National RTAP eNews - April 30, 2020

eNews - April 30, 2020

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.

Updates to National RTAP Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information Web Page

The National RTAP Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Information web page is being updated regularly with new resources, technical assistance, and training. Our COVID-19 technical brief is updated every week.

We have a new COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page
Examples of shields for driver social distancing were shared by rural transit agencies
Summaries have been posted of our Tribal Transit Manager COVID-19 Peer Roundtable on April 9, 2020 and our Transit Manager COVID-19 Panel Discussion on April 15, 2020

National RTAP eLearning Updates

National RTAP eLearning has a new logo and login button at the top of the National RTAP web pages . In addition, a number of our courses had comprehensive updates to content and interactivity, including 2 The Point and Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers. An average of 124 learners currently access our eLearning training every day. The training is free to rural and tribal transit organizations.

Featured Resource

Resources and Events

National RTAP Twitter Chat on Climate Change and Transit Summary Available

We hosted a #ClimateTransit Twitter chat on April 21, 2020 to discuss how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. Participants chatted about how transit agencies can prepare for potential effects of a changing climate, as well as tackle their emissions to mitigate potential climate impacts. Read the Chat Summary.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

U.S. DOT opened the Inclusive Design Challenge, a competition seeking design solutions to make future automated vehicles more accessible to people with disabilities. They seek innovative design solutions that can enable people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities to use automated vehicles to access jobs, healthcare, and other critical destinations. Proposals are due October 30, 2020.

FTA has extended the compliance deadline for the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) regulation from July 20, 2020 until December 31, 2020. FTA recipients may also postpone submission of Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports to July 30, 2020 (see answer AD2 in FTA COVID-19 FAQs.)

Opportunities

TRB invites researchers and practitioners to submit research and research needs statements specifically related to Transportation and Pandemics. To submit research, create an account, select the TRB Practical Pipeline from the dropdown, and upload manuscript files.

A Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Inviting Applications for the Rural Business Development Grant Program to Provide Technical Assistance for Rural Transportation Systems was posted in the Federal Register. Applications are encouraged that will help improve life in rural America and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with Substance Use Disorder. Applications are due May 14, 2020.

The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is developing a white paper under an N-CATT grant to help rural transit agencies understand the process for deploying electric vehicles, and how they can best work with their electric utility during fleet electrification. CTE is looking to speak with rural transit agencies that either currently have or are considering electric vehicles in their fleets, or if they have worked with other community groups as they considered electric vehicles (e.g., schools, hospitals). Agencies who would like to be interviewed may contact Amy Posner at [email protected].

The Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is offering funding for training and technical assistance for Preventing Trafficking of Girls. The closing date for submitting applications to Grants.gov is May 26, 2020.

NCHRP's Deploying Transportation Security Practices in State DOTs project will develop and support security deployment and change management strategies in State DOTs. To help gather lessons learned and best practices from state DOTs and non-DOT stakeholders, such as transit agencies, the research team has developed an online self-assessment form. You are invited to assist the research team by completing the assessment.

NCMM is seeking information on the role of transportation in addressing social isolation for older adults for a research paper. They plan on describing case studies to highlight potential and promising program examples or lessons learned.

Webinars and Training

The International Professional Association for Transport and Health (IPATH) offers a free transportation and public health monthly webinar collaboration series.

The National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC) - "Making Connections to a Better Future," has been rescheduled for October 24-27, 2021. The venue will still be Charleston, SC. People who have registered and are not able to attend during the new dates may cancel by July 31, 2020 and receive a full refund. Otherwise, the registration for the original dates automatically will be applied to the new dates.

Publications

Two recent NCHRP publications cover in-kind match. Use of In-Kind as Match for Federal Transit Administration Awards helps agencies understand how in-kind resources can be used as match to FTA funds. Case studies include a rural intercity bus feeder service in West Virginia and San Carlos Apache Tribe transit service. Baseline Research on Allowable In-Kind and Local Match Sources documents sources of funds used to match FTA awards. Examples include Rural Health Care Network, Rural Health Care Outreach Program, and Tribal Transportation Program funds.

USDA's COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide provides lists and links for technical, training, and management assistance for different types of rural agencies.

The most recent Annual Report on Centers for Independent Living has been published by the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Centers for Independent Living can leverage funding from both ACL and FTA to increase community integration for people with disabilities. They can use ACL funding as a match resource for FTA programs, including Section 5310 and Section 5311.

TCRP's Transit Security Preparedness identifies current practices transit systems can use to enhance security measures and to identify opportunities to apply security technology applications used in other industries to the transit environment.

Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health has created customizable COVID-19 fact sheets for tribes, and fact sheets for Navajo Tribal Members and White Mountain Apache Tribal Members.

SUMC/NCMM's Examples of Mobility on Demand Policies and Public Private Partnerships to Increase Accessibility describes policies and programs for persons with disabilities. Examples include Dakota County, Minnesota's partnership with a transportation network company and the Go! Vermont Trip Planner that serves rural areas across the state.

National RTAP Livability Topic Guide Updated

The National RTAP Livability Topic Guide was updated in April 2020. Newly added resources include AARP's Home and Community Preferences Survey and New England University Transportation Center's Understanding Perceptions of Transportation for Livable Communities.

Legislation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 22, 2020 on Continuous Emission Monitoring; Quality-Assurance Requirements During the COVID–19 National Emergency. Agencies that monitor and report emissions under certain programs may temporarily report actual monitored data instead of substitute data.

Glasgow Transit Offers Online Trip Planning with National RTAP GTFS Builder

T yler Graham, Regional Transportation Planner for Barren River Area Development District in Bowling Green, Kentucky successfully deployed online trip planning for Glasgow Transit in less than 90 days using National RTAP's GTFS Builder web app. Google Transit displays trip planning details in a rider's native language (Spanish, Cambodian, Tagalog, etc.) which supports agencies in travel training and to meet Title VI mandates.

Calendar of 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.

TRB

What Role does Ecology Have in Sustainable Transportation?

April 30, 1:00-2:30 PM