Public Transit

Training Resources


Library resources

The purpose of the library resources section is to provided transit vehicle operators, managers and the public with information regarding transit operations and safety. Below is a list of resources and common public transit acronyms.

Federal Transit Administration
United States Department of Transportation
State Library of Iowa
Weatherview: Current Iowa road and weather conditions
The Iowa Legislature
American Public Transportation Association
Iowa Public Transit Association
National Rural Transit Assistance Program
Community Transportation Association of America
Americans with Disabilities Act
FTA 101 – Introduction to Federal Transit Administration

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Training materials
The Iowa DOT's library is the repository for numerous Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) training materials and other state-funded training resources. These materials are available to public transit personnel, transit service contractors, and planning agencies via reservation by the transit system managers.

Transit library resources

Iowa Transit Fellowship Program

The Iowa DOT's Public Transit Section offers the Iowa Transit Fellowship Program, which provides training reimbursement to designated transit systems and planning agencies across Iowa. Fellowships for small urban transit systems, regional transit systems, and regional planning agencies are funded through the Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP), while fellowships for large urban transit systems and metropolitan planning organizations are funded through State Transit Assistance (STA) program.

Eligible transit or planning agencies seeking reimbursement for upcoming training must submit an Application for Public Transit Training Fellowship to the Public Transit Bureau two weeks before the training date. A Transit Request for Reimbursement must be submitted within 60 days after the event with the required receipts and documentation. Payments are made only to the applicant sponsoring transit system or planning agency. No individual payments are made, nor are any direct payments made to subcontractors. The request must be signed by the transit system’s designated signatory, transit manager or planning director if the request is for a planning agency. Fellowship payments to transit systems must also be reflected on year-end statistical reports.

More program information is included on the second page of the fellowship application and Chapter 12 of the Transit Manager’s Handbook.

The fellowship approval number must be included on the request form. Send the signed reimbursement request and necessary receipts to:

Public Transit
Attention: Administrative Assistant
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa 50010
Phone: (515) 233-7870
Fax: (515) 233-7983
 

Public Transit Operator Defensive Driver Training

Support a culture of defensive driving in your organization. This fast-paced, four-hour course, sponsored by the Iowa Public Transit Fellowship Program, was exclusively designed for the public transit drivers of Iowa by the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council, and is based on the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course. Your drivers will receive a training certificate from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council (IISC), reinforce existing driving skills, and heighten their awareness of defensive driving. New drivers and veterans up for their three-year recommended refresher will benefit from this course. Through interactive dialogue and self-motivated participation, drivers will have a chance to share their experiences, understand consequences, and benefit from the camaraderie that can only be found within the personal context of other drivers. Scheduling information is available below.

Training fellowships are available to Iowa Public transit agencies to host. Iowa public transit agencies are also able to utilize the IISC for additional online safety training. For more information, please go to: https://www.iisc.org/.

Board and Commission Training

This training focuses on the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of boards and commissions, as well as strategies to improve board effectiveness.

Board and Commission Training 101

Your Ticket To Safety: Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness

During the past few decades our nation and the entire world have seen the dramatic and deadly impact of bloodborne pathogens (i.e., AIDS and hepatitis). "Your Ticket To Safety: Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness" brochure is a handbook for transit professionals - providing a personal and ready reference for public transit system personnel, including managers, drivers, mechanics, other employees and service providers. Additional copies of the brochure are available through the Office of Public Transit. View the brochure below.


Video
Your Ticket To Safety - Bloodborne Pathogen Awareness video download

ADA refresher

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities. The FTA works to ensure nondiscriminatory transportation in support of the mission to enhance the social and economic quality of life for all Americans. The FTA's Office of Civil Rights is responsible for civil rights compliance and monitoring to ensure nondiscriminatory provision of transit services. The following resources provide information on:

  • Different service standards.
  • Fixed-route/Complimentary paratransit.
  • Demand-responsive transit.
  • Vehicle standards.
  • Facility standards.
  • Access to information

ADA technical assistance
Civil rights FAQ
Department of Justice ADA home page

Related public transit acronyms and abbreviations

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