Overview

FTA’s Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Program (49 U.S.C. § 5314) and the Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. § 5312) fund technical assistance, training, and research resource programs through national nonprofit organizations across a number of areas to improve public transportation. These nonprofit partners and the work they do play a critical role in supporting public transit agencies to:

• Improve the availability and efficiency transportation for older adults and individuals with disabilities
• Drive the adoption of mobility management and related promising practices
• Accelerate innovative mobility practices and strategies
• Support rural communities
• Leverage new transit technologies
• Train the public transit workforce
• Provide workforce development technical assistance
• Support research projects selected by the transit industry that address day to day issues
• Support the transit industry meet safety regulation

Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL)

To support this work, the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library (TACL) provides a sustainable, centralized platform for accessing resources developed by FTA’s transportation technical assistance centers.

Access & Mobility

Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility Technical Assistance Center (CCAM-TAC)

(866) 846-6400 | info@ccam-tac.org

The CCAM-TAC is a national technical assistance center funded through a cooperative agreement with FTA. In October 2024, FTA and the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) announced the selection of the Community Transportation Association of America to administer the CCAM-TAC.  The strategic goal of the Center is to support CCAM members, federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation access for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. The mission of the Center is to promote and facilitate human services transportation, public transit, and non-emergency medical transportation coordination that advances people’s access to everyday destinations.

The CCAM-TAC is supported by 7 federal agency partners:

• U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration
• U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families
• HHS' Administration for Community Living
• HHS' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration
• U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy 

CCAM-TAC also receives advice, expertise, and support from the Content Partner Roundtable consisting of the American Association of Service Coordinators, American Public Transportation Association, Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University, Community Roots LLC, Health Outreach Partners, Justice Center: Council of State Governments, National Association of Community Health Workers, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Community Action Partnership, National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, RLS and Associates, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and USAging.

Please note: The cooperative agreements with the National Center for Mobility Management’s (NCMM) and National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) have ended, and both centers have transitioned to the CCAM-TAC. Their repositories of web content, tools, trainings, publications and resources are now available on CCAM-TAC’s website. Additionally, FTA recognizes the important role of Mobility Management—CCAM-TAC continues to provide Mobility Management technical assistance at no cost. 

Rural & Tribal Support

National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (National RTAP)

(888) 589-6821 | info@nationalrtap.org

The National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) was established by FTA in 1987 to provide a wide range of professional services and products. National RTAP addresses the training and technical assistance needs of rural and tribal transit programs across the nation and supports state RTAP programs. National RTAP provides comprehensive free technical assistance programs and resources including training materials, webinars, newsletters and technical briefs, peer resources, research, and innovative technology initiatives. 

Innovation & Technology

Accelerating Innovative Mobility National Network (AIM-NNet) 

(312) 448-8083 | info@sharedusemobilitycenter.org

The Accelerating Innovative Mobility National Network (AIM-NNet), also known as Mobility Innovation Collaborative (MIC), is a partnership between the Shared Use Mobility Center (SUMC) and FTA. AIM-NNet supports FTA’s Mobility Innovation programs by providing a comprehensive suite of technical assistance and knowledge sharing activities that spread the benefits of innovation in mobility to communities around the country. AIM-NNet supports public transportation agencies, communities and regions in the development, selection, deployment and oversight of innovative service delivery models, creative financing, novel partnerships, and integrated payment solutions. AIM-NNet technical assistance offers valuable resources and information exchange to recipients of FTA Research funding, as well as others advancing Mobility Innovation in their communities.

National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT)

(202) 415-9688 | carpenter@ctaa.org

The National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) delivers expert, focused technical assistance to transit agencies and organizations in rural areas and small cities to use or develop transit technologies and innovations that make services more cost-effective and efficient. N-CATT’s work supports FTA’s mission and focus on innovation by developing and supporting transit programs and services in rural and small-city America.

Workforce & Trainings

National Transit Institute (NTI)

(848) 932-1700| nti_info@nti.rutgers.edu 

The National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University conducts trainings and educational programs related to public transportation. Funded by FTA, NTI’s mission is to develop, promote, and provide training, and education programs in support of public transportation and quality of life in the United States. Training is available to public transportation agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), State Departments of Transportation, and other agencies providing transportation services.

Transit Workforce Development Technical Assistance Center (TWC)

(855) 888-6892 | twc@transportcenter.org

The Transit Workforce Development Technical Assistance Center (TWC) was created by FTA in September 2021 to support public transit agencies’ workforce development needs for all modes and in communities of varying sizes, including urban, tribal, and rural entities. The center helps transit agencies recruit, hire, train, and retain the workforce needed now and in the future. Main initiatives include 1) conducting technical assistance activities within and for transit agencies that promote more effective and efficient training of frontline workers involved in public transportation maintenance and operations; and 2) implementing technical assistance activities through collaborative partnerships between transit agency management and labor, including apprenticeships. 

Research & Safety

Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP)

(202) 334-3246 | gsmith@nas.edu

The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is sponsored by FTA and serves as one of the principal means by which the public transportation industry develops innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. TCRP provides useful reports and other tools to help public transportation practitioners solve problems and inform decision makers.

Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Technical Assistance Center (TAC)

(877) 827-7243 | PTASP-TAC@dot.gov

The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Technical Assistance Center (TAC) provides comprehensive technical assistance to help the transit industry meet PTASP regulation requirements at 49 C.F.R. Part 673. TAC provides one-on-one technical assistance, facilitates training and peer-sharing via live webinars and roundtables, conducts voluntary technical reviews of draft Agency Safety Plans, and maintains a resource library with technical assistance tools.

State-Level Coordination

Multi-State Technical Assistance Program

202-624-5800 | info@aashto.org

The Multi-State Technical Assistance Program (MTAP), administered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), provides 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. MTAP 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.