There’s always something new at National RTAP. And there’s always something being updated too! Below are a few of the newest resources to help your transit agency’s operations. National RTAP is giving Nebraska readers a sneak peak of some of the new resources that they’ve recently rolled out.

Delivering Excellent Customer Service in Rural Transit is a new training module that is designed to provide all rural transit agency staff with the practical knowledge and skills they need to provide excellent customer service. Managing for Customer Service Excellence in Rural Transit is designed to help agency leadership, managers, and supervisors to improve the quality of service provided by the agency as a whole or within a functional area. Both training modules are available in eLearning, print, disc, thumb drive, and online video formats. These training modules update the former Customer Driven Service training module, which was retired in 2023. And for those of you who enjoyed the Customer Driven Service Word Search, they are providing a new Customer Service Excellence Word Search.

The former Broadband Access and Rural Transit: Bringing Online Resources to Rural Communities technical brief was recently updated as Broadband Access and Rural Transit: Bringing Connectivity to Rural Communities. The brief discusses the types of broadband services currently available, new legislation and funding, implementation, and the outlook for the future. The brief has been updated with new information about the 5G network, high speed broadband definitions, and examples of states rolling out free broadband service.

The Volunteers in Transportation: Some Issues to Consider technical brief will show you how to evaluate and explore the human and financial resources necessary for a successful volunteer program. It is important to remember that “volunteer” does not mean free. There are expenses inherent in operating a volunteer program that are discussed in this brief, such as insurance and mileage reimbursement. The brief was updated in 2023 with new cost data and case examples of successful volunteer transportation programs.

In addition to training materials you can read, they host an abundance of webinars, chats, and other training opportunities. Below are some of the upcoming offerings:

• Free, live GTFS support on Thursdays between 1-1:30 P.M. (ET). Meet with an instructor, share your screen, and ask questions. Use this link to join the Zoom meeting – no preregistration is needed.
• The fifth #RuralTransitDay Twitter Chat will be held July 14 from 2-3 P.M. (ET). Rural Transit Day is always July 16, which is a Sunday this year. This is an event where participants share thoughts about the benefits of rural transit, along with challenges and solutions. The chat will be moderated by Stephanie Lewis, instructional/multimedia project manager, Florida RTAP, Paula Smith, executive director, Tri River Transit, and National RTAP staff. Email info@nationalrtap.org to RSVP for an invite.
• The next Learn about TACL training will be held on August 17 from 2-3 P.M. (ET). TACL, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library, helps rural and tribal transit agencies access information about public transportation coordination. The session will include a Resource Feature by Al Benedict and Nate Seeskin on the Shared-Use Mobility Center’s The Path to Mobility Interoperability.
• The Books in Transit Discussion Group has selected “I Was Told It Would Get Easier” by Abbi Waxman as the next book to read. A mother and daughter travel in a bus full of strangers for a college tour all along the east coast. Register for the meeting on August 22 from 2-3 P.M. (ET). The author will be joining the meeting!