Introduction
The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and partners at the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education support a range of technical assistance initiatives for coordinating human service transportation. These programs and centers are charged with providing training, resources, and direct assistance to communities and states interest in enhancing the mobility and transportation options for all citizens, including older adults, individuals with disabilities, and people with lower incomes.

Recognizing that coordinating transportation services is essential for those individuals that depend on it for access to employment, health, and other aspects of community participation, it is essential that we work together to share information, promising practices, and innovative solutions. We also recognize the importance of building leadership skills, communication strategies, and creating tools within and across communities.

This brochure was developed to help states and communities build awareness of the various technical assistance programs available to help them improve and coordinate existing transportation resources. We are committed to supporting a comprehensive, coordinated, human service transportation system and look forward to the future for opportunities to assist in this effort. It is our hope that these resources will provide benefits to communities and states as we continue to enhance transportation options across our country.

 

Community Transportation Assistance Project C/O Community Transportation Association of America 341 G St. N.W. 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005 1-800-527-8279 CTAA

The Community Transportation Assistance Project (CTAP) can help provide answers to questions about transportation services targeted for older adults, individuals with lower income, children and families, and persons with disabilities. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these services may include access to health care, childcare, employment and other social services in urban and rural areas. CTAP offers technical assistance to organizations and agencies at the state and local levels working to enhance community mobility and coordination of transportation services. The Information Station can connect you with important community transportation news, publications, resources and information on Coordination, Employment, Medical, Rural, Senior, and Accessible Transportation. CTAP is managed by the Community Transportation Association of America.

 

National Rural Transit Assistance Program C/O American Public Works Association 1401 K ST, NW 11th Floor Washington, DC 20002 1-800-527-8279 American Public Works Association

The National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) was established by the Federal Transit Administration in 1987 to provide a wide range of professional services and products. The National RTAP, administered by the American Public Works Association, provides outreach and training to each state's RTAP and coordinates with other organizations involved in rural transit. In addition to the National RTAP, each state hosts its own Rural transportation Assistance Program. Products and services are identified, developed, promoted and disseminated through each state's RTAP manager, who, in turn, can use and reproduce them economically to improve the delivery of local transit services. The National RTAP also works collaboratively with the Community Transportation Association of America to operate a national toll-free telephone line, a web page, a national peer-to-peer technical assistance network and various presentations and publications and fulfillment services for National RTAP products.

 

Easter Seals Project ACTION 700 13th Street, N.W Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 1-800-659-6428 or 202-347-3066 Project Action

Easter Seals Project ACTION (Accessible Community Transportation in Our Nation) is a national technical assistance project funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration.  The mission of Easter Seals Project ACTION is to encourage and facilitate cooperation between the disability and transportation communities with the goal of achieving universal access through transportation for persons with disabilities nationwide. Easter Seals Project ACTION offers various resources, including a toll-free hotline, Web site, publications clearinghouse, and quarterly newsletter, as well as training and technical assistance, in an effort to make the ADA work for everyone, everyday.

 

Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Peer-To-Peer Program Federal Highway Administration 400 7th St. Room 3416 Washington, DC 20590 1-866-367-7487 ITS

The ITS Peer-To-Peer Program provides assistance through is network of over 120 US DOT approved ITS professionals who have planned, implemented and operated ITS in urban and rural areas. Most of the Program's Peers are public sector ITS practitioners - "your Peers." The Peer-To-Peer Program delivers short term assistance according to your ITS needs. Assistance may include telephone consultations, off-site document reviews, presentations, and visits to your site or appropriate actions. Many customers receive a mix of services delivered by phone, mail and site visit. The program continues to assist metropolitan and rural clients to create solutions for a variety of highway, transit, and motor carrier interests. The program offers assistance in virtually all areas of ITS planning, design, deployment and operations.

 

National Job Links Employment Transportation Initiative C/O Community Transportation Association of America 341 G St. N.W. 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005 1-800-527-8279 National Joblinks Employment Transportation Initiative

The National Joblinks Employment Transportation Initiative, known as Joblinks, is funded by the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Labor. Joblinks is a program designed to help communities overcome one of the most significant barriers preventing individuals with lower incomes from getting and keeping jobs - transportation. Joblinks has a national peer-to-peer network that links local agencies with experienced practitioners familiar with the human services and workforce development environments and knowledgeable about special client transportation needs. Through Joblinks, communities can receive access to technical assistance and training specialists who can provide solid problem-solving technical support, particularly in the areas of coordinating client transportation resources and operations, marketing, system start-up and financing, human resource management, and developing accessible services. Joblinks also supports and on-line information center that connects you with employment transportation news, resources and ideas. Joblinks is administered by the Community Transportation Association of America.

 

Multi-State Technical Assistance Program C/O American Assosciation of Highway and Transportation Officials 444 North Capitol Street NW Suite 249 Washington, DC 20001 Tel: (202) 624-3625 Fax: (202) 624-3625 Multi-State Technical Assistance Program

The purpose of Multi-State Technical Assistance Program (MTAP) is to provide a forum through which state-level public transportation agencies can communicate with each other about federal transit regulations, grant program management, and technical issues pertaining to everyday administration of public transportation service. The MTAP program was developed to benefit the member states as well as their federal program counterparts and local transit operators. Networking among the states is conducted through two annual meetings, peer-to-peer assistance, conference calls, and electronic communication. Currently, 44 states are members of the MTAP program. MTAP is administered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

 

National Transit Institute 120 Albany Street 7th Floor New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901 732-932-1700 NTI Online

The National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University was established in 1992 to conduct training and educational programs related to public transportation. Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, NTI's mission is to provide training, education, and clearinghouse services in support of public transportation and quality of life in the United States. Training is available to public transportation agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, state Departments of Transportation and other agencies providing transportation services. NTI is first in the minds of people concerned with training, education, and related services in support of public transportation. NTI also hosts a premier clearinghouse for information and assistance in this area. During the past 10 years, NTI has developed and delivered training programs of instruction on a broad range of subject to over 25,000 persons in the transportation industry.

 

Transit Cooperative Research Program C/O American Public Transportation Association 1666 K Street, NW, 11th Floor Washington, DC 20006 202-624-3625 TCRP Overview

The Transportation Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is your ticket to information central. Practical research that yields near term results can do much to help - by solving operational problems, adoptions useful technologies from related industries and, in general, finding ways for public transportation to be innovative. Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, TCRP is a key instrument for carrying out such useful research. The program places primary emphasis on putting the results in the hands of organizations and individuals that can use them to solve problems. Whether you are a service provider, consultant or supplier, TCRP provides the tools you need to innovate and solve problems in the transportation industry. The information you need is easily accessible through print, web documents, CD ROMS and diskettes. And best of all---it's free through the American Public Transportation Association's TCRP Dissemination Center.