Scholarship Program Objectives :
The Division of Public Transportation, through the Rural Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP), is providing funding for training to improve transit operations and management skills. Scholarships are available to provide assistance to help cover some of the cost of eligible training opportunities.

Eligible Training :
Eligible training includes transit-related and general management courses, workshops, seminars, short-courses and conferences with a major training component. All requests for scholarship support must identify the specific training needs and learning objectives that will be met by attending the event.
 

Training Resources: Common resources include National RTAP,  CTAA, and NTI.

Eligibility :
Scholarship requests must be approved prior to attending training.

Rural transit providers receiving Section 5311 & 5311(f) funds have RTAP funding for the current grant year with prior approval in-state or out-of-state training. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis, until funding is depleted.

Other applicants may be eligible for approved training as long as there is a direct benefit to RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION and funding is available. First time applicants may be given preference, and to ensure equitable distribution of RTAP funds throughout the state, conference participation may be limited to one person per agency. Applicants may include operations staff and managers, including volunteers, board members and others closely associated with planning, managing and operating public transit programs.

The following is a list, in no particular order, of eligible applicants.
  •  Past recipients of federal FTA funds;
  •  Senior center transportation staff;
  •  City and County officials;
  •  Council of government representatives;
  •  Private Non-Profit human service transportation staff;
  •  Private providers who are under contract with recipients of FTA funds;
  •  Others with a close relationship to the provision of public transportation in their community.

Ineligible Applicants :
Individuals without a benefit to RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION will not be considered.

Scholarship Requirements :
Individuals receiving scholarships will agree to share the information learned with other transportation professionals. Sharing can include writing articles for dissemination, participating in training programs, providing peer assistance or other identified sharing techniques.

Scholarship applications are signed agreements which assure conformance to state and federal laws and other rules / guidelines and issues including potential tax liability. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement may preclude the applicant from future RTAP awards.

Scholarship Award :
For Rural Transit Section 5311 providers, the RTAP Scholarship program can pay costs associated with attending a training event, including registration fees, transportation, lodging and meals.  Reimbursable limits for per diem and lodging expenses at major destination locations can be checked on the U.S. General Services Administration travel management website.  Expenses for locations not listed here are constrained to Idaho's in-state limits.  Reimbursable expenses are reported on an RTAP Travel Reimbursement Request form.

Other applicants, based on the availability of funds, are eligible for assistance with registration fees only, to a maximum of $500 as long as there is a benefit to RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION .

Scholarship awards are paid on a cost reimbursement basis to the transit agency wherever possible based on the actual expenses. Receipts or copies of receipts for certain expenses will be required. The scholarship reimbursement will be limited to the State of Idaho reimbursement rates and may not exceed the approved amount without approval from the Division of Public Transportation. Expenses not covered by the scholarship or other ineligible costs will be borne by the recipient or their agency.

Recipients are responsible for making all travel and registration arrangements.

For more information, call Cheri Elms at 800-527-7985 or 208-332-7876.
 

Forms include:

RTAP Training Scholarship Application        Budget Form        Travel Reimbursement Request Form

and should be submitted to:

Cheri Elms
Division of Public Transportation
P.O. Box 7129
Boise ID 83707-1129