Network NewsAASHTO Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program

1

WinterSpring 2020

Four years ago I had the privilege and honor to become chair of AASHTOrsquos Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance

Program (MTAP) It truly seems like yesterday when we had our first Transit Asset Management Workshop during the MTAP Winter Meeting in Atlanta relaunched the revised FTA 101 Training Module and started work on agency safety plans and writing transit provisions for the next surface transportation authorization But rather than reminiscing about our accomplishments it is a time for state DOTs to take action in support of our own transit services and assist our transit agencies through another crisis a dangerous health crisis facing the entire worldmdashCOVID-19

As a result of the coronavirus the United States has more than 700000 cases of COVID-19 and we are not sure how many more will test positive for this disease People are being told to work from home only go out for groceries medicines and other absolutely necessary items and always wash hands for 20 seconds (at minimum) Social distancing and ldquoflattening the curverdquo are the newest buzz phrases

Unfortunately the effect of this disease on transit services (and our transit service providers) will be profound Transit ridership has significantly decreased across our transit systems (rail and bus) Agencies now have to take extra precautions to protect the health and safety of riders and employees while maintaining essential transit services State DOTs are deeply involved in the statewide emergency response to COVID-19 and are working tirelessly with their transit sub-recipients to ensure transit systems across the country have the necessary support and resources to make it through this crisis

Speaking of resources thankfully Congress and the Administration completed an emergency relief legislative package called the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic

Security Act (CARES Act) (HR 748) This final package includes $25 billion for the FTA Section 5307 (Urbanized) and Section 5311 (Rural) program (approximately $227 billion for urban and $22 billion for rural) This is significant progress for public transit and will truly assist transit agencies in overcoming the losses that result from the COVID-19 pandemic For more about the CARES Act check out the article on page 6

The MTAP member network and staff will become increas-ingly important to support the efforts of state DOTs From CARES Act implementation to recovery to the eventual return of full safe and innovative transit service along with discov-ering new funding techniques and potential new sources of revenue MTAP is a great resource for states and our transit sys-tems and will help us navigate through this uncharted period I encourage members to utilize the MTAP Action Alerts to solicit thoughts from colleagues submit news and other ideas for in-clusion in the MTAP e-News participate in our monthly Steer-ing Committee Conference Calls for updates and info items nominate yourself to become a Steering Committee member and most importantly stay active in the MTAP Network

To all my colleagues partners and friends around the country and involved in the AASHTO family please stay safe and healthy and understand that your involvement is greatly appreciated State DOT Transit Offices are best at advancing transit programs education and public policy when we work and learn together And together we will make it through this crisis

David HarrisNew Mexico DOT

Director Transit and Rail DivisionMTAP Chair

davidcharrisstatenmus

Message from the MTAP Steering Committee Chair David Harris

2 3

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO)mdashwhich represents the state departments of transportation (DOTs) of all 50 states the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and serves as a liaison between the state DOTs and the federal governmentmdashare strong partners on state transit programs such as Section 5307 5310 5311 5337 etc In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic that partnership is even stronger

AASHTO the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and FTA hold a weekly leadership call to exchange ideas and best practices on how to best keep our transit providers healthy safe andmdashmost importantlymdashin operation The results of this partnership are having a profound effect across the nation As part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act state DOTs helped secure $25 billion in federal funding for Section 5311 providers ($22 billion) and FTA Section 5307 providers ($227 billion) Check out page 6 for additional details about the CARES Act and state implementation

Over the past few weeks wersquove discussed internally how FTA can be most helpful to our membership and their sub-

recipients during this crisis With its regulatory authority and oversight of state programs the FTA can assist state DOTs and public transit agencies in their response to the COVID-19 crisis and even for future emergency responses especially when the emergency involves drastic changes in public transit ridership and services

AASHTO decided to outline its thoughts and recommenda-tions to FTA in an April 14th letter to Acting Administrator Jane Williams Here is what we asked for and recommended

Flexibility with FTArsquos Grant Approval ProcessFTArsquos ability to provide emergency funds to state DOTs and sub-recipients in a timely manner during this COVID-19 crisis is paramount To accelerate the distribution of essential federal funding the FTA could allow activities authorized in the CARES Actmdashand any further Congressional action regarding COVID-19mdashto proceed immediately upon entering a program of projects

This would allow FTA to facilitate the distribution of funding by allowing recipients to reopen and modify grants already submitted to FTA Moreover state DOTs and transit systems should be allowed to submit several grant modifications based on priority needs and a revised program of

AASHTO to FTA ldquoLets Work Together on

COVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSE

COVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSE

and CARES Act Implementationrdquo

projects And for any future distributions of funding for transit AASHTO encourages the FTA to provide greater flexibility in applying federal program funds to projects without arbitrary deadlines and that allows for changes to projects based on evolving local priorities

National Disaster Hold Harmless Adjustment Provision in NTDTransit ridership nationwide is experiencing catastrophic declines since the COVID-19 crisis began and the near term outlook for improving is looking bleak Since the National Transit Database (NTD)mdashand the information included within itmdashis a critical aspect in terms of annual funding for transit we encourage FTA to waive the next NTD reporting period(s) by implementing the National Disaster Hold Harmless Adjustment provision in the NTD for all transit providers By implementing this provision state DOTs and transit systems could utilize service statistics for apportionment calculations from outside of the disaster period

Waiver for Incidental UseState DOTs oversee rural public transportation agencies that transport meals to people who are homebound or unable to

Jim TymonExecutive Director AASHTO

jtymonaashtoorg

travel However Meals on Wheels and other small non-profit organizations provide this service in localities with associated operational costs reimbursed to the transit agencies That is the normal process

Due to the COVID-19 crisis however we are discovering that these nonprofit food programs are becoming increasingly unable to serve their clientsrsquo nutritional needs since they are unable to congregate (a result of many stay-at-home orders) and some food nutrition programs are having to make the tough decision to close This is unacceptable

In this time of crisis state DOTs can provide necessary transit services to keep these nutrition programs afloat and effectively serving those in need AASHTO asked FTA to waive incidental use (FTA C 90401G Section III Incidental Use) during this crisis period for the Section 5310 program

Acting Administrator Jane Williams along with her leader-ship team and excellent staff have offered a true example of leadership during this unprecedented time I am appreciative of their hard work dedication and support Together we will assist state DOTs and transit agencies through this crisismdashto the benefit and safety of all of the communities who rely on our nationrsquos transit systems

COVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSECOVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSECOVID-19 CRISIS RESPONSE

4 5

Roger MillarChair Council on

Public TransportationSecretary Washington State DOT

millarrwsdotwagov

Shirley WilsonMember MTAP Steering

Committee Mississippi DOTswilsonmdotstatemsus

Known as the birth place of The King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley Tupelo is ranked among the Top 10

Micropolitan Cities in America for its success in both job creation and economic diversification By combining strong economic development climate (its home to 17 Fortune 500 companies and Americarsquos largest non-metropolitan medical complex North Mississippi Medical Center) with a booming tourism industry Tupelo continues to evolve with a mix of old and new cultural attractions (like Natchez Trace Automobile Museum and BancorpSouth Arena) and a community where the aging and young professional communities intersect Because of this evolution reimagining a 21st century Tupelo or ldquoNew Tupelordquo is a priority for the city leaders and public transportation takes center stage in the discussion

The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) city leaders and the community have discussed the question of providing public transportation in Tupelo for the better part of a decade In 2018 the decade-long ldquodiscussionrdquo finally shifted to transit planning and whether and how transit service would perform The planning success is credited to a new community development partnership In this case the City of Tupelo partnered with the Community Transit Association of America Toyota Corporation HBSS Software Solutions (software developers) and 5311 Rural Areas Transit Provider Northeast Mississippi Community Services (NEMCS)

Each of the Cityrsquos new partners brings an important function to implement a public transportation system in Tupelo CTAA is providing technical assistance and helping build upon the communityrsquos common values and goals and the relationships between citizens and the business community Toyota Corporation a valued employer with a nearby plant has partnered with CTAA on other similar community projects and is providing financial resources for this effort NEMCS is a valuable resource as a transportation services provider for well over 20 years HBSS Software Solutions (a statewide software vendor) provides innovative IT solutions and an understanding of how to improve the customer experience

As a result of this planning efforts the City of Tupelo

and NEMCS agreed to a 13-month pilot program to provide public transportation services To support this pilot program Toyota and marketing firm Curiosity helped market the services via radio TV community meetingsfocus groups social media and internet Nearing the end of 13 month pilot program CTAA and Toyota commissioned a research study by consultants AECOM to assess the systemrsquos early performance relative to peer systems as well as the social and economic impacts and benefits for City residents and other organizations and beneficiaries

Overall the new public transportation services in Tupelo is a success Based on the results of the pilot program and effective service changes suggested by the community along with the new community development partnership the City of Tupelo is continuing the service beyond the pilot period The ldquoNew Tupelordquo continues to utilize public transportation to connect the community to economic opportunities local venues for shopping entertainment and enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Tupelo Mississippi The City of Tupelo Mississippi called ldquoAn All-America Cityrdquo continues to thrive because of public transportation

Partnerships at Work

Rural communities in Washington State provide a number of down-home charms and lifestyle choices Familiar

friends and faces Cleaner air Cheaper homes sometimes Wide open spaces

Rural and small-town residents have nearly all of the same needs as their city-dwelling counterparts They count on transportation to get to jobs schools stores medical appointments and other servicesmdashsame as everyone else But with longer distances and fewer options for traveling them the mobility challenges those residents face remain consistent and persistent

Wersquore all too aware of this common misperception about public transportation that itrsquos only essential for urban areas that experience traffic jams as a matter of routine But as we also know itrsquos no less important to rural communities While public transit represents a relatively small amount of rural travel it is outright vital to the people it serves

We face many of the challenges that other states experience As working-age populations move to the ldquobig cityrdquo older residents and people with special transportation needs are increasingly moving to cheaper areas outside of well-served transit destinations resulting in higher costs for the same levels of service Rural populations are becoming more diverse creating needs for better marketing travel training and rider support that accommodate people with limited English proficiencies And herersquos a familiar refrain We always need more support for non-emergency medical transportation

So what are we doing to better serve our statersquos rural communities with more responsive and adaptive mobility choices And how are we doing along the way

In Washington our partners are focusing more and more on the user experience Theyrsquore using technology to make rural transit more predictable for customers (but may require more infrastructure so smartphones work more efficiently in rural areas) Theyrsquore also exploring new technologies to make dispatch services more efficient for operators and providers Our collective adoption of ldquofirst milelast milerdquo programs helps us fill critical transportation gaps

Regionally we continue to strive for better services that connect rural communities with the nearest urban mobility centers and thereby to the greater statewide transportation network We are planning an expansion of our Travel Washington bus lines with the hope that we can add one or two routes in the coming years And our efforts to develop safer infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in rural communities will help us optimize our integrated multimodal system

We know we canrsquot move forward without better understanding the different needs cultures and levels of reliance of our statersquos transit customers Whenever possible we engage and involve the public and our partners in stakeholder outreach After all no one knows the needs of communities better than the people who compose them and the transportation agencies who work to serve those people As concerns for our climate grow so too will public transportationrsquos role in rural communities by improving air quality while reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

We will continue to listen to our partners and monitor what other states across the country are doing to serve their rural populations Wersquoll look at flexible and right-sized transit options that meet specific customer demands We will look into pilot programs that enhance technology geared toward rural ridesharing trip planning route scheduling and payment systems Wersquoll look to create regional solutions that further connect small towns with key services and businesses

Access to transportation options in the rural communities of Washington is evolving to meet the shifting needs and demographics of the people who call those communities home It will mean improving access to transit walking and biking Wersquove long tried to overcome physical and geographic barriers in order to better connect people with where they need to go While we have worked hard to identify and fill the gaps in our statewide transit system we know we have a long way to go Anticipating and adapting to those changing needs and demographics will inform our process for developing the services and technologies that will one day provide us with innovative mobility solutions

Time will tell us how wersquore doing I believe that we have the right people in place to meet the challenges wersquoll face I believe we have the best agencies out there working day and night to meet every transportation need and to get every person where theyrsquore going Together I believe wersquore all going to get there

A New 21st Century

TupeloConnecting our Communities

RURAL TRANSPORTATIONRURAL TRANSPORTATIONin Washington State

6 7

Dave HarrisChair MTAP New Mexico DOTdavidcharrisstatenmus

Don ChartockVice Chair MTAP Washington State DOTchartodwsdotwagov

$25 Billion for Transit in

CARES ACT amp States Discuss Implementation

The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (HR 748) which was signed into law on March 27th

provides $2 trillion in a federal aid package for emergency assistance and health care response for individuals families and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic For state DOTs there is operational funding support for aviation public transportation and passenger rail

CARES Act Transit FundingFor state DOTs and transit agencies the CARES Act includes $25 billion for public transportation ensuring transit projects and programs are supported during this time of crisis The CARES Act includes funding for FTA programs 5307 (Urbanized) 5311 (Rural) 5337 (State of Good Repair) 5340 (Growing States and High Density States) of Title 49 However all CARES Act funding is apportioned through the FTA Section 5307 and Section 5311 programs and in the same ratio as provided in the FY 2020 Appropriations estimated at $227 billion (Urban) and $22 billion (Rural)

In addition to the funding the bill also ensuresbull Funds are expressly available for all eligible activities of

the 5307 and 5311 programs including operating (and capital) expenses to prevent prepare for and respond to the coronavirus public health emergency This also includes the reimbursement for operating costs (starting from January 2020) the purchase of personal protective equipment and administrative leave of operations personnel due to reductions in service

State DOTs are leading the way with CARES Act implementation with the first grant approval to the Missouri DOT for rural public transportation funding State DOTs are expediting the allocation of CARES Act for FTA Section 5307 and 5311 providers But the actual methodspractices from state-to-state vary quite a bit To understand the various state DOT perspectives we took an informal poll with questions about distribution methodology initial awards intercity bus SMPs and next steps Here are some highlights

bull An overwhelming majority of states have already strategized and settled on the method and amount for the ldquoinitial awardsrdquo of CARES Act funding from the FTA (Section 5311 and 5307) That is a good sign since transit systems overall are suffering from huge ridership losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased expenses related to its response Yet a handful of states are still in the process of making those decisions so additional technical assistance may be necessary to assist them

bull In initial polling a majority of states were maintaining their current Section 5311(f) programs A few states indicated that administering these funds may change As we know with any challenges there are also new opportunities

bull For most states State Management Plans are not barriers for allocating CARES Act funding And in terms of strategy the next steps for many states do not vary greatly from their strategies for initial awards State DOTs are getting the funding to transit providers using standard methods (by federal or state formula andor grant) and in phases or all at once

bull Operating expenses are not required to be part of state-wide or metropolitan transportation improvement programs or state-wide or long-range transportation plans

bull Funds are available up to 100 percent federal cost share and

bull FTA is prohibited from waiving the prevailing wage and transit labor standards (49 USC sect 5333) for these formula grants

For Amtrak the CARES Act provides $1018 billion for operating assistance to cover revenue losses related to the coronavirus with $492 million for the Northeast Corridor grants and $526 million for the National Network grants No less than $239 million is provided for state supported intercity passenger rail services States are not required to pay more than 80 percent of FY 2019 costs

States Implement CARES Act Within a week of the CARES Act being signed in to law the FTA issued state apportionments for CARES Act funding As a result state DOTs began preparing grant applications while still developing an understanding about how to implement the CARES Actrsquos transit provisions The Federal Transit Administrationrsquos Frequently Asked Questions (on its Coronavirus webpage) provides agency guidance for state DOTs and transit agencies To provide actual strategies and assistance with CARES Act implementation AASHTOrsquos Council on Public Transportation and its Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program hosted an initial call on March 27th the day CARES Act was signed in to law and a follow-up webinar on April 14th with presentations from members in Oregon Texas New Hampshire and Virginia

Oregon Texas New Hampshire and Virginia are conducting a phased approached to the distribution of CARES Act funding and issuing phase two funding based on a ldquoneedsrdquo approach of its transit systems Oregon and Texas mentioned limiting the statersquos administrative takedown to ensure the statersquos transit sub-recipients receive a significant level of CARES Act funding and will consider capital funding requests as part of their phase two plan New Hampshirersquos goal is to fund transit providers for the next two years through the CARES Act program then ideally return to using standard 5311 program funding Virginia took early and decisive action to assist its transit systems by providing $11 million prior to the CARES Act an equivalent of one month of operating assistancemdashthrough the statersquos operating allocation formula (Virginia will also continue its Virginia Breeze intercity bus service with funding from its 5311(f) program

Check out the webinar agenda full recording available state presentations (Oregon Texas and Virginia) and complete poll results from the webinar on the Council on Public Transportationrsquos and MTAPrsquos websites

State DOTs are working together to assist transit providers in our small urban and rural communities with the necessary resources to maintain transit operations during this crisis pe-riod and in the future Through AASHTOrsquos Council on Public Transportation and MTAP we will continue to work with our partners from the Federal Transit Administration the Ameri-can Public Transportation Association and Community Trans-portation Association of America as well as others to ensure a strong public transportation system for our urban suburban rural and specialized public transportation programs

Title photo provided by CTAA8 9

The Michigan Department of Transportationrsquos Office of Passenger Transportation is funding innovative

technology-based projects to solve mobility gaps throughout the state By administering the $8 Million Michigan Mobility

Challenge Michigan DOT is learning a lot about its role in implementing a program focused on innovative technology In fact we are still learning about it

However in terms of the Michigan Mobility Challenge Michigan DOT found itself involved in all three phases of the programmdashpreparation implementation and evaluation Of the many strategies and practices the agency learned in this process good preparation is key to success Here are some practicesstrategies included in the preparation phase (and some we wish we included)

Helpful practicesstrategies includedbull Educating transit agencies about technology and new

mobilitymdashwill it interact with current technology what kind of resources are required etc

bull Educating technology companies and mobility innovators about transit agenciesmdashhow they operate what technology they currently use who their primary customers are etc

bull Facilitating partnershipsmdashthe most comprehensive mobility solutions come from diverse partnerships Bring together potential partners such as current providers tech firms human service agencies universities planning agencies and users or potential users of the system Make sure they have ample time to learn about each other so they can determine if the partnership is a good fit and

bull Identifying the problems to be solvedmobility gaps

Other practicesstrategies that should have been involvedbull Ensuring policies (local and state) support innovationbull Clarifying expectationsmdashwhat are the desired outcomes

what resources will be supplied (funding technical support etc) and what will the partners be expected to supply (staff time testing office space marketing support etc) and

bull Discussing data governancemdashwho will own and manage the data what data is needed and what will be gatheredcreated

Prior to issuing a call for projects for the Michigan Mobility Challenge Michigan DOT held a workshop for potential partners Frankly this call was one of our most important practicesstrategies The workshop covered many of the items above at one time and ensured that all participants heard the same message The workshop was videotaped and shared on the Mobility Challenge website for those unable to attend

From the state DOTs perspective implementing innovative projects requires a leap of faith knowing that not all projects will be successful Here are some elements that are important to consider during implementation

bull Making sure contracts (at all levels) clearly define all expectations of the project and who is responsible for what Contracts must also clearly define milestones and the payment process

bull Selecting meaningful metrics and determining who will collect the associated data

bull Monitoring milestones closely to ensure projects are staying on track

bull Ensuring that adequate marketing and public outreach is done prior to project kick-off and throughout the project Statewide and local communications are important

bull Being flexible and willing to change course if a project isnrsquot unfolding as expected

bull Being prepared for the project to fail Have an exit plan and

bull Allowing enough time for the project to gain public support and work out the kinks

Of course to determine if a project is successful requires a proper evaluation Even if the project does not live up to expectations many lessons can be learned during the evaluation process that will benefit future projects Michigan DOT included the following best practices for the evaluation phase of the Mobility Challenge program

bull Measure before during and afterbull Document challenges and successes throughout the entire

processbull Consider all points of view (management staff riders

etc) andbull Share your findings

This is an exciting time to be in the transit industry Technology and new mobility are opening new possibilities But most transit agencies donrsquot have the resources to take the risk required to implement something that hasnrsquot been tested State DOTs can play an important and active role when it comes to implementing innovation

Good luck with your foray into the innovation realm and do not forget the most important rule Have fun with it

Implementing Innovationmdash State DOTrsquos Role

Jean RuestmanMichigan DOT

ruestmanjmichigangov

Strategies for Solving Transit Employee Shortages

The recent crisis caused by the novel coronavirus and the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the nation has

revealed the distinct and invaluable role of transportation in American society Schools and businesses locked their doors and families have hunkered down inside their homes Sports and cultural events have been cancelled or postponed and much of the nation has come to a halt One vital infra-structure has kept moving transportation Transportation systems fulfill the household supplies and food to allow adher-ence to ldquoshelter-in-placerdquo and ldquostay at homerdquo orders for at least 316 million people in at least 42 states Transportation provides masks gloves ventilators and other life-saving medical sup-plies to hospitals in urgent need and helps essential workers including medical staff and food industry workers travel to and from work each day

While many workers around the nation now face layoffs and unpaid leave transit and other transportation agencies nationwide are already experiencing an employment crisis This critical infrastructure faces a shortage of workersmdash especially rail and bus drivers CDL certified drivers and managersmdashdue to issues in recruitment and retention coupled with an aging workforce Fortunately with assistance from state departments of transportation programs are being implemented nationwide to attract recruit train and retain the transportation workers of tomorrow

According to a joint publication from the US Departments of Education Labor and Transportation the employee shortage across all transportation sectors is estimated at approximately 460000 people this year alone While transit-specific data is generally unavailable a 2019 analysis from the American Trucking Association (ATA) is indicative of the employment crisis in the industry The report showed a driver shortage that has only grown in the past 15 years with a projected shortage of over 160000 drivers by 2028 This failure to meet demand would mean a severe disruption in the supply chain The ATA indicates that one significant contributing factor is the high average age of the existing workforce which consists primarily of the Baby Boomer generation

AASHTO in its Journal article ldquoFinding The Future Workforce For State DOTs Becoming Tougherrdquo also reported difficulties in hiring sufficiently to fulfill what might soon be tens of millions of jobs AASHTO cited the personal experience of Washington State DOT secretary of transportation Roger Millar who said ldquoGreat men and women work for WSDOT but approximately half of them are eligible to retire today and the higher you go up the food chain the more eligible they are to retire The institutional memory that leaves us when they retire is really scaryrdquo

Notably many agencies also have struggled in the past to attract and retain individuals from diverse backgrounds especially women For instance the ATA reports that in 2018

404 of trucker drivers were minorities and only 66 of drivers were women Rail and highway construction also represent significant gender gaps with only 10 percent and 11 percent of workers being women

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) which already provides millions of dollars in workforce development assistance every year recognizes the persistent and severe shortage of workers and responded with a transit workforce strategy plan in 2016 The FTA and National Transit Institute are collaborating on an industry workforce needs assessment to improve workforce development by identifying current gaps in training skills and education within the industry

To adequately develop the future of the industry agencies must excite younger generations about becoming future industry professionals To that end a variety of workforce development programs are being implemented to recruit future workers In San Jose California for example the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) hosts the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition for middle school students Through this program students from across the nation are exposed to critical STEM and transportation-related issues while engaging with transportation professionals in their community MTI also offers a Summer Transportation Institute program for students grades 9ndash12 These programs stimulate student interest in transportation-related education and careers by introducing them to the principles of transportation through the lens of sustainability Universities and other institutions host similar programs around the nation in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation

Beyond educational outreach other strategies to recruit and retain workers include professional development and retraining as well as monetary incentives like sign-on bonuses and wage increases Some trucking companies offer sign-on bonuses of many thousands of dollars for new hires who meet performance goals Others have more unconventional tactics such as recruiting nonviolent felons Regardless of the targeted population employers strive to quickly fill the increasing number of openings across the industry

The barriers faced by the transportation industry are critical and we MUST continue to identify proven strategies and innovative approaches to solving this crisis Our way of life depends on it

Karen E Philbrick PhDExecutive Director Mineta Transportation Institute at San Joseacute State University

karenphilbricksjsuedu

10 11

urban transit agencies to effectively manage their Section 5310 sub-grantees including but not limited to efforts to reduce the total number of sub-grantees

NCHRP 20-65 Task 80 Capacity Building Options for DOT Transit StaffThe primary objective of this research is to (1) identify generally applicable capacity building options and (2) identify strategies that will be of particular use to state DOT transit offices The secondary objective is to compile and describe best practices that can be used individually and in shared efforts with the cooperation and support from FTA as well as industry trade organizations

NCHRP 20-65 Task 81 Best Practices in Rural Service AssessmentThis objective of this research is to investigate effective local and statewide approaches to rural service assessment (1) document assess and determine lessons to be learned from the current state of the practice at the local and state levels and (2) develop recommendations for state DOTs and individual rural transit agencies

NCHRP 20-65 Task 82 Impact of Decline in Volunteerism on Rural Transit SystemsThe goals of this research are to (1) identify and categorize the various customized transportation services being provided in small urban andor rural settings (2) describe and explain best practice models for providing these services and (3) describe any barriersobstacles that might keep these services from being successful or sustainable and in particular explain barriers and obstacles that have successfully been overcome

In addition to the NCHRP Project 20-65 the Council on Public Transportation is actively involved in NCHRP research projects

Charles CarrChair Research Subcommittee

Mississippi DOTccarrmdotmsgov

Public Transportation Research

For years the NCHRP Project 20-65 provided the primary source of research funding for public transportation The

project is comprised of quick-response research tasks and designed to assist members of AASHTOrsquos Council on Public Transportation (formerly the Standing Committee on Public Transportation) fulfill their responsibilities related to public transit

The project is now winding down and in the process of completing its remaining five active research tasks (currently scheduled to complete in 2021) However most recently the project completed the following three research tasks

bull NCHRP 20-65 Task 75 Baseline Research on Allowable In-Kind and Local Match Sources

bull NCHRP 20-65 Task 76 Opportunities for State DOTs (and others) to encourage Shared Use Mobility Practices in Rural Areas

bull NCHRP 20-65 Task 77 Lessons Learned and Impacts to Date of State DOT Implementation of New Federal Transit Asset Management and Public Transportation

NCHRP 20-65 Active TasksHere is a summary of each of the active tasks

NCHRP 20-65 Task 78 Impact of Decline in Volunteerism on Rural Transit SystemsThe objectives of this project are to (1) research the decline in volunteers and (2) provide an assessment of the impact of this trend on the sustainability of transit operations that depend on volunteers

NCHRP 20-65 Task 79 Program Management Insights for the 5310 Program (Including Sub-Grantee Consolidation and Urban 5310)The objective of the research is to identify best practices used by Section 5310 recipients including state DOTs MPO and

and supports ongoing research for public transportation through NCHRP as well as TCRP Here is a summary of outstanding research projects

FY 2020 NCHRP Public Transportation Research ProjectsThe following three rural public transportation projects are underway and in the proposal review period

NCHRP 08-130 Best Practices in Coordination of Public Transit and Ride SharingThe objective of this research is to provide state DOTs and public transportation providers with a report and implementa-tion guidebook on innovative applications for integrating pub-lic transportation in less populated areas with SUM services and providers

NCHRP 23-04 Statewide Insurance Pooling for Public TransitThe objective of this research is to provide state DOTs and their public transportation partners with a guidebook on how to effectively implement a statewide andor regional pooled transit vehicle insurance policy model

NCHRP 08-131 Access to Jobs Economic Opportunities and Education in Rural AreasThe objective of this research is to prepare guidelines for state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other public and private organizations involved in rural development and the provision of transportation services

NCHRP FY 2021 Public Transportation Research Problem Statements The following six research problem statements were submitted by members of the Council on Public Transportation to NCHRP for FY 2021 funding

bull A-05 Return on Investment of Transportation Demand Management Programs

bull A-06 Benefit Analysis of Private Health Sector Investments in Transportation

bull B-10 Best Practices in determining rural transit fleet sizemdashHow to provide service for changing demographics of rural ridership (Right-sizing of rural transit fleets)

bull B-11 Design Guide for Rural Deviated Fixed-Route Transit Systems

bull B-12 Document Best Practices in Current Rural Transit Service Marketing Programs

bull B-13 Ferry Transit Operations and Capacity Guidebook

Thank you to the Council on Public Transportation the problem statement authors and members of the research working group for drafting these excellent research problem statements and responding to comments made by NCHRP members These efforts along with active involvement of our members in other research projects such as the NCHRP 20-122 Rural Transportation Issues Roadmap clearly demonstrates that public transportation is a critical research component of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program A very special thanks to Velvet Basemera-Fitzpatrick PhD Senior Program Officer Cooperative Research Programs at the Transportation Research Board for her extensive assistance with our research projects and as our primary liaison to TRB

This Fall NCHRP will be seeking additional research problem statements for FY 2022 funding and I can assure you that the Council on Public Transportation once again will have an active role in this process We also welcome other research ideas (like a research roadmap) from members through the NCHRP Project 20-123 Support for AASHTO Committees and Councils I hope members continue the trend from FY 2021 and submit excellent thought-provoking problem statements for FY 2022 Let me know if I can help and we can do it all again this Fall

A Critical Component of

NCHRP

12 13

20202020Steering Committee ElectionsThis June MTAP will hold elections to fill two seats on the Steering Committee There are two open seats from outgoing Steering Committee members

Outgoing Steering Committee members include New Mexico DOTrsquos David Harris and Illinois DOTrsquos Carrie Cooper Dave served two three-year terms on the MTAP Steering Committee as well as two two-year terms as MTAP Chair Carrie Cooper is leaving Illinois DOT returning to Wisconsin for work and can no longer serve on the MTAP Steering Committee Congratulations and best of luck to Carrie Cooper on her new position as Principal Planner with Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission Washington State DOTrsquos Don Chartock whose term on the Steering Committee expires this year is in his last term as MTAP Vice Chair and can serve in this capacity until 2021

Nominations will begin in May with an email request for self-nominations or for members to nominate hisher staff After the nomination period is complete an online ballot with all nominations will be distributed to members and voting will take place Only voting members of MTAP are permitted to vote and the candidates with the most ballots will be selected to fill the Steering Committee seats

MTAP DuesNetworking FundsDues invoices for AASHTOrsquos Technical Services Programs including MTAP will be distributed to member CEOs via email in May Invoices will be mailed in July Stay tuned for additional information about membership dues on the May Steering Committee Conference Call

With AASHTOrsquos Fiscal Year 2021 beginning July 1 MTAP members MUST USE their remaining Networking Funds by June 30 2020 That means any expense for which a member is seeking reimbursement must be incurred on or before June 30th The Networking Fund assists members with the cost of participating in trainings meetings and conferences providing technical assistance or networking with their peers at other departments of transportation And all Networking Fund reimbursement forms also MUST be submitted to MTAP no later than June 29th Remindermdashonlinevirtual learning courses workshops etc are eligible expenses under the MTAP Networking Fund

Continued on page 14

Jennifer DeBruhlMember MTAP Steering Committee Virginia DRPTjenniferdebruhldrptvirginiagov

Kevin OlingerNew Mexico DOTKevinOlingerstatenmus

Online Learning with Peer-to-Peer Exchange

MTAP Technical Initiatives Forum

Before ldquowork from homerdquo policies were instituted in 2020 a result of the coronavirus forcing many of our agencies and

associations to rely on virtual platforms to conduct business host meetings and for distance learning AASHTOrsquos Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program always held a series of online webinarspeer exchanges for its members The MTAP Technical Initiatives Forum is the official brand of these sessions and the list of issuestopics changes every year

In early 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis MTAP held the following webinars for its members

Joint MTAPndashCTAA WebinarmdashHow National Urbanization Trends Will Affect Rural Transit Funding and ldquoTrending Urbanrdquo Transit Systems in Georgia and the Nation after the 2020 CensusFor the first time the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) co-hosted an MTAP Technical Initiatives Forum On February 7th CTAA members and MTAP members discussed national urbanization trends and how the 2020 census will effect transit systems in rural and trending urban areas based on the 2020 Census

The MTAPndashCTAA joint webinar was based on a study com-missioned by the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) The study analyzed anticipated effects of the 2020 Census on transit funding Dr Laurie Garrow a School of Civil and Envi-ronmental Engineering professor at Georgia Tech University conducted the study for Georgia DOT Dr Garrow analyzed modeled and projected ruralurban changes based on the ex-pected results from the 2020 US Census and projected how these changes would affect funding for transit agencies in Georgia and nationwide

Texas DOTrsquos Mark Sprick was enlisted to provide a reaction to the study since his agency conducted a similar study using

the Texas AampM Transportation Institute (TTI) Sprick shared the results from the TTI study and the expected effects on transit agencies in Texas were similar to the Georgia Tech study The main take away from Sprick state DOTs need to be ready for the changes

CTAArsquos Chris Zeilinger briefed webinar participants on its white paper ldquoThe Flavors of Urban Donutsrdquo and discussed how census data can lead to some awkward situations when urbanized area boundaries shift He presented seven different urbanization scenarios

The bottom line from the webinar is this state DOTs and transit agencies should review their transit programs and identify areas of potential changemdashwhether rural to urban or urban to ruralmdashthat may arise with the 2020 Census

MTAPndashFTA Joint Webinar on Transit Asset ManagementmdashLetrsquos Talk Narrative Reports SMRsOversight and MoreIn March the Federal Transit Administration and MTAP jointly co-hosted another webinar for members on the topic of Transit Asset Management similar to the webinar in March 2019 Once again FTArsquos Mshadoni Smith was the featured speaker on the TAM webinar This year the webinar focused on TAM narrative reports the state management review and oversight experiences and how TAM affected NTD reporting

Kicking off the webinar FTArsquos Mshadoni Smith provided highlights about how oversight and state management reviews were affected by TAM plans She identify the most common findings in SMRs related to TAM Those findings included missing TAM Plan elements no designated accountable executives and insufficient oversight of group plan sponsors of sub-recipient asset management Thankfully most of the findings were easily resolved via TAM Plan updates Smith highlighted the elements of a good NTD narrative report and

changes and upgrades to TAM Plan development using FTArsquos new TAMPLATE

To provide the state DOT perspective on TAM plan devel-opment MTAP enlisted Montana DOT Connecticut DOT and Missouri DOT David Jacobs and Adam Kraft from Montana DOT demonstrated how the feedback the agency received through NTD reporting was used to update its performance targets in future years Jacobs and Kraft showed how the NTD narrative was used to explain and document how and why per-formance targets changed And lastly they illustrated the need for Montana DOT to revisit the TAM Plan on an annual basis in addition to the major update every four years

In her presentation Sharon Okoye from Connecticut DOT outlined the challenges of providing narrative reports for both Tier I and Tier II providers She highlighted issues to consider for rail modes and coordinating with operators that serve multiple states And finally Okoye indicated how the TAM planning process led to improved facility inspection procedures and tracking assets of FTA Section 5310 providers

The final presentation of the webinar came from Joni Roeseler of Missouri DOT Roeseler discussed the importance of collaboration at all levels of government (local regional state federal) She provided examples of how Missouri DOT is using FTA technical assistance to complete the TAM Plan In discussing SMRs and oversight and how TAM effected agency oversight Roeseler provided sample answers to TAM narrative questions

Overall both webinars received positive feedback from those who participated and are successful examples of educational opportunities and peer-to-learning opportunities for MTAP members These webinar materials can be found on the MTAP Technical Initiatives Forum webpage or on the MTAP Transit Asset Management webpage

Network NewsAASHTO Multi-State Transit Technical Assistance Program

20202020Training and ConsultationEasterseals Project Action Consulting a division of Easterseals Inc provides affordable flexible professional training and consultation on ADA-accessible transportation issues Check out the upcoming course schedule as well as the certification program

Upcoming EventsRegister and Save the DateThe National RTAP and MTAP webinar on Vehicle SpecificationsMarch 13th from 200ndash300 pm

RescheduledThe CTAA EXPO November 15ndash19 2020Louisville Kentucky at the Omni Louisville

Details to ComeStay tuned for more details about the upcoming State DOT Roundtable 2020 State Public Transportation Partnerships Conference and the Council on Public Transportation and MTAP Winter Meeting

hellipAnd DONrsquoT FORGETThe Steering Committee Monthly Conference Calls2nd Tuesday of each month200 pm ET

Richard PriceAssociate Program Manager Transit Policy and Technical Assistance202-624-5813202-427-5600 cell RPriceaashtoorg

The Kansas Department of Transportation is awarding more than $74 million to 33 transit projects across the state as

part of its new Access Innovation and Collaboration program The announcement about the program recipients was made during this yearrsquos Transit Day at the Capitol in Topeka Kansas which is co-hosted by KDOT and the Kansas Public Transit Association

The Access Innovation and Collaboration program goals include

bull Enhancing infrastruc-ture and allowing for improved access to transit

bull Investing in innova-tive technology and

bull Expanding efforts in working with private providers and erasing the gap between urban and rural systems

The program will include bus replacement rehab and purchase bus-related equipment bus facilities pilot programs and limited operations Eligible applicants include local governments transit providers tribal nations and non-profits By using a combination of (49 USC 5339) and additional state funds the following range of projects were awarded across the state of Kansas such as

bull $42 M in supporting (8) new expanded andor upgraded facilities to support increased efficiencies and opportunities for regional coordination

bull $11 M in transit vehicles security cameras dispatch radios APCrsquos and other related equipment

bull $21 M in mobility and service expansion opportunities including an electronic vehicle fleet study bus shelters ADA improvements and expanded microtransit pilot targeted towards vulnerable populations

With more than 10 million urban and rural transit rides provided annually across the state the Access Innovation and Collaboration program will ultimately improve transit access and services for transit users in Kansas

Jon MooreKansas DOT

JonMooreksgov

Kansas DOTrsquos Access Innovation and Collaboration Program Provides Millions for Statewide Transit

mtaptransportationorg

555 12th Street NW Suite 1000Washington DC 20004