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Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

ALASKA COMMUNITY TRANSIT
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The Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP)

Federal Program Summary

The Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) provides a source of funding to assist in the design and implementation of training and technical assistance projects and other support services tailored to meet the specific needs of transit operators in non-urbanized areas.  The federal program provides an annual allocation to each State to develop and implement training and technical assistance programs in conjunction with the State’s administration of the Section 5311 formula assistance program.  (Federal Transit Administration Circular 9040.1F)

Federal Program Objectives

  1. To promote the safe and effective delivery of public transportation in non-urbanized areas and to make  more efficient use of public and private resources;
  2. To foster the development of State and local capacity for addressing the training and technical assistance needs of the rural transportation community;
  3. To improve the quality of information and technical assistance available through the development of  training and technical assistance resource materials;
  4. To facilitate peer-to-peer self help through the development of local networks of transit professionals;
  5. To support the coordination of public, private, specialized and human service transportation services;
  6. To build a national database on the non-urbanized segment of the public transportation industry.
    (Federal Transit Administration Circular 9040.1F)

Who is Eligible for ALASKA RTAP

In Non-urbanized Areas: Any transit agency or organization located in a non-urbanized area of Alaska and funded under the Section 5311 Non-urbanized Area Formula Program. 

The Alaska Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) can provide financial assistance to any RTAP eligible transit system wishing to attend a training program, professional development program, or educational conference.  The purpose of the RTAP Scholarship Program is to help offset some of the costs associated with attending training programs in order to encourage and further the development of the skills and abilities of those persons involved in transit in rural areas.  Eligible training includes courses, seminars, workshops and conferences with subject matter specifically related to the transit industry.  Training can be in-house, in-state or out-of-state. 

Transit providers receiving FTA Section 5310 funding are also eligible to receive RTAP funding on a case-by-case basis.  FTA Section 5310 recipients should contact Stephanie.Bushong@alaska.gov (907) 465-2780 for additional information.

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