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
Upcoming National RTAP and HIRTA Mobility Management Matters Twitter Chat
Livable Communities Technical Brief Updated by National RTAP and SUMC
New NCMM Resource on Battery Swaps for Vehicle Charging
CDC Shortened Quarantine Time for Asymptomatic COVID-19
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Mobility Management Matters Twitter Chat This Month
Join National RTAP and HIRTA Public Transit on January 19, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, for a #MobilityManagementMatters Twitter Chat to discuss engaging your communities, what mobility management looks like post-COVID, and more! The chat will be moderated by Danny Schnathorst, Mobility Outreach Coordinator, HIRTA.
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Livable Communities Tech Brief Updated by National RTAP and Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
The original Livable Communities technical brief by National RTAP was created in 2011 as the concept of livable communities became a federal and local focus. Many of the initiatives that were discussed then are still relevant today, as rural, and tribal communities are still working to further a sense of place and create more mobility options. This update, Livable Communities: Transit Services and Infrastructure that Promote Livability, co-authored by National RTAP and the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), builds on those early initiatives, providing additional thoughts on changes in the mobility ecosystem and how those can help to realize a more livable community that is accessible to all people.
National RTAP and SUMC gratefully acknowledge the following individuals for the 2021 review of the technical brief update: Adam Fukushima, City of San Luis Obispo; Pradip Pant, Hawaii Department of Transportation; and Whitney Szentesi, City of San Luis Obispo. Photo credit: Dawn Chase.
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Next Week Starts our Marketing Workshop Series: Step One - Build Awareness
This is the first of six virtual marketing workshops on January 13, 2022 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET geared to rural and tribal public transit providers. The first hour will be a presentation by Selena Barlow of Transit Marketing LLC.
Join Our Second Relaxation Workshop
For those of you who enjoyed our February 2021 Relax Stress Management Workshop (and anyone who wants to relax), we are offering something very special on February 7, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. George Kinder finds creative inspiration from the solitude of living on the edge of a New England pond. Attuned to nature’s teachings, Kinder recorded its seasonal changes through poetry and photography in his book Reflections on Spectacle Pond. In this event, he offers an intimate window into the creative process with a poetry reading, photography slideshow, and discussion about meditation, nature, and inspiration. Register for the Workshop.
National RTAP Presentation at TransitCon 2022
National RTAP will be presenting at TransitCon 2022 on January 30, 2022 (the schedule is forthcoming) on How to Find (Almost ) Anything in Transportation. The presentation will feature our Find Anything Toolkit.
National RTAP eLearning has a New Look
If you haven't logged in recently, you'll see that our eLearning portal has been updated with a modern new look with clickable images of all our courses. |
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Upcoming National RTAP State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable
State RTAP Managers can join their peers for a State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable, an informal discussion of issues relevant to State RTAP Managers. No registration required; join the Roundtable (passcode 567285) on January 18, 2022 from 2:00-3:00 PM. Topics we'll be discussing include heavy-duty bus procurement, fare-free service, asset tracking systems, new FMCSA CDL training requirements, and training on preparing for State Management Reviews. Contact us to RSVP for the State RTAP Manager Roundtable if you would like a calendar invitation and send us topics you'd like to be discussed.
Upcoming National RTAP Transit Manager Peer Roundtable
We are holding a Transit Manager Peer Roundtable on January 27, 2022, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, for an informal discussion and information sharing with transit managers, facilitated by National RTAP staff. Potential topics include the new CDL entry-level driver training requirements, Title VI participation, triennial reviews, vehicle and parts shortages, and going fare free. Please submit questions you have or topics you would like addressed when you register for the roundtable.
Save the Date: Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat
Northwest Pennsylvania Mobility Alliance, Inc., in partnership with National RTAP, National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT), and PennTRAIN, will be hosting the Inaugural Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in Erie, PA June 15-16 2022. Topics will include mobility management, alternative fuels, transit's role in economic development, and more.
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The U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. DOT will create a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to support the deployment of $7.5 billion from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out a national electric vehicle charging network.
On January 4, 2022, U.S. DOT announced, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education, that FMCSA is giving states the option of waiving the portion of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test for school bus drivers that requires applicants to identify under the hood engine components. Drivers receiving a CDL under this temporary waiver are permitted to operate intrastate school buses only. This waiver expires March 31, 2022. |
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The Eno Center for Transportation is accepting applications for their 2022 Transportation Senior Executive Program, which will be held from May 15-20, 2022 in Washington, D.C. Leadership topics include cultivating board and general manager relationships, attracting and retaining team talent, and transportation funding and legislation. Applications are due on February 21, 2022.
Simplify Transit is holding a The Power of Real-Time Alerts Webinar on January 11, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET. The webinar will cover the anatomy of a service alert and how to publish a service alert feed. |
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CDC shortened the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for asymptomatic people with COVID-19 to 5 days, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask. For those exposed to COVID-19 who are unvaccinated or not yet boosted when eligible, CDC recommended quarantine for 5 days followed by mask use for 5 days. If a quarantine is not feasible, CDC recommended mask use 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days.
National Center for Mobility Management's (NCMM) blog post on Battery Swaps: A new way to keep EVs Charged introduces the history of this technology and easy ways transit agencies can implement it as a climate-friendly approach.
Policy Options to Enable an Equitable Energy Transition by Resources for the Future presents proposals to support an equitable energy transition with a focus on energy-producing communities, along with communities that have experienced a history of environmental and energy injustice. Options include investment in rural electric utilities, rural broadband expansion, and many other options.
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The PIARC (World Road Association) Road Dictionary enables users to search by specific terms and/or themes, and the search results can be displayed simultaneously in three languages. Searchable themes include asset management and maintenance, intelligent transport systems, and financial and legal tools.
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The AARP Purpose Prize honors individuals age 50 or older who are founders or co-founders of non-profit organizations and have made a meaningful impact through innovative approaches to an existing or emerging problem. The application deadline is January 17, 2022. |
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment for an approval of the Cybersecurity Measures for Surface Modes information collection renewal request. Comments must be received by February 22, 2022.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Final Rule on Revised 2023 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions for vehicles for model years 2023-2026, which includes temporary targeted flexibilities to address the lead time of the final standards and to incentivize the production of vehicles with zero and near-zero emissions technology. The rule is effective on February 28, 2022.
A Final Rule by the U.S. Department of Labor raised the minimum wage for workers performing work on or in connection with covered federal contracts to $15.00 per hour, beginning January 30, 2022.
NHTSA issued a Final Rule to establish Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 227: Bus Rollover Structural Integrity, to enhance the rollover structural integrity of over-the-road buses and other buses with gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds. The effective date of this rule is December 30, 2024 and early compliance is permitted. Permissions for reconsideration must be received by February 14, 2022. NHTSA is also seeking comments through February 28, 2022 on their intent to continue to conduct research on the development of a driver alcohol detection system for a safety field operational test.
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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.
FTA
January 6, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
FTA
January 6, 2:00-4:00 PM
Native Learning Center
January 6, 2:00-3:30 PM
APTA
January 6, 3:00-4:00 PM
FTA
January 7, 2:00-4:00 PM
Transportation for America
January 8, 2022
Busworld International
Grapevine, TX, January 9-10
TRB
Washington, D.C., January 9–13
We're participating.
Native Learning Center
January 10-11
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
January 11, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Registration Deadline January 6
Simplify Transit
January 11, 1:00 PM
FTA
January 11, 2:00-4:00 PM
Smart Growth America
January 11-13, 2022
Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC)
January 12, 1:00 PM
Micromobility Industries
January 12, 1:00-5:00 PM
Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE)
January 12, 2:00-2:30 PM
FTA
January 12, 2:00-4:00 PM
Broadband USA, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
January 12, 2:30 PM
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University
January 12-13
Registration Deadline January 7
National Transit Institute
January 13, 1:00-4:30 PM
FTA
January 13, 2:00-3:15 PM
FTA
January 13, 2:00-4:00 PM
National RTAP
January 13, 2:00-3:30 PM
Rural Health Research Gateway
January 18, 1:00-2:00 PM
National RTAP
January 18, 2:00-3:00 PM
Resources for the Future
January 19, 12:00-1:00 PM
National RTAP and HIRTA Public Transit
January 19, 2:00-3:00 PM
Eno Center for Transportation
January 19, 2:00-3:00 PM
ClimateActionWR
January 19, 6:30-9:00 PM
EV Charging Initiative
January 20, 12:00-3:45 PM
StreetLight Data
January 20, 2:00-3:00 PM
Native Learning Center
January 20, 2:00-3:30 PM
Small Business Administration (SBA) Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP)
January 25, 10:00-11:00 AM
Block Center for Technology and Society - Carnegie Mellon University
January 25, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Transit Institute
January 25, 1:00-4:30 PM
AASHTO Council on Public Transportation and MTAP
Jan 26, 11:00 AM
Portland State University Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC)
January 26, 2:00-3:00 PM
Broadband USA, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
January 26, 2:30 PM
NHTSA
January 27, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
National RTAP
January 27, 2:00 PM
TransitCon
January 30
We're presenting!
National Transit Institute
January 31 - February 3, 1:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
February 1, 2:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
February 3, 2:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
Tribal Non-Profits from Beginning to End (4 Part Webinar Series)
February 7, 8, 9, 10, 2:00-3:30 PM (4 separate registration pages)
Broadband USA, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
February 9, 2:30 PM
Regional Interdisciplinary Collaborative Working to Disrupt Human Trafficking
Richmond, VA, February 9-10
National Transit Institute
February 10, 1:00-4:30 PM
National Transit Institute
February 14-17, 1:00-3:30 PM
National Transit Institute
February 14-17, 1:00-5:00 PM
FTA
February 15, 2:00-3:15 PM
FTA
February 16, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
National Transit Institute
February 17, 1:00-4:30 PM
Mass Transit
Tuscon, AZ, February 21-23
Native Learning Center
Transportation Energy Partners
February 23-25, 2:00-5:00 PM
United Motorcoach Association (UMA)
Long Beach, CA, February 23-26
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
February 28 - March 1, 12:00 PM
FTA
March 1, 1:00-2:30 PM
Native Learning Center
March 1, 2:00-3:30 PM
North Dakota Department of Transportation and Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
Bismarck, ND, March 1-2
Native Learning Center
March 2, 2:00-3:30 PM
Native Learning Center
March 3, 2:00-3:30 PM
National Transit Institute
March 9, 1:00-4:30 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 Association of Development Organizations (NADO) and Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA)
Arlington, VA, March 13–16
ITE - Community of Transportation Professionals
March 15-16
TRB
Irvine, CA, March 15-18
Alaska Tribal Transportation Working Group
Anchorage, AK, March 29-31
We're participating.
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