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Events

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Upcoming Events

 
October 29, 2020

The Center for Local-aid Support (CLAS) team is the conduit for connecting Local agencies, Tribes and Federal Land Management Agencies to innovative market-ready deployment opportunities that can be used on our nation's highways to save lives, project delivery time, and money. Through Innovation Exchange webinars, we are bringing cutting-edge transportation leaders to the table to share ideas and out of the box innovative practices that have proven results. Innovation Exchange webinars are given by subject-matter experts and thought leaders to spread new ideas, spark conversation, and promote innovative leadership for the issues confronting our nation's transportation system now and in the future. The goal of Innovation Exchange webinars is to allow participants to (1) gain best practices of innovation deployment from subject matter experts (2) have a venue to discuss transportation related ideas and issues with other transportation partners around the country, and (3) learn and share successful practices.

Past Events

October 20, 2020

Rural travelers may encounter mobility challenges specific to their communities, including limited pedestrian or biking infrastructure, lack of exposure to alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, increased trip mileage, increased rate of mortality in transportation collisions, and more. How can sustainable transportation projects help address these challenges? The STF&E panelists will discuss these considerations and how rural sustainable transportation initiatives can succeed in Tennessee.

September 28 - October 2, 2020

As a rural safety advocate, the Rural Safety Center uses its voice to raise national awareness of rural safety, share and disseminate critical information, and build coalitions of changemakers. To further our impact, we are proud to announce the inaugural Rural Road Safety Awareness Week (RRSAW) to be held on September 28 - October 2, 2020. The purpose of RRSAW will be to promote rural road safety to the public, community leaders, and potential partners by telling the “rural story.” We plan to shine a light on the unique safety risks faced by rural road users, progress towards addressing these challenges, and solutions that are making a difference on the Rural Road to Zero fatalities and serious injuries.

September 17, 2020

The Rebuild Rural Infrastructure Coalition is comprised of more than 250 organizations from across the country focused on rural communities, U.S. agricultural producers, rural businesses, and rural families. This virtual session will provide an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit will help potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters will explain the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.

September 10, 2020

The National Association of Counties (NACo) brings together county officials from across the country to discuss issues facing their communities. This virtual session will provide an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit will help potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters will explain the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.

August 19, 2020
This virtual session provided an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit helps potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters explained the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.
 
August 11, 2020
This virtual session provided an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit helps potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters explained the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.
 
July 30, 2020
This virtual session provided an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit helps potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters explained the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.
 
July 28, 2020
This virtual session provided an overview of DOT’s new Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT.  The Toolkit helps potential transportation project sponsors in identifying and navigating USDOT discretionary grant funding opportunities for rural transportation projects. The toolkit provides user-friendly information and resources to support rural applicants’ understanding of USDOT discretionary grant programs and the funding process.  In this session, the presenters explained the key features of the Toolkit and how it can help grant applicants at all levels of experience in accessing USDOT resources.
 
May 20, 2020
National Center for Rural Road Safety
This webinar featured an overview of the US DOT’s Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative, which is focused on improving the access to and impact of DOT funding for rural transportation safety and infrastructure. The webinar provided a presentation of some of the Department’s most recent studies and data on rural safety, and what implications these may have for best use of transportation resources. 
 
January 12-16, 2020
Washington, DC
Lectern Session 1329: Infrastructure Policy in 2020 and Beyond (Monday January 13, 3:45 PM- 5:30 PM)
This session will be a roundtable discussion with senior officials about the USDOT Secretary’s priorities for 2020 and beyond. Focus will include DOT’s Rural Initiative; work on Opportunity Zones; permitting reform; and railroad grade crossing safety. This session will also allow attendees to hear the Administration’s perspective on surface transportation reauthorization. 
 
Panel members will include:
Jannine Miller, Office of the Secretary of Transportation (Moderator)
Dan DeBono, U.S. Department of Transportation
K. Jane Williams, Federal Transit Administration
Nicole Nason, Federal Highway Administration
 
October 19-22, 2019
Reno, NV
DOT provided an overview of the ROUTES Initiative as well as some of the ways DOT’s financing programs can be applied in rural areas. Below are summaries of the DOT's presentations at the NADO 2019 Annual Training Conference.
  • ROUTES - The presentation provides an overview of the Department of Transportation’s ROUTES Initiative along with rural transportation statistics.
  • BUILD & INFRA - This presentation reviews the Department’s BUILD and INFRA surface transportation discretionary grant programs’ eligibility, program requirements, selection criteria, and award project examples.
  • Reimagining “Innovative” Finance & Procurement for the Future - The presentation provides an overview of the Build America Bureau’s financing mechanisms, including Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act  (TIFIA) Program, the TIFIA Rural Project Initiative, State Infrastructure Banks, Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF), and private activity bonds.
  • FTA Rural Public Transportation Programs - This presentation provides a review of FTA's rural public transportation programs, competitive program evaluation criteria, FTA's efforts to assist rural areas applying for funding, and FTA's Technical Assistance Centers.
  • DOT Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center - This presentation provides an overview of the Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center (IPIC), the environmental review and permitting process, and tools that the Department offers to assist in that process.
October 5-9, 2019
St. Louis, MO
Secretary Elaine Chao announced the establishment of the ROUTES Initiative on October 8th at the AASHTO 2019 Annual Meeting. Read the press release here.
 
 
Last updated: Thursday, October 22, 2020