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. |
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Upcoming Tribal Transit Mini-Conferences, Workshops, and Scholarships
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National RTAP can provide financial assistance to any RTAP eligible tribal transit system wishing to attend a National RTAP sponsored training program, professional development program, or educational conference. Our Scholarship Program helps offset some of the costs associated with attending training programs. |
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Our Newest National RTAP Website Builder Website - Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority
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Eastern Panhandle Transit Authority (EPTA) has a bold, new website through National RTAP’s free Website Builder web app. Now EPTA riders can find everything they need through features like a trip planner that gives directions, interactive service area maps, and a Where’s My Bus App QR Code with functionality for mobile and desktop browsers. |
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Website Builder allows rural and tribal transit agencies and State RTAP Programs to create and design websites that are hosted on the National RTAP server free of charge. |
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Apply for a National RTAP Community Rides Grant
The National RTAP Community Rides Grant Program offers current recipients and subrecipients of FTA's Section 5311 program the opportunity to apply for grant awards of up to $100,000 for projects that develop or strengthen transportation partnerships that improve social determinants of health in rural and tribal communities. Download the Request for Proposals (RFP) and Budget Template. The application deadline is May 10, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET. Join our webinar today from 2:00-3:00 PM ET on the Project Development, Performance Measures, and Application Portal Overview.
National RTAP is Exhibiting at the ATA & ALTRANS Conference
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In an effort to improve National RTAP’s eNews and make it as useful as possible, we are conducting a survey to better understand how subscribers read the newsletter and learn which sections are the most valuable.
Upcoming National RTAP Presentations at Virtual Events
Resource Center Manager Cara Marcus will be delivering a Relaxation Workshop at the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT) 2021 Spring Virtual Conference on April 22, 2021.
Welcome to New State and Territory RTAP Managers
National RTAP extends a warm welcome to our community to several new State and Territory RTAP managers, Melinda Estey , Minnesota, and Sonia Montañez Colon , Puerto Rico. If you would like to get in touch with them or any RTAP Manager, visit our Directory of RTAP Managers.
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Join our Books in Transit Discussion Group
The National RTAP Books in Transit Discussion Group's first meeting will be held on August 18, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, to discuss John Steinbeck's novel The Wayward Bus. Participants may buy or borrow the book anytime before the meeting. Register for the meeting.
National RTAP Disasters Topic Guide Updated
National RTAP continues our annual update of topic guides. Our Disasters Topic Guide was updated in April 2021. From fires to hurricanes to blizzards, natural disasters and extreme weather affect every aspect of normal transit operations. This topic guide provides resources that help transit agencies plan, respond and recover from disasters.
New resources include:
Our Climate Change and Transit Twitter Chat is Next Week
Our #ClimateTransit Twitter chat on April 20, 2021, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, will discuss how climate change could impact rural communities and transit agencies. Learn how transit agencies can prepare for the potential effects of a changing climate and tackle emissions to mitigate potential climate impacts.
The chat will be moderated by Marcela Miceli, Manager, Energy Transition, Climate Nexus. Panelists are Jimmy O’Dea, Senior Vehicles Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Camron Gorguinpour, Director of Sustainability Solutions, ENGIE Impact. RSVP for an invite.
New Peer Forum Starting for Intercity Transportation
National RTAP is starting a new private online forum where you can connect with transit industry peers with experience to share and contact your peers directly about issues in Intercity Transportation. If you would like to be added to this forum, please send an email to Nelly Cubahiro. |
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U.S. DOT published a Notice of Funding Opportunity to apply for $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2021 discretionary grant funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors at the state and local levels to obtain funding for multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs. RAISE can provide capital funding directly to any public entity, including municipalities, counties, Tribal governments, or others.
U.S. DOT, FTA, and other agencies under U.S. DOT, published a final rule in the Federal Register on April 2, 2021, in response to Executive Orders 13990 (Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis) and 13992 (Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation). The rule removed internal policies and procedures relating to the issuance of rulemaking and guidance documents from the Code of Federal Regulations.
U.S. DOT issued a Sources Sought Notice for any organizations capable of providing services, resources, and/or facilities for testing emerging and future 5G new radio communications technologies for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications. Responses are due no later than April 19, 2021.
FTA released new Environmental and Sustainability Management System publications:
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TRB is hosting a webinar on Improving Transportation Access to Health Care on May 18, 2021 from 1:00-2:30 PM ET. The webinar will provide information to assist communities in improving transportation access to health care services. Presenters will discuss how to build relationships that will improve access to health care and provide examples of transportation programs that have met clients’ needs. |
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National Center for Applied Transit Technology's (N-CATT) Open Source Software and Open Data – What They Are and How to Use Them defines and explains what these two terms mean, what open source software and open data each can and cannot deliver for transit systems in rural, tribal, and small urban areas, and what early adopters of each of these types of technology have been finding.
The Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library ( TACL) was updated with 10 new resources in April 2021. In addition, TACL's featured resources for this quarter focus on FTA's Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility ( CCAM). The library is seeking volunteer resource reviewers for future submissions. If interested, please contact info@nationalrtap.org. Newly added resources include: |
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The National Transit Database (NTD) now has a Narrative Report Example Format, intended to support agencies with developing their narrative reports describing changes to asset condition from the previous year and detailing progress to meet performance targets set in the previous year. The tool provides prompts for information that could be useful for inclusion in reports.
An online U.S. Access Board discussion platform is open to the public to share ideas and questions on designing automated vehicles that are accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities.
The National Center for Sustainable Transportation provides an Induced Travel Calculator for estimating the additional vehicle miles traveled induced by expanding the capacity of major roadways.
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Through April 23, 2021, states can nominate projects for AASHTO's 2021 America’s Transportation Awards to help showcase why transportation infrastructure is vital to supporting the nation’s economy while improving the quality of life for communities.
Businesses that took out Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) have more time to pay them back. Loans made in 2020 will have the first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note. Loans made in 2021 will also be extended.
TCRP is recruiting Ambassadors to participate in industry events and visit transportation providers in order to educate the public transit industry on the wide variety of solution-based research available from TCRP. Apply by May 28, 2021.
The Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans announces the availability of FY2021 funds for the Social and Economic Development Strategies program. This program is focused on community-driven projects designed to grow local economies, preserve Native American cultures, and decrease the high rate of current challenges in Native American communities. Letters of Intent are due by May 6, 2021 and applications are due by June 30, 2021.
The Native Learning Center has a webpage with listings of current grants available to Tribes, listed by their deadline. Their Grant Opportunities page also advises on searching for grants for specific Tribes.
USDA's Rural Business Development Grant program provides funding to organizations seeking to provide rural communities with training and technical assistance to improve transportation services and facilities. Applications must be submitted to the applicant’s nearest USDA office by June 30, 2021.
The deadline to submit student papers to the National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation (RIBTC) has been extended to May 15, 2021. |
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H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act of 2021, became law on March 31, 2021. The legislation extended the Paycheck Protection Program application deadline to May 31, 2021 and extended the PPP authorization through June 30, 2021.
All employers of Commercial Driver's License (CDL) drivers must purchase a Query Plan in the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. This query plan enables employers, and their consortia/third-party administrators, to conduct queries of driver Clearinghouse records. Query plans may be purchased from the FMCSA Clearinghouse only.
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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.
International Association of Public Transport (UITP)/New Jersey Transit
April 15-16, 11:00 AM
Administration for Community Living
April 15, 3:00 PM
American Public Health Association, GWU, MDB, and SSF
Apr 16, 1:15-2:45 PM
Maryland Distracted Driving Summit, Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, DRIVE SMART Virginia
April 19, 2:00 pm to 3:10 pm ET
CDC
April 19, 3:00 PM
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
April 19-22, 2021
Oregon Office of Rural Health
April 20, 12:00-1:00 PM
National RTAP
April 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)
April 20-22
National RTAP Resource Center Manager Cara Marcus will be presenting.
TRB
April 21, 1:00-2:30 PM
Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE)
April 21, 2:00-3:30
U.S. Access Board
April 21, 2:00–3:30 PM
United Motorcoach Association
Orlando, FL, April 21-25
National Institute for Congestion Reduction
April 22, 12:00-1:00 PM
Safe Routes Partnership
April 22, 1:00-2:00 PM
U.S. Department of Justice
April 26, 2:00-3:00 PM
Association for Commuter Transportation
April 27
National Transit Institute
April 27, 1:00-4:30 PM
ITS Professional Capacity Building Program, ITS Joint Program Office, U.S. DOT
April 27, 2:00 PM
Age Friendly Arizona
April 27, 2:00-3:00 PM
PTV Group
April 28
National RTAP Executive Director Robin Phillips will be presenting.
TRB
April 28, 2:00-4:00 PM
ALTRANS & Alabama Transit Association
Gulf Shores, AL, April 28-April 30
National RTAP staff will be there. Please stop by our table!
FTA
April 29, 2:00-3:30 PM
The ADA Guru
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Webinar
May 3, 3:00 PM
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
May 11, 1:00 PM
FORTH
May 11, 1:00-2:00 PM
FTA
May 11-14
Utah Urban Rural Specialized Transportation Association (URSTA)
May 12, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
National RTAP will be exhibiting. Stop by our virtual booth.
National RTAP/Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 16-18
National RTAP staff are facilitating and presenting at this workshop.
Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 18-21
TRB
May 18, 1:00-2:00 PM
Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy and Health (CARTEEH), Co-sponsored by Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and University of California, Riverside (UCR)
May 18-20
APTA
Washington, DC, May 18-19
FHWA
May 19, 1:00-3:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
May 20, 12:00-1:30 PM
FORTH
May 25, 1:00-2:00 PM
American Bus Association (ABA)
Baltimore, MD, June 2-4
The ADA Guru
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Webinar
June 7, 3:00 PM
National RTAP
Kalispell, MT, June 7-8
National RTAP staff are facilitating and presenting at this mini-conference.
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
June 8, 1:00-2:00 PM
Global Mass Transit
June 9-10
Montana Transit Association
Kalispell, MT, June 7-11
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
June 8, 12:00-1:30 PM
FORTH
June 14-16
TRB
June 21-24
FTA
June 22, 2021, 1:00-3:30 PM
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