eNews - May 13, 2021
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.
Apache Transit Launches Trip Planning using GTFS Builder
Map showing route to healthcare for San Carlos Apache Tribe SCAT Transit
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.
Enter our Word Search Contest and Learn about Customer Service

If you like puzzles, here's a limited-edition National RTAP Customer Driven Service Word Search Puzzle. Circle words related to customer service in the word search puzzle that are shown on the second page. Words can appear vertically, horizontally, backwards, or on a diagonal. All of the words can be found in National RTAP’s Customer Driven Service Learner’s Training Module. The first person who fills it out correctly and sends it to [email protected] will win a prize.
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

We are holding a Tribal Transit Workshop from May 16-18, 2021 in Enid, OK in conjunction with the Oklahoma Transit Association Annual Conference & EXPO, May 18-21, 2021. Sessions include Tribal camera systems, training, and more.

We are also holding a Tribal Transit Mini-Conference from June 7-8, 2021 in Kalispell, MT in conjunction with the Montana Transit Association 2021 Spring Conference & Vendor EXPO, June 7-11, 2021.

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.

The Handbook of Public Transport Research edited by Graham Currie (Edward Elger Publishing, 2021) cites National RTAP web applications.

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.
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.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
FTA's Implementing an Agency Safety Plan During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency enables using Safety Management Systems (SMS) to adapt to changing
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.

The April 2021 FTA Drug and Alcohol Regulation Updates newsletter is available. The issue contains information about Drug and Alcohol Management
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.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. DOT issued Guidelines for the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Grant Program on May 6, 2021. Guidelines included eligible and ineligible uses of grant funds.
Webinars and Training
National Transit Institute (NTI) developed a National Transit Institute – Virtual Course Registrant and Participant Code of Conduct to offer a set of rules, guidelines, and expectations for registering and participating in virtual NTI courses.

Sign up for upcoming webinars and online trainings from our Technical Assistance Center partners, including:
Publications
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.
Databases and Tools
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.

AASHTO's The Benefits of Transportation – Success Stories provides an interactive map of stories by state, and carousels of stories by topic (economic benefits and quality of life benefits). Stories include Utah DOT's use of data for quality of life and how Oregon DOT/RTAP technical assistance and support is helping ensure healthy rural transit operations.

The National Transportation Atlas Database was updated with new data including alternative fueling stations, electric vehicle charging stations, and metropolitan planning organization boundaries.
Opportunities
New funding and support for businesses affected by COVID-19 are available. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Guidance on the Employee Retention Credit. The Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a Supplemental Targeted Advance for Small Businesses Hardest Hit by COVID-19. This funding will provide $5 billion in additional assistance to 1 million small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been most severely affected by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRB is seeking nominations for the Sharon D. Banks Award for Humanitarian Leadership in Transportation. This award recognizes excellence in people-oriented initiatives throughout transportation, and will be presented during the TRB 101st Annual Meeting. Nominations must be submitted no later than July 31, 2021.

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.
Legislation
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.
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.

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
Email your full name and agency to [email protected].

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
Email your full name and agency to [email protected].

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

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 [email protected].
National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | [email protected] | nationalrtap.org