National RTAP 2019 Technical Assistance Conference

You can view the Conference Agenda here. More detailed information, including speaker bios and descriptions of each session, is available on our conference app. Learn more on the Mobile App page.

Most presentations are available in this Dropbox folder. If you're looking for a particular presentation and can't find it or need a presentation in an accessible format, email us at conference@nationalrtap.org.

See below for information about TransportationCamp, NTI Procurement Training, Pre-Conference Trainings and Local Activities and Trips.

Information about the Tribal Awards is available on the National RTAP website.

TRANSPORTATION CAMP

A TransportationCamp, hosted by Oregon Department of Transportation and Trillium Solutions, will be held at the conference hotel on Sunday, September 15 from 8:00am - 4:00pm. It is $30 for National RTAP Conference attendees ($55 for all others).

What is TransportationCamp? It brings together thinkers and doers in the fields of transportation & technology.

TransportationCamp is an "unconference" bringing together transportation professionals, technologists, and others interested in the intersection of urban transportation and technology. It builds connections between disparate innovators in public administration, transportation operations, information design, and software engineering.

This is not a traditional conference. The session topics and activities are suggested by the attendees. In addition to talks and presentations from big names in transportation and technology, TransportationCamp provides an opportunity for every attendee to be a participant in shaping and leading the event. Be prepared to get involved and meet people.

Sessions may come in a variety of formats: birds-of-a-feather, lightning talks, open space technology, pecha kucha, and others. Major themes reflect the backgrounds and interests of the participants. You'll find sessions about technology, policy issues, rural and intercity planning, and more.

Keynote Speakers: Jeremy Dalton & Kevin Chambers

Jeremy Dalton is a transportation planner, technology strategist, and open innovation advocate based in Portland, OR. He is Principal and Founder of Method City, and his portfolio includes Mobility as a Service (MaaS) related projects spanning Europe, Australia, and the US, and TravelSpirit Foundation, a UK-based not-for-profit organization and global network for open and accessible tools and policy frameworks for integrated mobility.
Kevin Chambers has assisted public agencies and nonprofits on technology investments since 2000 and currently leads Full Path Transit Technology, focusing on technology at the intersection of mobility, human services, and healthcare. His work has included software development, project management, and strategic planning, and he previously led technology innovation at Ride Connection, a Portland-area provider of mobility options to older adults and people with disabilities.

NTI PROCUREMENT FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SYSTEMS TRAINING

We are pleased to offer the National Transit Institute (NTI) Procurement for Small and Medium Transit Systems training on Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19 an add-on to our conference.

This two-day training will highlight FTA procurement requirements, explain procurement processes, and provide an overview of best practices. The course is geared to small and medium transit system staff who are involved with third-party procurement and are recipients of FTA funding. State DOT and FTA regional staff will also benefit from this course.

Registration is free for transit agencies, the Federal government, MPOs and State DOTs. Visit the NTI Registration Page for full details and to register. Space is limited.

PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING

Below are the options for the free pre-conference trainings and workshops on Sunday, September 15 (in alpha order). There's still time to sign up! See the registration page for how to modify your registration.

Note the times and duration of the trainings, as they vary. Please only sign up for one training as they are held at the same time. The GTFS Builder and Website Building workshops are exceptions; those are only 2 hours long and will be held back to back.

Hands-on GTFS Builder: Online Trip Planning & Beyond with No-Cost Toolkit

Marcy Jaffe, Transnnovation, Inc.

12:30pm-2:30pm

General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is a mouthful. GTFS offers not only trip planning and your agencies’ schedules online for your website but also supports your marketing efforts, but eases meeting Title VI and publishing your agency in the USDOT, National Transit Map. This hands-on training will show you how to create one of your bus routes in GTFS, using simple Excel spreadsheets that we call “GTFS Builder”. From this demystifying half-day session, you will generate the balance of the agency’s GTFS. Bring your laptop or you are welcome to join us, observe and be inspired!

Intercity Bus Route Development Training

Stephanie Gonterman, Isaacs & Associates and Fred Fravel, KFH Group

12:30pm-4:30pm

This workshop will walk participants through developing intercity bus routes and provide valuable expertise and guidance.

Reasonable Suspicion Determination Training

Sean Oswald, RLS & Associates

12:30pm-4:30pm

This isn't your "normal" reasonable suspicion training available off the shelf. This session is focused not only on meeting regulatory requirements, but also ensuring our employees' fitness-for-duty/wellness is being elevated and recognized as a critical safety issue. Participants will learn about the signs, symptoms and indicators of probable alcohol misuse and illegal drug use. This session is strengthened with additional information, case-studies, "tips & tricks", and comprehensive discussions. This training meets and exceeds all requirements under the FTA and FMCSA drug & alcohol regulations (49 CFR Parts 655 & 382, respectively). Participants will be provided with a certificate of completion.

Rural and Tribal Service Design Training: Fixed Route Done Right

Ken Hosen, KFH Group

10:00am-4:30pm

The design of fixed routes (or flex routes) in rural areas and small cities is both an art and a science. One thing is evident however, proper service and route design will improve ridership and raise the stature of the system while poor route design will do the opposite. This workshop will focus on designing rural and small town routes the right way. An emphasis will be placed on best practices, fixed route design concepts and guidelines, as well as bus stops – transit’s front door. Participants will use their service area maps to design new services in their own service area. Each student will leave the workshop with the ideas and examples needed to improve their service, as well as an understanding of what will work in their community geographically, culturally and politically.

Tribal Transit Assessment of FTA Recipients

Dana Lucas, DMP Group

12:30pm-4:30pm

In this session we will discuss what to expect and how to prepare for an FTA Tribal Transit Technical Assistance Assessment.

Website Building Training

Frank Condon, DevObal Technologies and Nome Dickerson, Trillium Solutions

2:30pm-4:30pm

In this training, you will learn how to build a transit website using National RTAP’s new version of Website Builder and can get started working on a new site with help from National RTAP technical support. In addition, you will learn about web accessibility - the WCAG 2.1 standards, how to evaluate your website’s accessibility, and how to make your site more accessible without increasing cost or sacrificing aesthetics.

LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND TRIPS

Our local host, Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), has arranged for some local trips and activities using transit for Sunday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 18. See below for more information. Please RSVP using this form, especially if you are planning to do the Coast Tour.

SUNDAY

Coast Tour - All Day

View the flyer about the Coast tour!
Description: Experience the NW Connector a coordinated regional transit system that includes five individual agencies in NW Oregon creating seamless travel to the coast. You will begin your journey at the Tillamook Cheese Factory where you will be able to take a free tour throughout the viewing areas, taste samples, peruse the gift shop, check out all the new ice cream flavors and so much more! Then it’s off to the beach. Cannon Beach is known for its long sandy shore and Haystack Rock.
Capacity restriction: 28 max - sign up required
Cost: No cost to ride
Itinerary:
- 8:45am Check-in at Conference Registration Desk
- 9:00am Leave DoubleTree on Tillamook County Transportation District
- 11:00am Arrive Tillamook Creamery (cheese factory)
- No host lunch at the Creamery
- 12:00pm Depart Tillamook Creamery
- 1:30pm Arrive Cannon Beach
- Photo opportunity at Haystack Rock
- 2:00pm Depart Cannon Beach
- 4:30pm Arrival Time at DoubleTree
Contact: Jaimie Baldwin, 503.383.6733
On-Site Tour Liaison: Jeff Hazen
What to bring: Good walking shoes, wear layers or bring a light jacket the coastal winds can be a bit chilly.

Columbia River Gorge - All Day

View the flyer about the Gorge Tour!
Description: Dropping 620 spectacular feet, Multnomah Falls is the tallest of the Columbia River Gorge’s many waterfalls (77 on the Oregon side, to be exact). A unique working landscape of public and private lands, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is a world-renowned destination as well as a place that many people call home. A natural border between Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area includes spectacular ecological, recreational, cultural and historical attractions.
Capacity restriction: First come first serve, this bus will be shared with non-attendee riders as well
Cost: $10 roundtrip
Itinerary:
- 10:00 Check-in at the Conference Registration Desk
- 2:40 Depart time back to hotel
- 3:30 Arrival time at hotel
Contact: Jaimie Baldwin, 503.383.6733
On-Site Tour Liaison: Jennifer Boardman
What to bring: Water. If you plan on hiking around the falls you will want to bring appropriate clothing and footwear for hiking.

The 4T’s: Trail, Tram, Trolley, and Train - Half-Day

Description: Experience an adventure on Portland’s Famous 4T Trail Loop — where a trail, a tram, a trolley and a train combine for a one-of-a-kind, multi-modal way to enjoy Portland, Oregon, one of the nation’s most walkable cities! Learn more at: https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/4T_Loop_Hike. UPDATE: the tram will have ended for the season the week before the conference, but this tour is still possible using a different mode of transit instead of the tram.
Itinerary:
- 12:30 Meet Up Time at Conference Registration Desk
- 3:30 Depart Time back to hotel
- 4:00 Arrival Time at hotel
Contact Person: Jaimie Baldwin, 503.383.6733
On-Site Tour Liaison: TBD
What to bring: Water, shoes comfortable for walking and hiking (and that you aren’t afraid to get a little mud on if the trail is wet). Bring or buy a TriMet day pass ($5 pass).
Capacity restriction: None

Bike Around Portland

ODOT is no longer able to offer a group bike tour, but has provided information so attendees can use the BIKETOWN system and follow some suggested bike tour routes on their own. Portland is extremely bike-friendly!

Flyers with route suggestions will be provided at the registration desk, as well as information about the BIKETOWN bike share system and mobile app. Learn more about BIKETOWN at biketownpdx.com.

Discount: Use this discount code for a $10 credit for BIKETOWN: rtap19.

WEDNESDAY

Ride Connection Tour

Description: Ride Connection is a private, non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, dedicated to coordinating and providing transportation services to people with limited options across 3 counties. Our organization has been linking transportation to people in our communities for over 25 years.
Itinerary:
- 9:00am - Meet-up time in the hotel lobby
- 11:30am - Depart time back to hotel
- 11:55am - Arrival time at hotel
Contact Person: Jaimie Baldwin, 503.383.6733
What to bring: Bring or buy one TriMet day pass ($5)
Capacity restriction: None

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