State RTAP Programs: Status and Trends
Since the 2017 survey, the trend to outsource state RTAP programs has continued to decline. In 2020, 53 percent of the states provided the program in-house compared to 49 percent in 2017. Types of training programs remained similar to 2017 with most training provided in person (93 percent) and only one third using online training sources. Approximately 70 percent of the respondents also use National RTAP materials and 44 percent reported using National RTAP’s eLearning system which is up slightly from 2017. States continue to depend on in-state and out-of-state conferences for training as well.
Fewer states reported using software, ranging from MS Excel, Black Cat Grant Management and customized software, for grant management. In 2020, 53 percent of the states reported using software compared to 61 percent in 2017.
| In-house Program |
67% |
48% |
42% |
49% |
53% |
| Outsourced Program |
33% |
30% |
30% |
27% |
27% |
| Combination (In-House and Outsourced) |
n/a |
22% |
38% |
24% |
20% |
| In Person Training |
n/a |
62% |
90% |
83% |
93% |
| Online Training |
n/a |
n/a |
47% |
33% |
29% |
| National RTAP eLearning |
n/a |
n/a |
0% |
39% |
44% |
| In-House Material |
n/a |
n/a |
57% |
51% |
58% |
| National RTAP Material |
n/a |
n/a |
67% |
71% |
69% |
| Scholarships |
67% |
76% |
n/a |
n/a |
73% |
| Paid Travel to In-State Conferences |
n/a |
n/a |
73% |
76% |
78% |
| Paid Travel to Out-of-State Conference |
n/a |
n/a |
80% |
71% |
67% |
| Use Software for Grant Management |
n/a |
n/a |
40% |
61% |
53% |
*Questions marked n/a were not asked that year.
There are a few types of training that are required by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) such as ADA and Drug and Alcohol. Many states also have a number of trainings that are required. Over the years National RTAP has changed the way the question about training is asked and this year several additional training topics were added. The list below is based on the training sessions that are offered by at least 40 percent of the states. Topics that are new as of 2020 are shown in bold font.
| Active Shooter Training |
|
|
|
|
|
| ADA |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Asset Management |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Customer Service |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
| Defensive Driving |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Distracted Driving |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Driver Retention |
|
|
|
|
|
| Drug and Alcohol Testing |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
| Emergency and Accident Procedures |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Federal Grant Preparation/Management |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Financial Management |
|
|
|
|
|
| Fleet Maintenance |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
| GTFS Training |
|
|
|
|
|
| Human Trafficking/Maltreatment Awareness |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Interpreting and Implementing Regulatory Requirements |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Marketing |
|
|
|
|
x |
| NTD Reporting |
|
|
|
|
x |
| PASS |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Performance Measurement |
|
|
|
|
|
| Personnel Management |
|
|
|
|
|
| Problem Passengers/De-Escalation |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Procurement |
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Safety and Security |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Scheduling and Dispatching |
x |
|
|
|
|
| Sensitivity Training |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
| Sexual Harassment |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Soft Skills (Communication, leadership, etc.) |
|
|
|
|
x |
| START or Other Driver Safety |
|
|
|
|
x |
| State Grant Preparation and Management |
|
|
|
|
x |
| Substance Abuse/Reasonable Suspicion |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Succession planning and preparation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Title VI |
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Train the Trainer |
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Transit Operations/Transit 101 |
x |
|
|
|
x |
| Transit System Design |
|
|
|
|
|
| Wheelchair Management |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
| Working with Transit Boards |
|
|
|
|
|
| Working with Tribal Transit Services |
|
|
|
|
|
A comprehensive summary report of the 2020 State RTAP Manager’s report can be found here: 2020 State RTAP Manager's Survey Summary.
Updated April 20, 2021