As I near my last days at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), I wanted to say thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your Section 5311 Transportation Program Specialist for the past twelve years. Managing the Rural, National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP), Public Transportation on Indian Reservations (Tribal Transit Program), and newly created Appalachian Development Public Transportation Assistance (ADTAP) programs has been a rewarding experience. The Section 5311 program is important to rural mobility, and just knowing that I had a small part in creating transit options for constituents across the United States is most humbling. Developing the Tribal Transit Program was one of the most exciting and life-changing experiences in my public transit career to date, and I now have a wonderful opportunity to transition to the FHWA's Federal Lands Highway Administration. As many of you may be aware, FTA's Tribal Transit Program was transferred to Élan Flippin, Transportation Program Specialist, in November of 2012. Please continue to work with Élan on Tribal Transit, and you may also contact her for your Section 5311 program needs until the position is posted and filled. Élan can be reached at elan.flippin@dot.gov.

I would also like to say that the Intercity Bus Program (ICB) has evolved since my first TRB Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation conference and has and always will be an integral companion to Section 5311. I trust that FTA, State DOT's and the ICB Industry will continue to work together in order to make meaningful connections to the larger ICB network. I want to give a big shout out to Randy Isaacs, Ted Knappen and Fred Fravel, my three amigos, for their tireless efforts. Last but not least FTA solicited proposals for the National RTAP in December of 2013, and a review process was conducted; however, a selection has not been made but FTA is close to making an award. In the interim please rest assured that there will be continuity of services during this time and know that National RTAP will continue to deliver phenomenal products and services to enhance the way that transit is provided across the United States. Cindy Frene, Patti Monahan, Rob Tassinari, Frank Condon, and the rest of the NVTMA team have made the last five years of my life a lot easier because of their dedication to the delivery of technical assistance and willingness to be teachable, flexible and just downright awesome!

Again, thank you for trusting me at times and questioning me in other instances but knowing that I have always had the rural programs' best interest at heart. Mary Martha Churchman once told me that the "Rural" program was the heart and soul of FTA and I am a believer.

Best Regards,

Lorna R. Wilson

FTA issued a correction to the State of Good Repair circular in the Federal Register. The date by which comments are due has been corrected to May 2nd.

FMCSA has updated its website, making it much more user-friendly.

TIGER Discretionary Grants due April 28th.

TCRP Report 164: Community Tools to Improve Transportation Options for Veterans, Military Service Members, and Their Families, explores using mobility management and transportation coordination to improve transportation services for veterans, service members, and their families.

TRB's Transportation Research Record: Transit 2013, Volume 3, a collection of transit-related studies.

Two new reports on NEMT: Medicaid Expansion and Premium Assistance: The Importance of NEMT to Coordinated Care for Chronically Ill Patients, and A Survey of How Minnesota Counties Use Coordinators to Deliver NEMT.

Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) is hosting an FTA National Online Dialogue seeking input on Section 5310 performance measures. The dialogue will be open until April 18th.

The National Center for Mobility Management's recent webinar on NEMT is available for viewing.

The FastLane Blog recently featured an post about why transit is necessary for veterans and their families.