eNews - June 22, 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
National RTAP Webinar Today on the U.S. DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Final Rule
National RTAP/SUMC Workshop Next Week on Shared-Use Mobility
National RTAP Review Board Member Spotlight Article: Kevin Wassom
National RTAP Launches RFP to Update our Marketing Toolkit
Build America Bureau NOFO for the New Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
National RTAP Webinar Today on the U.S. DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Final Rule

On June 22, 2:00-3:00 PM, Sean Oswald, Chief of Operations and Director of Drug & Alcohol Initiatives RLS & Associates, Inc., will lead a webinar on U.S. DOT Drug & Alcohol Regulation Update (49 CFR Part 40) - Oral Fluid Drug Testing & More! U.S. DOT's Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance published a final rule updating and changing 49 CFR Part 40, the regulation for U.S. DOT's drug and alcohol testing program. The changes are effective June 1, 2023.

The webinar will cover what changes have occurred and how these updates will impact transit agencies' drug & alcohol testing programs and compliance.
National RTAP/SUMC Workshop Next Week on Shared-Use Mobility

On June 29, 2:00-3:00 PM ET, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI) Transit Mobility program will lead a Challenges and Successes with Shared‐Use Mobility in Rural, Frontier, and Tribal Areas Virtual Workshop focused on needs for transportation in rural, frontier, and Tribal areas along with ideas and examples for solutions to service challenges. The session is co-hosted by National RTAP and SUMC.
Upcoming National RTAP Events

In support of the forthcoming National Transit Database (NTD) reporting requirements for General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) for fixed and deviated fixed route service, National RTAP is offering free, live GTFS support Thursdays between 1:00-1:30 PM ET. Meet with our instructor, share your screen, and ask questions. Use this link to join the Zoom meeting – no preregistration is needed. GTFS support is also available Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET by contacting info@nationalrtap.org.

Our next State RTAP Manager Peer Roundtable will be held on July 18, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. This is an informal session for State RTAP Managers to meet with their peers for a discussion of issues of interest to them. One issue we will be discussing will be the implementation of and training on the new NTD GTFS requirements.

National RTAP will be hosting Intercity Bus 101: State of the Industry on July 25, 2023, 2:00-3:30 PM ET. We are hosting a series of webinars describing these changes and setting up states and communities to successfully integrate with the newly emerging industry. Join us for Intercity Bus 101 where multiple speakers from a diverse group of backgrounds will describe the state of the industry, technological advancements, and how best to move forward.

The next Learn about TACL training will be held on August 17, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination. The session will include a Resource Feature by Al Benedict and Nate Seeskin on SUMC's The Path to Mobility Interoperability.

Our Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman as our next book to read. A mother and daughter travel in a bus full of strangers for a college tour all along the east coast. Register for our meeting on August 22, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. The author will be joining us!

Recordings Published for How to Find Almost Anything and Hiring Transit Operators Webinars

National RTAP held a How to Find (Almost) Anything in Transit with the Find Anything Toolkit webinar on June 13, 2023. The Find Anything Toolkit was thoroughly updated and streamlined in 2023 to make it even easier to find anything and everything. The presenters were United Community Action Program/Cimarron Transit Director Laura Corff and Cara Marcus of National RTAP. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides.

We held a Successful Strategies for Hiring Rural and Tribal Transit Operators webinar on June 15, 2023. The webinar provided strategies for the recruitment and hiring process that can increase your applicant pool. The presenters were David Stephen of Transit Workforce Center and Julia Castillo of HIRTA Public Transit. Access the webinar recording and presentation slides.

Enter the National RTAP 2023 Photo Contest: This is Rural Transit

Our National RTAP 2023 Photo Contest – This is Rural Transit – is all about the “rural” in rural transit. We’re looking for photos that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of rural areas and tribal lands and highlight what makes small towns special. Does your area have rolling hills, peaceful streams, bustling Main Streets, or fun summer community events? We want to see them! Entries must include a photo of the bus, bus stop, driver, and/or riders. Each transit agency can enter up to three photos by August 21, 2023.

National RTAP Launches RFP to Update our Marketing Toolkit

National RTAP is soliciting proposals from interested and qualified firms or individuals to update the Marketing Transit Toolkit. The submission deadline is July 27, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET. We are holding a Pre-Proposal Q&A Meeting on June 28, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET. To submit a question, email National RTAP Assistant Director Liz Taylor by June 26, 2023.

Harnett County Rural Transit System Links to National RTAP ADA Toolkit

Harnett Area Rural Transit System (HARTS) in North Carolina has a link to the National RTAP ADA Toolkit on its website under the link to its Transportation Advisory Board (click on ADA Transportation Information). Anyone is welcome to link to our resources and it is encouraged.

Transit Managers Survey Report Published

The 2022 Biennial Rural and Tribal Transit Managers Survey Report has been added to the Planning and Evaluation Section of the National RTAP Transit Manager's Toolkit. 324 transit agencies participated in the survey. The survey report details data on agency funding, fleet size, service changes, technology, training needs, and many other topics.
National RTAP Review Board Member Spotlight Article: Kevin Wassom

Michigan Department of Transportation Compliance Specialist Kevin Wassom, who joined the National RTAP Review Board in the Spring of 2023, has had many successes, including implementing lean process improvements for the DOT Office of Passenger Transportation for compliance management and moving those processes online. Now that he’s on our board, he’s having a great time reviewing and jumped right in to assist with our forthcoming ADA Driver Training course and our Transit Manager Toolkit update. He also shares his secret to compliance. Read more about Kevin.

National RTAP Participation in Upcoming Conferences

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

National RTAP Older Adults Topic Guide Updated

National RTAP continues our annual Topic Guide updates with our Procurement Topic Guide. New resources include:

Call for Tribal Transit Systems and Champions Nominations and Student Posters for the National RTAP 2023 Conference

The National RTAP Tribal Transit Champions and Systems Awards honor innovation, efficiency, commitment, and performance in the tribal transit industry. Awards will be presented at the 5th Rural and Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Conference: Navigating the Tides of Change, December 3-6, 2023 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The deadline for nominations is October 20, 2023.

Students are invited to submit a poster by October 6, 2023 for our 5th Rural and Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Conference: Navigating the Tides of Change, which will take place on December 3-6, 2023 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Students must be able to present posters in-person on December 3, 2023.

Get Ready for Rural Transit Day

Our fifth #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat will be held July 14, 2023, 2:00-3:00 PM ET. (Rural Transit Day is always July 16, which is a Sunday this year.) This is an event where participants share thoughts about the benefits of rural transit, along with challenges and solutions. The chat will be moderated by Stephanie Lewis, Instructional/Multimedia Project Manager, Florida RTAP, Paula Smith, Executive Director, Tri River Transit, and National RTAP staff. RSVP for an invite.

We added a new section to our Rural Transit Day webpage. Click on the "Ideas for Rural Transit Day Celebrations" button in the top righthand section of the page for ways to honor your staff and riders and celebrate with your community.

We're starting a Rural Transit Day time capsule! This year we are collecting bus passes. If you have one (even if you don't use bus passes anymore), please mail it to Cara Marcus, National RTAP, 5 Wheeling Ave., Woburn, MA 01801 by July 7, 2023.

Take the Rural Transit Day Pledge to show your commitment to rural transit. 211 organizations have taken the pledge so far - let's hit our target goal of 250.

Updates to Rural iNTD

Several updates have been made recently to Rural iNTD. Users can now access the complete asset data from 2019 to 2021 for all rural and asset recipients and subrecipients. Users can also quickly see the definition of each data variable simply by hovering over the name of the variable. The system includes an expanded search function to allow for quick identification of both recipients and subrecipients. Lastly, the data display forms were reformatted to improve their appearance and clarity.
U.S. DOT and FTA Updates
FTA's May 2023 Transit Safety and Oversight Spotlight Newsletter includes information about its new webpage of resources to aid State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOAs) in developing and implementing a risk-based inspection program and a summary of its proposed updates to the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) regulation.

On June 8, 2023, FTA announced grants to support six transit bus automation research projects that will improve safety, efficiency, and accessibility on the road and in bus maintenance yards. One of the projects will enable Colorado DOT to demonstrate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) technology in three retrofitted buses that serve critical rural transit routes.
Webinars and Training
The National Transit Institute is offering a variety of online courses and webinars in upcoming months, including ones on procurement, transit service planning, paratransit management and operations, and more. See the upcoming events section of this newsletter to register.

Upcoming training events regarding persons with disabilities include Interagency Committee on Disability Research's (ICDR) Stakeholder Meeting, State Smart Transportation Initiative's Measuring Accessibility: Advances in Project Evaluation Webinar, and the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged's (CTD) Annual Training Workshop & Expo.
Publications
NCHRP's A Guide to Computation and Use of System-Level Valuation of Transportation Assets details how to calculate asset value and use it to support applications in TAM. It also provides guidance on calculating the value of rural assets.

National Center for Applied Transit Technology's (N-CATT) Technology Readiness Assessment provides transit agencies with insight into key areas that increase the likelihood of success when implementing and maintaining technology, focusing on data security, business continuity, and management of vendors, contracts, and equipment.

TRB's article on Improving Health Care through Transportation shares resources and case examples showing how transportation access can improve the healthcare of the public, such as dialysis transportation, non-emergency medical transportation, and reduction of social isolation and loneliness.

Mobility for the People: Evaluating Equity Requirements in Shared Micromobility Programs by the University of Oregon's Transportation Research and Education Center discusses equity requirements for shared micromobility programs and how current frameworks approach equity. The Equity Evaluation Framework Tool outlines program structure and context, aligning with community needs, program design, and program evaluation and iterations.
Databases and Tools
The White House's Investing in America Map is an interactive map that lets users view public infrastructure and private investment throughout the United States and its territories. Batteries/EVs is one of the topics shown on the map. Data includes funding agency, amount, and project name.

An Available Transit Driver Jobs Across Illinois Story Map by the GIS Center at Western Illinois University and the Illinois Rural Transit Assistance Center incorporates an interactive map that gets job seekers to the website of each rural public transit provider with job openings for each county in Illinois. People who scan a QR code (a removable sticker that can be placed onto a fiberglass bus body) about bus driving jobs can easily see where in the state the jobs are and how to contact someone at each provider.

USDA's Procurement Forecast lists the types of anticipated solicitations where small businesses and other businesses may be able to participate in contracts with USDA, or through subcontracting opportunities. Results can be filtered by organization, such as Rural Development, and a spreadsheet of the database can be downloaded.
Opportunities
The Build America Bureau released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for its new Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program. The program will award grants for the hiring of staff or the procurement of expert firms to provide financial, technical, and legal assistance, assistance with development-phase activities, and information regarding innovative financing best practices and case studies to advance infrastructure projects. Submissions are due July 31, 2023

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. Nominations must be submitted by July 31, 2023.

Intelligent Transport is conducting a survey to examine the benefits and challenges of open-loop payments in transit. Feedback will shape a future report or presentation.

If your agency is engaged in efforts to provide supportive services—like childcare or housing—for frontline employees, the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) would like to hear about programs that aim to support each transit employee as a whole person, both on and off the job. Please email Shayna Gleason.

FHWA released updates to NEVI program guidance. The program provides funding to states that deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure. State plan updates must be submitted by August 1, 2023.

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced a Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Ride and Drive Electric, Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Opportunity Announcement. The submission deadline is July 28, 2023.

NADO's Excellence in Regional Transportation Award recognizes noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan areas that help meet regional needs. Applications must be submitted by June 24, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) FY23 Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity is accepting concept paper submissions through June 26, 2023 and full applications through August 11, 2023.
Legislation
FMCSA invites comments through August 7, 2023 on a proposed information collection titled Safety Impacts of Human Automated Driving System (ADS) Team Driving Applications. Their study will assess the safety benefits and dis-benefits of human-ADS team driving applications and support the analysis of potential requests for relief from FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations.

FMCSA proposes to adopt a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to require automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, systems on light vehicles. The system would detect and react to an imminent crash with a lead vehicle or pedestrian. Comments must be received by August 14, 2023.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is seeking input on proposed updates to the regulations for most of its Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. The proposed updates aim to align regulations to the current statute and reflect the needs of today’s older adults. Comments must be received by August 15, 2023.
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
June 22, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Q'STRAINT Training Academy
June 22, 12:00 PM

Administration for Community Living (ACL)
June 22, 12:30-1:30 PM

National RTAP
June 22, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

FTA
June 22, 1:00-2:00 PM

National RTAP
June 22, 2:00-3:00 PM

U.S. DOT
June 23, 1:00-3:00 PM

Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium (SGCETC)
Tulsa, OK, June 26-29

Michigan DOT
June 27, 2:00 PM

Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR)
June 28, 12:00-4:00 PM

State Smart Transportation Initiative
June 28, 1:00 PM

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
June 28, 1:00-2:00 PM

National RTAP
June 28, 2:00-3:00 PM

TRB
June 28, 3:00-4:30 PM

National RTAP
June 29, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Transit Mobility Program, Co-hosted by National RTAP and SUMC
June 29, 2:00-3:30 PM

National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC)
June 29, 2:30-3:30 PM

Southwest Transit Association (SWTA)
June 29 2:30-3:30 PM

National RTAP
July 6, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
July 6, 2:00-3:30 PM

Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO)
Los Angeles, CA, July 8-11

Q'STRAINT Training Academy
July 11, 12:00 PM

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
New Orleans, LA, July 11-12

U.S. DOT ITS JPO
July 12, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

TRB 
July 12, 12:00-1:30 PM

TRB 
July 13, 12:00-1:30 PM

National RTAP
July 13, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP
July 14, 2:00-3:00 PM
Rural Transit Day, July 16, is on Sunday this year

USAging 
Salt Lake City, UT, July 16-19

National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) 
Columbus, OH, July 17-20

National Transit Institute
July 17-20, 1:00-5:00 PM

National RTAP
July 18, 2:00-3:00 PM ET

TRB
July 19, 12:00-1:30 PM

National RTAP
July 20, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

TRB
Richmond, VA, July 23-26

National RTAP
July 25, 2:00-3:30 PM

U.S. Access Board 
Baltimore, MD and Livestreamed, July 25, 1:30-3:30
Register for in-person attendance to events@access-board.gov by July 1, 2023

TRB 
July 26, 1:00-2:30 PM

National RTAP
July 27, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

APTA
Anaheim, CA, July 30 - August 2

National Transit Institute
Cleveland, OH, July 31 - August 3

National RTAP
August 3, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

FHWA 
August 3, 1:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP
August 10, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

WSTA/OTA
Please visit our table!

NRITS and ITE 
Portland, OR, August 13-16

National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) 
August 15-17, 1:00-3:00 PM

FHWA
August 16, 1:00-3:00 PM

National RTAP
August 17, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National RTAP and SUMC
August 17, 2:00-3:00 PM ET

National Transit Institute
August 17, 2:00-3:30 PM

National RTAP
August 22, 2:00-3:00 PM

Green Transportation Summit & Expo (GTSE)
Tacoma, WA, August 22-24

National RTAP
August 24, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD)
Orlando, FL, August 29-30
We're participating

National RTAP
August 31, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

National Transit Institute
August 31, 2:00-3:00 PM

New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine DOTs
Killington, VT, September 6-7
Please stop by our booth!

MPTA, IPTA, KPTA, NATP
Kansas City, MO, September 6-8
National RTAP Ambassadors are attending.

National RTAP
September 7, 1:00-1:30 PM
No preregistration necessary - join at the time of the meeting

Utah Urban Rural Specialized Transit Association (URSTA) 
Kanab, UT, September 7-9

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission (NEMTAC)
Jacksonville, FL - September 10-12
Please stop by our table!

National Transit Institute
September 11-14, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
September 11-14, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Center for Rural Road Safety
Oklahoma City, OK, September 12-14

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

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

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

National Transit Institute
September 18-21, 1:00-5:00 PM

National Transit Institute
September 18-21, 1:00-5:00 PM

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

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

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!

National RTAP
September 28, 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.
National RTAP | 888-589-6821 | info@nationalrtap.org | nationalrtap.org