National RTAP has released the online State RTAP Manager's Toolkit and Forum. The toolkit is a comprehensive guide to setting up and maintaining a state RTAP program, helpful for quick reference and to guide substantial change. State RTAP managers and contractors will also now be able to communicate with each other in a secure, private forum to discuss RTAP program issues, request documents, and share information.

"The State RTAP Manager's Toolkit takes all the guesswork out of administering a successful program for those who are new to managing a state RTAP program," says RTAP manager Linda Howell of Washington State DOT. "It also supplements the experience of veteran RTAP managers by providing creative ideas for technical assistance that may not have been considered before. From scholarship guidelines to interstate cooperation to marketing, the toolkit provides it all in one place."

To use the State RTAP Manager's Toolkit, hover over the Toolkits menu option on the www.nationalrtap.org homepage or click the in-text link.

The new State RTAP Managers' Forum will allow RTAP managers to communicate with each other in a central online location to share information and resources. Joining the forum is by invitation only, and RTAP managers who have not received an invitation should contact info@nationalrtap.org or call 888-589-6821. 

Participate in a National Online Dialogue on Programmatic Approaches for Environmental Reviews. Open until May 16th.

The FMCSA announced that beginning May 21st, all CMV drivers will be required to have their annual medical examinations performed by a Certified Medical Examiner.

Transportation planners and transit managers will be interested in TCRP Report 166: Characteristics of Premium Transit Services that Affect Choice of Mode, which outlines non-traditional methods for forecasting transit travel. 

Article in Government Technology about how transit agencies are increasingly moving toward alternative fuels. 

A new study from the American Bus Association shows that motorcoaches are the cleanest form of travel. 

LTAP/TTAP is looking for photos taken by LTAP or TTAP Centers of training, fieldwork, or conferences. For more info, email Carolyn Kramer at ckramer@artba.org. 

For Mobility Awareness Month, the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is accepting nominations for local heroes in mobility management to receive a mobility vehicle. Voting and entry ends on May 11th. 

Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) is accepting applications for the Introduction to Travel Training in Small Urban and Rural Communities, taking place in North Adams, MA from May 20-22nd. Applications are due May 1st. 

View the recordings for the Person-Centered Mobility Management webinar series at NCST. 

The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) recently revamped their website.

The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) is looking for responses to their Coordinated Transportation Plan Profile Survey.

The FastLane Blog recently featured a post on transit in rural Mississippi.