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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Apache Transit Launches Trip Planning using GTFS Builder
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The San Carlos Apache Tribe transit services (Apache Transit) are provided under the name of Nnee Bich’o Nii Services. In Apache, it means “Helping the People.” Now the transit agency is able to help the people even more through online trip planning. Their riders can plan trips to healthcare services, shopping, the casino, and much more, online at Google Maps, using National RTAP's free GTFS Builder web app application.
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Enter our Word Search Contest and Learn about Customer Service
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Upcoming National RTAP Webinar: Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion
Please join us on May 26 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET for the Building Blocks of Leadership and Inclusion webinar. Presenters Ray Leonard Jr. and Dr. Joy Bloom Wright from Launch Team Consulting will share their personal stories of growing up with limited diversity and how their lives changed when confronted with it. They will encourage the audience to celebrate diversity and work as one cohesive team, as well as discuss the effects that a lack of diversity and inclusion have on organizations.
Two Intercity Bus Peer Roundtables this Summer
National RTAP will be hosting Intercity Bus Peer Roundtables on June 25, 2021 and August 19, 2021, both from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. Join your peers at one or both for informal discussions of issues relevant to the Intercity Bus industry.
National RTAP Tribal Transit Mini-Conferences, Workshops, and Scholarships
National RTAP can provide financial assistance through our Scholarship Program to any RTAP eligible tribal transit system wishing to attend a National RTAP sponsored training program, professional development program, or educational conference.
Join our Webinar on What's New in the State RTAP Manager's Toolkit?
We've updated the National RTAP State RTAP Manager's Toolkit with new content, resources, and sections. Join National RTAP staff and Review Board member Shauna Miller, RTAP Manager, Idaho Transportation Department, for a webinar on June 24, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, for an introduction to the updated content.
National RTAP Blog Post on the Publication Alerts for Transportation LibGuide
The latest National Transportation Knowledge Network (NTKN) LibGuide Petting Zoo blog post by National RTAP and Montana DOT focuses on the Minnesota DOT Library Publication Alerts for Transportation LibGuide, which instructs on how to sign up for direct notification (free e-mail alerts) of relevant transportation articles and publications. Read the blog post and visit the LibGuide.
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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 Drug and Alcohol Programs Topic Guide Updated
National RTAP continues our annual update of topic guides. Our Drug and Alcohol Programs Topic Guide was updated in April 2021. Safety-sensitive employees are required to undergo drug and alcohol testing. This topic guide will direct you to the most current and relevant resources on all aspects of the federal drug and alcohol requirements.
New resources include:
Upcoming NADTC/National RTAP Online Workshop on Making Mobile Trip Planning Work for You and Your Clients
NADTC and National RTAP are holding a workshop about mobile/online trip planning on June 10, 2021, from 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This workshop will include information on what is a mobile/online trip planner, how are they used, how do I teach someone to use a trip planner, and how can I get my agency’s transit services to show up on a trip planner.
Speakers are Marcy Jaffe, Principal, Transnnovation, Inc., and Amelia Bostic, Advocate for Public Transit, North Carolina.
Save the Date for our Third Annual #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat
Join our #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat on July 16, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET, moderated by Angie Jones, District Manager, Grant County Transportation District (People Mover), Tyler Bender, Ohio RTAP Manager, and Paula Smith, Executive Director, Tri River Transit Authority. The chat will focus on how agencies recognize passengers and staff on Rural Transit Day and through the year, and share thoughts about challenges and solutions for rural transit. RSVP for an email invitation.
Next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable in July
Join your peers for an informal discussion of issues relevant to State RTAP Managers. No registration required; join the Roundtable on July 12, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 PM. Discussion topics include electric bus cutaway specifications, consultant labor rates, and Title VI training. RSVP for a calendar initiation.
Resource Library Policies Updated
We updated our Resource Library Policies to include new types of resources in our collection and additional shippable formats.
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environments. FTA will refrain from enforcing the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) regulation until July 21, 2021, which allows agencies to adjust their ASPs to
reflect their new operation realities before certifying.
Information System (MIS) data, determining whether managers are safety-sensitive, and handling former employees with drug or alcohol violations.
FTA Substance Abuse Training Seminars are being held virtually. The free half-day training sessions provide an overview of FTA Drug and Alcohol regulations, program requirements, and current issues covering 49 CFR Part 655 and Part 40. For more information, contact the FTA Drug and Alcohol Project Office.
U.S. DOT is reviewing its existing regulations and other agency actions to determine whether they are consistent with the policies and National objectives set forth in Executive Order 13990, "Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis," and Executive Order 13992, "Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation." Comments should be received by June 4, 2021.
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Sign up for upcoming webinars and online trainings from our Technical Assistance Center partners, including:
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National Transit Institute and SURCOM completed a survey to assess the immediate training needs of rural and small urban transit agencies. Assessment of Immediate Small and Rural Transit Training Needs results are ranked for trainings about safety and oversight, planning and the environment, demonstration and innovation, procurement, civil rights, program management, and budget and policy.
USDA's Rural America at a Glance provides data and information on rural vs. urban poverty rates, the spread and severity of COVID-19 across urban and rural areas, and rural unemployment during the pandemic.
Procurement Strategies for Reducing Capital Costs of Zero-Emission Buses is a joint effort by the Center for Transportation and the Environment, Midwest Center for Hydrogen Excellence at Cleveland State University, and Stark Area Regional Transit Authority. Strategies include state contracts that contain zero-emission bus options, state-wide voucher programs to purchase ZEBs, and utilizing cooperative purchasing entities.
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The World Resources Institute (WRI) offers The Costs and Benefits Appraisal Tool for Transit Buses. This downloadable, spreadsheet-based tool aims to inform bus operators and officials of the costs, emissions, and social benefits associated with bus fleets using different fuel types.
Bureau of Transportation Services (BTS) has a chart showing the average number of people staying home or not staying home in light of COVID-19. They also have an information gallery where users can select Public Transit as a mode and search by topic (including energy and environment, performance and operations, and more), product type (GTFS, State Transportation Statistics, etc.), and/or keyword.
The National Transportation Atlas Database was updated with new data including alternative fueling stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and metropolitan planning organization boundaries.
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The Hometown Grant Program from Smart Growth America, Main Street America, and T-Mobile, will award up to 100 towns a year with project funding—up to $50,000 each. The current application cycle runs from April-June 2021, with new cycles opening up later in the year.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tribal and Insular Area Grants are available through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act. The application deadline is July 9, 2021. A total of $4.5 million will be made available to tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) and Alaska Native villages. EPA will be holding informational webinars on this funding on May 12, 18, and 20, 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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Executive Order 14026 was passed on April 27, 2021, increasing the minimum wage for federal contractors and subcontractors to $15.00 per hour, beginning January 30, 2022. Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the minimum wage increase for contractors and subcontractors will be determined by the Secretary of Labor.
The Federal Communications Commission adopted revised rules to repurpose the lower 45 megahertz of the 5.850–5.925 GHz band (5.9 GHz band) for the expansion of unlicensed mid-band spectrum operations, while retaining the upper 30 megahertz of spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for intelligent transportation system (ITS) operations.
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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
May 13, 3:30-5:00 PM
National RTAP/Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 16-18
National RTAP staff are facilitating and presenting at this workshop.
TRB
May 17, 1:00-3:00 PM
FTA
May 17, 2:00 PM
TRB
May 18, 1:00-2:30 PM
FTA
May 18, 2:00-3:30 PM
Environmental Protection Agency
May 18, 3:00-4:00 PM
APTA
May 18-19
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
Oklahoma Transit Association
Enid, OK, May 18-21
National RTAP is exhibiting. Please stop by our table!
Next City
May 19, 1:00-2:00 PM
FHWA
May 19, 1:00-3:00 PM
U.S. DOT
May 19, 1:30-3:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
May 20, 12:00-1:30 PM
Native Learning Center
May 20, 2:00-3:30 PM
Environmental Protection Agency
May 20, 5:00-6:00 PM
Metro
May 21, 2:00 PM
FORTH
May 25, 1:00-2:00 PM
FTA
May 25, 2:30 PM
National RTAP
May 26, 2:00-3:00 PM ET
TRB
May 26, 2:00-3:30 PM
NCMM
May 26, 3:00 PM
FTA
May 27, 2:30-4:00 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.
Montana Transit Association
Kalispell, MT, June 7-11
We're exhibiting. Please stop by our booth!
N-CATT
June 7-10, 1:00-3:00 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
June 8, 12:00-1:30 PM
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
June 8, 1:00-2:00 PM
TRB
June 8, 1:00-3:00 PM
Global Mass Transit
June 9-10
National Transit Institute
June 10, 1:00-2:30 PM
NADTC/National RTAP
June 10, 2:00-3:00 PM
FORTH
June 14-16
N-CATT
June 15-16, 12:00-4:00 PM
TRB
June 21-24
FTA
June 22, 2021, 1:00-3:30 PM
National RTAP/AASHTO MTAP
Jun 23, 2:00-3:30 PM
National RTAP
June 24, 2:00-3:00 PM
Intelligent Transport
June 29-30
SUMC
July 6, 12:00-4:00 PM
National RTAP
July 12, 2:00- 3:00 PM
The ADA Guru
Introduction to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Webinar
July 12, 3:00 PM
TRB
July 12-15
SUMC
July 13, 12:00-4:00 PM
National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC)
Jul 13, 1:00-2:00 PM
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine
July 13, 16, and 21, 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Q'Straint/Sure-Lok
July 15, 12:00-1:30 PM
National RTAP
July 16, 2:00-3:00 PM
SWTA
Santa Fe, NM, July 18-22
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
July 19-22
SUMC
July 20, 12:00-4:00 PM
SUMC
July 27, 12:00-4:00 PM
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