB has gathered timely and authoritative resources to learn about budgeting and preparing for extreme weather and climate change impacts on transportation services. Links are available to all weather and transportation issues, including research reports, webinars, and conference proceedings, such as Investing in Transportation Resilience: A Framework for Informed Choices.

The Center for Urban Transportation Research's (CUTR) Transportation Equity Toolkit: Transportation Equity Needs Assessment & Project Prioritization offers guidance, steps, and tools to advance equity in traditionally underserved communities and more equitably distribute transportation investments. It provides a framework for a transportation equity needs assessment and an equity-based project identification and prioritization process.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a new Assurance of Transportation webpage. The page lists the Minimum Requirements for Drivers (Section 209 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) and links to stakeholder listening sessions that were held earlier in 2022.

The U.S. Access Board published Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, a technical assistance document that reviews existing requirements and new recommendations for making EV charging stations accessible. 

FHWA published a map showing Alternative Fuel Corridor designations, which are now available in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

Geotab created two tools to help automotive fleets understand how temperatures affect electric vehicle range and how long electric vehicle batteries typically last.

Through FTA funding, the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) is able to to provide mobility managers with access to a premium version of PolicyMap. The map provides demographic and other data that can be used to justify needs in targeted areas for funding applications. Request access.

Entities currently receiving Low-No funds or planning to apply for Low-No funds can contact the Joint Office for technical assistance to plan for and deploy clean buses.

TRB's Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program provides funding early in the development process for promising but unproven, innovative concepts and methods. Proposals are permitted up to $100,000 and are due August 1, 2022.

Individuals can suggest up to 5 new terms for inclusion in the TRB Transportation Research Thesaurus (TRT). For example, distracted driving and decarbonization were recently added. The TRT) is a tool to provide a common and consistent language between producers and users of transportation information.

Under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, each state is required to submit an Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan that describes how the state intends to use its apportioned NEVI Formula Program funds in accordance with the guidance issued by FHWA. Plans must be submitted to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation by August 1, 2022, States should email a PDF file or downloadable link to [email protected].

In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measure, FHWA proposes to amend its regulations governing national performance management measures on carbon dioxide targets and establish a method for the measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions. State DOTs and MPOs would have the flexibility to set targets that are appropriate for their communities.

Garden Grove, CA, July 18-21

Seattle, WA, July 18-21

Kansas City, MO, July 19 -21

July 21, 1:00-2:00 PM

Portland, OR, July 24-27

Rogers, AR, July 24-27

July 24-29

July 26, 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Roanoke, WV, July 26-28

July 27, 2:00 PM

July 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

NADTC Office Hours: "How Can I Assist You?" Reasonable Modification to Policy Considerations

July 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

July 28, 12:00 PM

July 28, 1:00-1:45 PM

July 28th, 1:00-2:30 PM

July 29, 2:00-3:00 PM

August 4, 1:00-1:45 PM

August 4, 2:30-4:00 PM

Pittsburgh, PA, August 7-10

August 9, 3:00 PM

Bloomington, MN, August 10 or August 11

August 11, 2:00-3:00 PM

August 17, 2:00-3:00 PM

Thompsonville, MI, August 22-24

Louisville, KY, August 22-26

August 23, 1:30-3:00 PM

August 25, 12:30-2:00 PM

Spokane, WA, August 27-30

Wichita, KS, August 29-31

Boise, ID, August 29-31

Santa Fe, NM, September 6-8

Bismark, ND, September 6-8

Park City, UT, September 7-10

September 8, 12:00- 1:30 PM

September 12-15, 1:00-3:30 PM

September 12-16

September 15, 10:30 AM

Aberdeen, SD, September 16-20

Los Angeles, CA, September 18-22

September 19, 2:00-3:00 PM

Washington, D.C., September 19-21

Anaheim, CA, September 19–21

September 19-22, 1:00-5:00 PM

September 26-29, 1:00-5:00 PM

October 11, 2:00-3:00 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].