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National RTAP Announces Project Partnership with CTeL 
 
by Gary Hegland, CTeL

Rural and small urban transit drivers can learn to be safer vehicle operators using state-of-the-art instructional design and online learning technology thanks to a new partnership between the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP) and The Center for Transportation e-Learning (CTeL). The groundbreaking agreement will result in the creation of a highly interactive online version of National RTAP's industry recognized Safety Training and Rural Transit (START) educational program for industry drivers.

National RTAP's START course has been a staple of the industry since 1988. Updated in 2008, it continues to be one of the most popular National RTAP training modules-13,700 copies of the START guides and discs for instructors and learners were shipped to or downloaded by customers between 2009 and 2013. It's been available through classroom presentation or DVD, but never online in a self-directed format. Under the new agreement, CTeL will create an updated, fully online version of the course, host it on the CTeL learning center, and make it available to transit companies throughout the U.S.

"The online START program will be designed using engaging, highly interactive learning techniques," according to Ron Baumgart, CTeL's Executive Director. "It will include effective and entertaining learning exercises and all of the outstanding instruction currently in the START program. Each student's activities and assessments will be tracked in the learning system and documented in an online, password protected learning transcript."

"National RTAP is extremely pleased to be partnering with CTeL on this upgrade of the START module's eLearning component," says Patti Monahan, National RTAP Executive Director. "The new online version will offer rural transit agencies the same excellent START content, updated to reflect the most recent safety practices and regulations, but deliver the material in a way that makes the most of the latest developments in eLearning technology".

The online course will provide transit managers with a flexible, cost-effective way to train new drivers as well as hone the skills of veteran drivers. The course consists of three modules: Vehicle Safety, Driver Safety, and Passenger Safety. It incorporates video and graphics, and will allow drivers to make decisions based on real-life scenarios and see the consequences in a virtual, safe environment.

The online START program will be the third course developed by CTeL and made available to the industry through its online learning portal, www.ctelonline.com. The first two courses, Wheelchair Securement and Hiring the Right Staff, have received excellent response from transit agencies and employees.
New Products and Webinar from National RTAP

If you haven't had a chance to do so yet, we encourage you to head over to our website and take a look at our new products, the How to Find Anything Toolkit, Grant Writing Made Easy tech brief, and the Directory of Trainers

We are also pleased to announce that registration is open for the Toolkits Webinar, your first in-depth look at three new and soon-to-be-released toolkits. The webinar will cover the recently-released How to Find Anything Toolkit, the upcoming Transit Managers Toolkit, and the Roadeo Toolkit, which will also be released within the next two weeks. The webinar will take place at 3PM ET on Tuesday, February 11th. 
Resources and News

Working With Volunteers is current topic in Senior Transportation Exchange.

Executive Decision Making for Transportation Capacity: The Multiagency Context, is the second TRB Strategic Highway Research Program publication.

ESPA is offering their Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration course from from May 12-June 20.

Health Impact Project funding opportunity for demonstration and project grants.

View the resources on CTAA's MAP-21 page.

CTAA is accepting applications for the next round of Technical Assistance for Rural and Tribal Communities (Long-Term Technical Assistance), due March 7th.
February 7, 2014
Events
NTI
Millenials and Public Transportation-Mobility in the 21st Century
February 11
2-3PM

National RTAP
Toolkits Webinar
February 11
3PM

TP4A
Inclusive Planning and Design in Mobility Management
February 12
2PM

NTI
Building a Sustainable Workforce in the Public Transportation Industry
February 19
2-3:30PM

ESPA
FAQ on the ADA: Fixed-Route and ADA Complementary Paratransit
February 26
2-3:30PM

NCST
Where do I go From Here? Engage Volunteers in New Ways
February 27
2PM

RIBTC
21st National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
October 26-29
Monterey, CA

NADO
2014 National Rural Transportation Conference
December 3-5
Cincinnati, OH

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our EventShare Calendar.

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
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National RTAP is a program of the Federal Transit Administration dedicated to creating rural and Tribal transit solutions through technical assistance, partner collaboration and FREE training materials.

Contact us:
Main: 5 Wheeling Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801, 888-589-6821
Washington, D.C.: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20036, 202-772-2039