National RTAP eNews - August 20, 2020

eNews - August 20, 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.

A New Way to Learn 2 The Point:

Fill Out our 2TP Crossword Puzzle

National RTAP 2 The Point training cards have been designed to be quick refresher trainings for drivers that can be reviewed in the break room, while parked and waiting for a passenger to finish an appointment, or at the beginning of the day before starting a route. We also provide the training through our eLearning system.

Featured Resource

For puzzle fans looking for a fun way to learn from the training, we've developed a crossword puzzle based on 2 The Point. The first person who completes it correctly and sends it to info@nationalrtap.org will win a prize.

Upcoming Tribal Transit Manager Peer Roundtable

Join National RTAP staff, Amy Fong, Transportation Program Analyst, FTA, and fellow Tribal Transit providers on September 17, 2020 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET. In this roundtable we will discuss program updates and virtual training needs. There is no need to register in advance. Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Resources and Events

National RTAP will hold a webinar on August 20, 2020 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET to provide an overview of the topics covered in our recently updated Fundamental Financial Management training module and guidance on how to best utilize the materials. Presenters include Richard Garrity of RLS & Associates and Todd Hansen of Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Note: This webinar will not be a delivery of the training content.

Deadline Today - Enter the National RTAP Rural Transit Heroes Photo Contest

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to make sure their passengers travel safely and comfortably in all situations? Transit heroes deserve to be celebrated, so the theme of our 2020 Photo Contest is “Rural Transit Heroes.” The contest ends TODAY, August 20, 2020.

Farewell to National RTAP Resource Assistant Rachael Hobson

National RTAP Resource Assistant Rachael Hobson, who has worked in our Resource Center and Shipping Center since 2015, will be moving on to new ventures. Her last day will be August 27, 2020.

Among many other achievements, Rachael has shipped thousands of our training materials to individuals, transit agencies, and to conferences. Best wishes for Rachael's future can be sent to resources@nationalrtap.org.

Essential Spanish for Rural Transit Webinar Recording Posted

Essential Spanish for Rural Transit is a National RTAP training that provides the most frequently asked questions passengers ask, as well as the most important messages that transit drivers need to give those passengers, in a simple English/Spanish format to facilitate effective communication. Oregon DOT panelists introduced the training module and its applications on August 6, 2020. Access the webinar recording, presentation slides, and Q&A Document.

RTAPgo Podcast Series Launching

National RTAP RTAPgo podcasts provide peer tested innovations, trends, and ideas on facing operational challenges, surviving, and thriving with grace, grit, and creativity. Visit our new RTAPgo web page to hear brief snippets of our very first episode: "RTAPgo on the Road with Tribal Transit: Big Woods Big Impact." Subscribe to our RTAPgo email list for updates, content access, and a chance to win prizes.

U.S. DOT and FTA Updates

FTA will be holding a number of webinars this month, including an Expedited Project Delivery Pilot Program webinar on August 26, 2020 and a PTASP: Management of Change webinar on August 27, 2020.

U.S. DOT has created a web page with Safety Band information.

The Safety Band is a 5.9 GHz wireless spectrum for transportation related communications among devices that support connected and automated vehicles.

FTA awarded $464 million in grants through the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. Rural and Tribal projects funded include new transit facilities, expanded bus service, and bus facility rehabilitation and expansion projects.

FTA Circular 7050.1B, FTA Guidance on Joint Development, was published on August 14, 2020 to increase flexibility for project sponsors to pursue joint development projects, reduce FTA oversight of joint development agreements negotiated between project sponsors and partners, streamline FTA’s project eligibility review process, and clarify prior guidance in FTA Circular 7050.1A

Opportunities

The National Safety Council (NSC) Marion Martin Award recognizes accomplished women safety professionals who have paved the way to success for other women in the field. Nominations are being accepted through November 10, 2020. The NSC Distinguished Service to Safety Award recognizes outstanding service and contribution in the field of safety. Nominations are being accepted through November 9, 2020.

The AARP Foundation seeks proposals for Direct Service, Education, Outreach and Field-Building Projects. Grants include projects that facilitate acquisition of knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, beliefs, and habits pertaining to low-income older adults (e.g. training, instructional material development). The application deadline is August 31, 2020.

Welcome New State RTAP Manager

National RTAP extends a warm welcome to our community to our newest State RTAP Manager, Lisa Koch of Kansas. To contact Lisa or any RTAP Manager, visit our Directory of State RTAP Managers.

Webinars and Training

If you are attending Dakota Transit Association's Dakota Transit Conference & Roadeo in Watertown, SD, on September 11-15, 2020, National RTAP training materials will be available on a table for self-service pick-up through our "National RTAP in a Box" program. If you are hosting an in-person conference and would like to disseminate our materials, please contact us at info@nationalrtap.org.

National RTAP staff and trainers will be presenting at the upcoming National Transportation in Indian Country (NTICC) Online Conference that takes place on August 31 - September 4, 2020. Our presentations include: Rural Transit During Crisis, COVID-19 Pandemic Risk for the Next Wave, and Tribal Transit Planning & System Growth.

Publications

Oregon DOT's 2020 Transit Network Report report that explores Oregon’s fixed route transit network. The report provides information and data on route miles, service miles, service hours, connections among service providers, population served at various levels of service, fleet condition, key transit hubs, rural transit coverage, Tribal partnerships, and more.

TCRP published a 2-volume Equity Analysis in Regional Transportation Planning Processes series. Volume 1 analyzes and addresses equity effectively in long-range, regional, multimodal transportation planning and programming processes. Volume 2 identifies ways that equity in public transportation can be analyzed and adapted by Metropolitan Planning Organizations in partnership with transit agencies.

Eno Center for Transportation's The Role of Transportation in Improving Americas Health describes the ways in which transportation, health, and healthcare are interrelated. Recent promising innovations, such as transportation startups, are detailed, and recommendations are provided for future improvements.

Shared Use Mobility Center (SUMC) has published a series of case studies of National Review of Public Transit COVID-19 Delivery Programs, which includes the rural Charlevoix County Transit (CCT) and El Dorado Transit programs.

The latest blog post by National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN) bloggers describes the Knowledge Management in Transportation LibGuide.

National RTAP Human Resources Topic Guide Updated

The National RTAP Human Resources Topic Guide lists resources on best practices in personnel management and human resources. The guide was updated in August 2020. Newly added resources include:

Mineta Transportation Institute 's Attracting and Retaining Women in the Transportation Industry
APTA's Supporting Late-Shift Workers: Their Transportation Needs and the Economy
NCHRP's Transportation Workforce Planning and Development Strategies

Databases and Tools

A new Clear Roads online Weather Event Reconstruction and Analysis Tool enables transportation agencies to reconstruct winter weather events. The tool gathers existing online weather data for a specific location and time and prepares the results in a report.

The National Safety Council provides a COVID-19 Organizational Vulnerability Assessment tool. The tool examines vulnerability of an organization to COVID-19 transmission and provides tailored recommendations based on risks.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) County Transportation Profiles includes County level person trips by week and percent of resident workers who commute by public transportation.

Maps tracking COVID-19 include:

CUTR's US COVID-19 Confirmed Cases
Washington State University's COVID Urban Rural Explorer

Legislation

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is now fully operational, and mandatory use is now in effect. To assist users, there is now an FAQ page and a web page where users may contact FMCSA with additional questions.

Introduction to N-CATT Webinar to be Rescheduled

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will not be able to hold the Introduction to N-CATT Webinar as scheduled for September 2, 2020 from 2 pm-3 pm ET. We hope to reschedule the webinar at a later date this fall. Stay tuned for an update with the new date and time.

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.

FHWA

Value Capture Strategies: Advertising, Naming Rights, & Sponsorships

August 20, 1:00-3:00 PM