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
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/.
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
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
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
A & E – architectural and engineering
AASHTO – American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
APC – automatic passenger counters
APTA – American Public Transit Association
ARRA – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
ATF – Alcohol Testing Form (U.S. Department of Transportation's)
AVL – automatic vehicle location
BAPR – Buy American Act procurement requirement
BAT – Breath Alcohol Technician
BPPM – Best Practices Procurement Manual (Federal Transit Administration's)
C/TPA
– Consortium/Third Party Administrator
FDTCCF – Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form
CDL – commercial driver’s license
CFR – Code of Federal Regulations
CMAQ – Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
DATMIS – Drug Alcohol Testing Management Information System
DBE – disadvantaged business enterprise
DOT – Department of Transportation
EEO
– equal employment opportunity
FCC – Federal Communications Commission
FFY – federal fiscal year
FHWA – Federal Highway Administration
FMCSA – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
FR – Federal Register
FTA – Federal Transit Administration
FY – fiscal year
GIS – geographic information systems
GVWR – gross vehicle weight rating
HD –heavy-duty [bus]
ICAAP – Iowa's Clean Air Attainment Program
IPTA – Iowa Public Transit Association
IRS – Internal Revenue Service
JARC – Job Access and Reverse Commute (Program)
LD – light duty [bus]
LDI – locally determined income
LKS – like kind substitution
MIS – Management Information System
MPO – metropolitan planning organization
MRO – medical review officer
MSDS – Material Safety Data Sheets
MTAP – Multi-State Technical Assistance Program
NF – New Freedom (Program)
NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board
ODAPC – Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (U.S. DOT)
OIG – Office of Inspector General
OPT – Office of Public Transit (Iowa DOT)
OTRB – Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program
PTIG – Public Transportation Infrastructure Grants
PTMS – Public Transit Equipment and Facilities Management System
PTP – Passenger Transportation Plan
QBS – qualifications-based selection
QHSO – qualified human service organization
RFP – request for proposal
RFQ – request for qualifications
RPA – regional planning affiliations
RTAP – Rural Transit Assistance Program
SAFETA–LU – Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transport Act: A Legacy for Users
SAP – substance abuse professional
SCOPT – Standing Committee on Public Transit
SGR – State of Good Repair (Initiative)
SHPO – State Historic Preservation Office
SPR – statewide planning and research
STA – State Transit Assistance (Program)
STIP – Statewide Transportation Improvement Program
STP – Surface Transportation Program
STT – Screening Test Technician
TANF – temporary assistance to needy families
TEAM – transportation electronic management system
TDM – transportation demand management
TDP – transportation development plan
TIGER – Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Program)
TIGGER – Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (Program)
TIP – Transportation Improvement Program
TMA – transportation management association
TPMS – Transportation Program Management System
TPWP – Transportation Planning Work Program
TRB – Transportation Research Board
TVM – transit vehicle manufacturer
UHF – ultra-high frequency
ULS – Universal Licensing System
UZA – urbanized areas
VHF – very high frequency