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Conference Corner: National RTAP's 2015 Technical Assistance Conference Updates

Tuesday-Friday, October 27-30, 2015 in Denver, CO

Registration: Register now for the conference and reserve your Westin Denver Downtown hotel room on our Conference Website

When registering you can also sign up for the following workshops (included in the fee, but require an RSVP) taking place on Tuesday: 
  • AARP Pedestrian Workshop
  • Intercity Bus Route Development 
  • National RTAP Web Apps - GTFS Builder
  • National RTAP Web Apps - Website Builder
Here is a preliminary draft agenda, also on the Conference Website. 

Speaker proposals: Presentation abstracts are being accepted through next Tuesday, June 30 on our Conference Website

National RTAP has limited scholarships available to speakers only. 

Vendors: Interested in exhibiting? Contact us for more information.

Thanks to those who attended yesterday's webinar on the new INTDAS Rural Module!

For those unable to attend, the slides and webinar recording will be posted on the National RTAP website Webinars page next week.

The webinar featured an overview and demonstration of the new Integrated National Transit Database Analysis System (INTDAS) Rural Module, showing how easy it is now to access and analyze rural and tribal NTD data.

Get started using INTDAS today by visiting National RTAP's Rural INTDAS page or going right to the INTDAS Login page to sign up.

Upcoming National RTAP 101 Webinar on Title VI

Our next 101 Webinar is tentatively scheduled for July 29 at 2:30pm and will feature a presentation by FTA on Title VI Programs.  

To target the webinar to rural and tribal transit providers, please send us your Title VI questions and issues in advance, though there will be time for questions during the webinar.  Registration coming soon!

Federal Transit Administration and US DOT Updates

FTA announced proposed guidance, in the form of a draft Buy America Handbook, on complying with the pre-award and post-delivery audit requirements for rolling stock procurements. Comments on the draft handbook are due August 17.

The FTA released an NPRM to improve the testing of safety and reliability for new transit buses. The proposed rule would establish minimum performance standards, a pass-fail grading system, and a weighted scoring process to assist transit agencies in purchasing a vehicle.  It also would clarify and improve verification of Buy America and DBE rules.  Comment on the proposed rule by August 24.

Resources and News

Publications

TRB recently published Research Digest 394: Estimating the Long-Term Impacts of MAP-21 on the Nation's Local Rural Transit Bus Infrastructure, which includes a review of rural transit funding levels since 2006 and a comparison between discretionary capital funding under SAFETEA-LU and the MAP-21 Section 5339 Bus & Bus Facilities formula program.

The n4a released the 2014 Eldercare Locator Data Report: A Snapshot of Older Adult Issues & Needs in America, in which transportation is the top need for seniors calling for help.

The Mountain-Plains Consortium at NDSU recently released a report presenting a Bicycle Network Analysis Tool for Planning Applications in Small Communities.

Opportunities

Register now for a Tribal Transit Drug and Alcohol TrainingAugust 11-13 in Durant, OK. The training is sponsored by SWTA and FTA, and hosted by Choctaw Nation Tribal Transit.

Submit photos for AASHTO's Faces of Transportation Photo Contest by Friday, July 31. 

News

This CTAA Press Release announces a new partnership between Enterprise Rideshare and CTAA to create and expand vanpool programs across the country.

National RTAP's GTFS Builder in the News

This Greater Greater Washington article discusses the benefits of getting route and schedule data into Google Transit, and the tools, like GTFS Builder,  that make it easier for small agencies to do so.  

The article highlights Annapolis Transit, which has 8 routes, does not have a big IT department, but was able to launch their GTFS data, helping the community and visitors learn how and when they can ride.

Join the movement and learn more about GTFS Builder today!

Information Request - Fuel Efficient Driver Training

Do you cover any fuel efficient driving practices when training your transit drivers?

If so, let us know and you could be featured in the next Best Practices Spotlight Article on our website!
June 25, 2015
Events
National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST)
Safe & Accessible Pedestrian Routes for Older Adults
June 30
2-3:30PM

National RTAP
RTAP Manager Product Preview Webinar
June 30
2-3PM
RTAP Managers: contact us to register

National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST)
Transit Agency Emergency Preparedness Planning for Older Adults
July 6-24

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
Annual Conference and Tradeshow
July 11-15
Philadelphia, PA

National RTAP
Peer-to-Peer Call Series
July 15
2:30PM

South West Transit Association (SWTA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Tribal Transit Drug and Alcohol Training
August 11-13
Durant, OK

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
16th Biennial State Programs Managers Meeting & State Public Transit Partnerships Conference
August 12-14
Washington, DC

National Transit Institute (NTI)
NTD Safety and Security Reporting: Basic Setup/Non-Major Event Reporting
August 18
2-4PM

National Transit Institute (NTI)
NTD Safety and Security Reporting: Major Event Reporting
August 20
2-4PM

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Telling the Performance Story
September 8
2-3:30PM

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Design, Engineering, and Management Planning Workshop for Major Capital Projects
September 15-16
San Francisco, CA

Easter Seals Project ACTION Consulting Introduction to Travel Training Workshop 
September 15-17
Washington, D.C.

18th Annual National Tribal Transportation Conference (NTTC)
September 21-14
Myrtle Beach, SC

National Transit Institute (NTI)
Transit Trainers' Workshop
October 11-13
New Orleans, LA

National RTAP
Reaching New Heights in Rural and Tribal Transit
October 27-30
Denver, CO

For a listing of all National RTAP and other national events, view our Calendar. If you'd like to submit an event, please email [email protected].

All event times listed as Eastern Time
Resource Spotlight
Check out National RTAP's most recent Best Practices Spotlight Article on Travel Training which explores successful travel training programs across the country.

Visit the News tab of our Website for the archived articles on Safety, Employee Wellness, Used Oil Recycling, and Bike Share programs. 
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.: 122 C Street NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20001