eNews - September 14, 2023
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
New National RTAP eLearning Course - ADA Driver Training
National RTAP Review Board Member Spotlight: Deborah Bach
Upcoming National RTAP Communications Focused LinkedIn Learnalong
National Transit Institute Publishes Fall Course List
National RTAP ADA Toolkit Banner
New National RTAP eLearning Course - ADA Driver Training

ADA Driver Training is a new National RTAP eLearning course that will train rural and Tribal transit drivers on what they need to know to safely and professionally provide service for passengers with disabilities and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). At the completion of the course and successfully passing the quiz, learners will receive a certificate of completion.

The course includes training on ADA sensitivity, lift and ramp operation, wheelchair securement, service animals, personal care assistants, reasonable modifications, and other issues that all drivers need to know about.

Thank you to the National RTAP Review Board members who reviewed and contributed to this course: Kristin Haar, Public Transit Director, Iowa DOT; Jill Stedem, Administrative & Development Director, OATS Transit; Kevin Tafoya, Assistant Manager, Cherokee Transit; and Kevin Wassom, Compliance Analyst, Michigan DOT.
Upcoming National RTAP Communication Focused LinkedIn Learnalong

National RTAP's first LinkedIn Learnalong will focus on best practices in communication. Participants will watch videos on stressful situations, empathy, and conflict engagement. Moderators Marianna Hanefeld, Washington DOT, Kevin Wassom, Michigan DOT, and Jaimie Baldwin, Training and Transportation Specialist, will lead a discussion on our LinkedIn page about applying these lessons to transit scenarios. Please RSVP.
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2023 National RTAP Conference

A draft conference agenda and registration have been posted to our website for the 5th Technical Assistance Conference: Navigating the Tides of Change with Rural & Tribal Transit, which will take place on December 3-6, 2023 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Register by the October 3, 2023 early bird deadline for the best rates.

Awards will be given at the conference:
  • The Tribal Transit Champions, Agencies, and Capital Projects Awards honor tribal transit innovation, commitment, and best practices. The deadline for nominations is October 20, 2023.
  • The Wall of Fame will recognize exemplary rural and tribal transit industry staff for their dedication, innovation, and professionalism. All honorees will be showcased on the wall and the National RTAP website and receive a commendation. Nominations are due November 10, 2023.
  • Students are invited to submit a poster by October 6, 2023. Three students will be recognized with an award at the conference.

There are also many opportunities for vendors to participate in the 5th National RTAP Conference, including a Vendor Expo and an additional Bus Expo during our evening event. A Rapid Fire Intro segment will provide exposure for all exhibitors and sponsors. Please see the Vendor Prospectus for details, pricing, and sponsorship opportunities.

Upcoming National RTAP Events

In support of the forthcoming NTD reporting requirements for GTFS for fixed and deviated fixed route service, National RTAP is offering free, live support on Thursdays from 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Meet with our instructor, share your screen, and ask questions. Use this link to join – no preregistration is needed. GTFS support is also available weekdays by contacting info@nationalrtap.org.

National RTAP will hold a Client Self-Advocacy Training for Transportation and Mobility Professionals Webinar on September 28, 2023, from 2:00-3:30 PM ET. This session will prepare mobility managers, dispatchers, and schedulers to support clients and cover core self-advocacy skills, such as self-awareness, effective communication, conflict resolution, and recordkeeping.

TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination. Learn about TACL on February 8, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The session will instruct on how to use TACL and include a Resource Feature by Jane Mahoney on the NADTC Coordination Committee Toolkit.

Our Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected A Purposeful Path by Casey Beaumier, SJ, as our next book to read. The book answers the question, "How far can you go with $30, a bus ticket, and a dream?" Our next meeting will be on February 15, 2024, 2:00-3:00 PM ET and the author will be joining us. Register for the meeting. If you are interested in attending in-person at our Woburn, MA office, please contact us.

National RTAP Featured in Minnesota RTAP Newsletter

The Minnesota RTAP August 2023 newsletter featured an article about the National RTAP ADA Toolkit.
National RTAP Review Board Member Spotlight: Deborah Bach

Deborah Bach, Rural Transit Programs Supervisor for the NM DOT Transit and Rail Division, has served on National RTAP’s Review Board since 2019 and became the Chair in the spring of 2023. From launching a mobile medical outreach project, offering preventive healthcare services to women in rural areas using an RV that was retrofitted as a mobile medical clinic to implementing an online statewide grant and transit data management system at NM DOT, Deborah has been a true trailblazer. Read more about Deborah.

National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences

We're presenting and exhibiting at the following conferences and meetings:

National RTAP Maintenance Hot Topic Guide Published

National RTAP continues publishing our annual Hot Topic Guides in our Find Anything Toolkit. These guides list resources about the most highly requested topics from National RTAP users within the past year. Our next Hot Topic Guide is on Maintenance. Resources include:

Welcome New RTAP Managers

National RTAP extends a warm welcome to new Kansas RTAP Manager Kara Cox and Virginia RTAP Manager Katy Miller. To learn more about them or any State RTAP Manager, visit our Directory of RTAP Managers.

National RTAP Participates in TCRP Day

TCRP Day is September 21, 2023. National RTAP is a participant partner this year. We will have a table of TCRP reports in the library available to read and visitors can enjoy TCRP cookies. If you are interested in visiting us in Woburn, MA on TCRP Day, please RSVP.

Final Two Weeks for Proposals for National RTAP Resource Library Integrated Library System

We've posted our National RTAP Resource Library Integrated Library System RFP Q&A document. Proposals are due September 29, 2023. Please see our RFP webpage for more information.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
The deadline to apply for the FTA Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning – Section 20005(b) is October 10, 2023 and the deadline to apply for the FTA Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program - 5324 is October 31, 2023.

FTA’s Office of Program Oversight is administering pilot program to integrate recipients to the Oversight Tracking System (OTrak). The pilot includes 25 recipients from all FTA regions receiving Fiscal Year 2023 Triennial and State Management Reviews. The goals of the pilot include gathering user experience feedback, refining training materials, informing system enhancements, and confirming that the system meets all requirements.

Several presentations are available from the 2023 Biennial FTA State and Tribal Programs and Transit Partnerships Conference​. Presentation topics include safety and the FTA drug and alcohol program.

FTA’s August 2023 Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight newsletter contains guidance about using agency safety plan reviews and updates to mature a safety management system and and FTA Employee Spotlight on Richard Price (formerly the AASHTO MTAP Manager).
Webinars and Training
The National Transit Institute published its list of Fall 2023 virtual courses and webinars. Offerings include the National Transit Database (NTD), crisis communications, Title VI, and many more. See the Upcoming Events section of this newsletter for links to specific courses.
Publications
Public Transportation and Passengers with Alzheimer’s or Dementia by The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) highlights ways to make transportation more accommodating for these passengers, including training staff on how to identify and assist patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia, creating bus buddy and travel partner programs, and creating clear signage and information at stations and stops.

Transportation Equity Curriculum: Guidance Document by the University of South Florida provides emerging professionals with training and tools to integrate equity into transportation decision-making processes. The resource covers topics including accessibility, mobility, affordability, and sustainability.

The National Council on Electrical Policy published a Mini Guide on Transportation Electrification: State-Level Roles and Collaboration among Public Utility Commissions, State Energy Offices, and Departments of Transportation. It provides an overview of state agency roles and discusses strategies for collaboration.
Databases and Tools
The Administration for Community Living's (ACL) Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) helps people with disabilities to connect to information about local resources that support independent living. Launched to help people access COVID-19 vaccinations, DIAL also helps connect people to essential services, such as transportation.

The FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Planner is an online guide that provides simple explanations and templates to help companies that operate commercial motor vehicles understand and comply with federal safety regulations. It is also available in Spanish.
Opportunities
The federal executive administration launched a two-year competition that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to protect the country’s most important software, such as code that helps run the Internet and critical infrastructure. The AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) will challenge competitors across the U.S. to identify and fix software vulnerabilities using AI.

Intelligent Transport is conducting a survey on the benefits of open-loop payments in transit. Participants will receive insights gleaned from the survey.
Legislation
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued final regulations governing when, during the hiring process, a hiring agency can request information typically collected during a background investigation from an applicant for federal employment. The effective date is October 2, 2023.

Effective October 2, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopts rules to establish the enhanced discounts available for monthly broadband services provided in high-cost areas by participants in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

NHTSA issued a proposed rule that requires vehicle manufacturers to equip vehicles with seat belt use warning systems for the right front passenger and rear seats to increase seat belt use. The new requirements would apply to most buses and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
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.


National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)
Oklahoma City, OK, September 12-14
We're participating

Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) 
Crested Butte, CO, September 12-15
Please stop by our table!

Hawaii Transportation Association (HTA)
Honolulu, HI, September 13-14
We're participating

Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy
Las Vegas, NV, September 14

National RTAP
September 14, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

TRB 
September 14, 1:00-2:30 PM

FHWA
September 14, 1:00-3:00 PM

FTA
September 14, 2:00 PM

NADTC
September 14, 2:00-3:00 PM

World Road Association (PIARC)
September 15, 8:00-9:00 AM

Dakota Transit Association (DTA)
Minot, ND, September 15-19
Please visit our table!

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)
Grapevine, TX, September 17-21, 2023

Best Workplaces for Commuters
September 18, 3:00-4:00 PM

TRB  
September 19, 12:00-1:00 PM

National EV Charging Initiative (NEVCI)
September 19, 12:00-3:00 PM

National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters (NACSD) and National Advisory Committee on Individuals With Disabilities and Disasters (NACIDD)
September 19, 1:00-3:00 PM

U.S. DOT
September 19, 1:30-2:30 PM

ITS4US Deployment Program
September 19, 2:00-3:30 PM

The Transportation Alliance
Myrtle Beach, SC, September 19-23

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
September 20, 12:30-1:15 PM

National RTAP
Woburn, MA and online, September 21
If you would like to visit, please RSVP

National RTAP
September 21, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

University of Illinois Chicago
September 21, 1:00-2:00 PM

Latinos in Transit
Washington, D.C., September 22-23

NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association
Boston, MA, September 24-27

National Transportation in Indian Country Conference (NTICC)
Anchorage, AK, September 24-28
Please stop by our booth!

National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA)
Cherokee, NC, September 25-29

AASHTO Council on Public Transportation and the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)
September 26, 3:00-4:00 PM

Move America
Austin, TX, September 26-27

National Transit Institute
September 26-27, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
September 26-27, 1:00-4:30 PM

Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE)
San Diego, CA, September 26-28
Please stop by our booth!

U.S. DOT Project Delivery Center of Excellence (COE)
September 27, 1:00 PM

American Bus Association
September 27, 2:00-3:00 PM

AARP
September 27-28, 1:00-5:00 PM

Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship
Keene, NH, September 27-28

International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR)
Scottsdale, AZ, September 27-30

American Public Works Association (APWA) - New England Chapter
September 28, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

National RTAP
September 28, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

FTA
September 28, 2:00 PM

National RTAP
September 28, 2:00-3:30 PM

U.S. DOT
Washington, DC, October 3, 9:30 AM - 5:00 Pm

Fleet Forward
Dallas, TX, October 3

Clean Mobility Options
Los Angeles, CA, October 3

National Transit Institute
October 3, 2:00-3:30 PM

Massachusetts DOT
Boston, MA, October 4
Please visit our booth!

National RTAP
October 5, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
Orlando, FL, October 8-11

Truckers Against Trafficking, Colorado AG, Colorado Motor Carriers Association, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Human Trafficking Council, and CASTA
Glenwood Springs, CO, October 10, 12:00-4:00 PM

National Transit Institute
October 10-11, 1:00-4:30 PM

Volpe Center
October 12, 1:00 PM

National RTAP
October 12, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
October 16-19, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
October 16-19, 1:00-5:00 PM

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 
Kansas City, MO, October 17-19

National RTAP
October 19, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP
October 19, 2:00-3:00 PM ET

National Safety Council (NSC)
New Orleans, LA, October 20-26

WPTA/MPTA
La Crosse, WI, October 23-24
Please stop by our table!

National Transit Institute
October 23-26, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
October 23-26, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
October 24, 1:00-5:00 PM

EVNoire and Forth
Washington, DC and Virtual; October 25 - Virtual and October 26 - In Person

Arizona Transit Association's AzTA Maintenance Forum, planned for Mesa, AZ, October 25-26, has been cancelled.

Volpe Center
October 26, 1:00 PM

National RTAP
October 26, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Louisiana Public Transit Association
New Orleans, LA, October 29 - November 1
Please visit our booth!

National Transit Institute
October 31, 2:00-3:30 PM

University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies (CTS)
Minneapolis , MN, November 2, 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM

National RTAP
November 2, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
November 6-9, 1:00-3:30 PM

National Transit Institute
November 6-9, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
November 6-9, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
November 6-9, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP
November 9, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
November 13-15, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
November 13-16, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
November 13-16, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
November 14, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
November 14-15, 1:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP
November 16, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
November 27-30, 1:00-4:30 PM

National Transit Institute
November 27-30, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP
November 30, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

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 info@nationalrtap.org.
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