Expired 2022 Spring Workshop

We're sorry, but all tickets sales have ended because the event is expired.
  • April 20, 2022 - April 21, 2022
    9:30 am - 2:15 pm

Registration is still possible, but please note that the availability of meals for you may be limited if you register after April 18. Please contact support@mnrtap.net with any questions.

  • To register for this workshop, you will need to be logged in to your RTAP account. If you forgot your login or you don’t have an account yet, please contact us for assistance!
  • This workshop is for agencies who receive FTA section 5311 and 5307 funding and Tribal Transit agencies. There will be a separate meeting/workshop for agencies who receive FTA section 5310 funding (including RTCCs and TCAPs) in the fall.
  • When you register, we will assume that you will be in attendance for both days. If you only plan to attend for a shorter amount of time, please let us know so we can plan meals appropriately. If you have any accessibility needs or dietary requirements, please contact support@mnrtap.net.
  • The sessions will be livestreamed to those who are unable to attend in person. This will be purely a video stream of the workshop, we will not be able to take questions from the virtual audience or troubleshoot any joining issues. We strongly encourage in-person attendance. The session recordings will be emailed out and posted to the Minnesota RTAP website after the workshop. Collaborative and breakout sessions will not be recorded or live streamed. Register for the livestream here. 

Room Block: The window for the room block has expired, but you can still book rooms at the Holiday Inn at their normal rates.

 

Day One Agenda — April 20, 2022, 9:30am–4:45pm

Time Topic Description Presenter(s) Moderator Location
9:30–10am Registration | Networking | RTAP Info Table Open  Coffee + light continental breakfast  provided (bagels, muffins, and coffee) n/a n/a Hall and Main Room
10–10:35am Welcome | Introductions| Workshop Objectives   Melinda Estey n/a Main Room
10:35–10:45am OTAT 101  Mark Nelson n/a Main Room
10:45–11:15am Title VI Plan Updates As a subrecipient of FTA funds, reasonable steps must be provided for meaningful access to public transit services for persons who do not speak, read, or write using English as their primary language. Subrecipients will have the opportunity to discuss the plan and ask any questions.   Jean Meyer n/a Main Room
11:15–noon Class 300, 400 & 500 Bus Ordering Updates for the Calendar Year (CY) 2022 
  • Updates from the Vehicle Procurement Coordinator, OTAT 
  • Tentative Bus Ordering Schedule for the CY 2022 
  • Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations from OTAT & the Agencies 
 Harinee Iyengar n/a Main Room
12–12:30pm Lunch

 

 Provided — choice of Turkey Bacon sandwich, Cobb Salad, or Raw Veggie Wrap. Includes chips. Water provided and directions to vending machines will be noted for those desiring other drinks. n/a n/a Served in the hall; Tables in the Main Room
12:30–1:15

 

1:15–2pm

 Conversation Tables | Tables Set Up Around the Edge of the Room for Subject Matter Experts

 

Large Group Debrief of Conversation Tables

 Visit tables around the room to have 1:1 conversations with subject matter experts — or network with groups of your peers. FMCSA: Matthew Marrin

Statewide Marketing: Melinda Estey

Other Tables to be Announced at the Workshop.

If you would like a table, email support@mnrtap.net.

 n/a Main Room
2–2:30pm National Transit Database — Data entry Dos, Don’ts, and Requirements  n/a Gary Taft and Kirby Becker n/a Main Room
2:30–3pm BlackCat Updates & Enhancements   This session will overview changes to BlackCat process over the past year. This will also be an opportunity to request clarification of topics in BlackCat. Attendees may request additional topic training for the future for individual organizations or group trainings. Gary Taft and Kirby Becker n/a Main Room
3–3:15pm Break Snacks Provided (chips and dip, cheese sticks, and whole fruit) n/a n/a Hallway
3:15–4:15pm MN Public Transit Agencies — Innovation at Its Best! World Cafes Learn from three groups: the Southwest Minnesota Farecard Collection Project, Electric Vehicles, and Van Purchasing Representatives from the following agencies:

—Arrowhead Transit

—Prairie Lakes Transit

—Central Community Transit

—Community Transit of United Community Action Programs

—Prairie Five RIDES

 Melinda Estey Main Room
4:15–4:45 Transit Technology Committee & Subcommittee Updates This session will overview progress from the subcommittees on key systems and functional requirements, ongoing communications, and training support.  Jeremy Monahan, Jordan Smith, Brandon Nurmi, Aleda Johnson Kirby Becker Main Room

 

Day Two Agenda — April 21, 2022, 7:30am–2:15pm

Time Topic Description Presenter(s) Moderator Location
7:30–8am Breakfast | RTAP Info Table Open Coffee + light continental breakfast provided (assorted sweet breads, mini pastries, and coffee) n/a n/a Hallway and Main Room
8–8:15am Welcome Back What questions do you have from yesterday? Melinda Estey n/a Main Room
8:15–9am Federal and State Transit Legislation and Funding
  • State and federal funds availability
  • IIJA update
  • Federal grant opportunities
 Margaret Donahoe n/a Main Room
9–9:55am

 

 

 

 

9:55–10:00am

 

 

 

10:00–10:30am

 2022 Grant Application Input and Guidance  

2023 Transit funding Programming 

Program staff roles and responsibilities, solicitation schedule, solicitation structure, improvements to the solicitation process, funding targets, and funding formulas. 

 

Separate into breakout groups 

 

 

Small Urban Breakout Session 

Statistical reporting, small urban replacement vehicle/new service funding target, transit System Safety Additions Under TAA, Small Urban New Service Funding Target, Use of State Funding on Vehicles, and Expansion Vehicles. 

 

Rural Breakout Session 

Formula new service, formula vs. competitive, expansion vehicles, and vehicle replacement schedule.  

 Noel Shughart

 

 

 

 

Mark Nelson

 

 

 

Noel Shughart

 n/a Main Room
10:30–10:45am Break n/a n/a Hallway
10:45–noon Transit Challenges — Group Problem Solving Session

 
  • During the first part of the conference, post-its will be provided on tables for everyone to write down challenges they face.
  • Post-its will be sorted into groups for this session
  • Melinda will introduce the session, then everyone will choose a group to join
  • Each group will debrief their conversation with the large group
 n/a Melinda Estey Main Room
12–12:45pm

 

 Lunch Provided — Baked potatoes and chili bar. Water provided and directions to vending machines will be noted for those desiring other drinks. n/a n/a Served in the hall; Tables in the Main Room
12:45–1:15pm School Bus and Charter Services: How do these services affect Public Transit? Each year we sign off that our system will not provide school bus or charter service – What are we signing off on and how do we know if any of the services currently offered meet the requirements? We will look at the service definitions and how you can easily determine services that may fall in either of these categories. Jean Meyer (lead) and Matti Gurney n/a Main Room
1:15–1:45pm Break — Let’s celebrate the past few years and our future
  • Congratulatory remarks
  • Snack provided — cookies, bars, and brownies
  • Slideshow of photos and transit achievements
 Mark Nelson n/a Main Room; Snacks Provided in the Hallway
1:45–2:15pm Wrap Up
  • Workshop review
  • Regroup to discuss questions from the morning
  • Check in: what’s on your mind?
  • Closing remarks
 Melinda Estey n/a Main Room

Venue:   Holiday Inn & Suites St. Cloud

Address:
75 S. 37th Ave S, St. Cloud, Minnesota, 56301, United States

to request a different date or venue for this course — or request a new course entirely.