Rural Transit Day in United State 2023: Date, History, Facts about Rural Transportation

Rural Transit Day is celebrated annually on July 16. The holiday was instituted by the National Rural Transit Assistance Programme (National R.T.P.) in 2019. This day concentrates on how transit agencies recognise their passengers and employees. Twitter hosts contests and conversations in which users discuss the benefits, challenges, and solutions of rural transit. Agencies are also encouraged to sign the Rural Transit Day Pledge to demonstrate their dedication to the cause and honour the rural transit heroes who labour alongside them.

The background of Rural Transit Day

Since 1979, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has provided formula funding to states for the establishment and maintenance of transit systems in communities with fewer than 50,000 residents. However, they quickly realised that providing quality service necessitated the drivers, dispatchers, maintenance employees, managers, and board members to possess specific skills and knowledge. Thus, in 1986, Congress authorised the establishment of the National R.T.A.P. for this purpose under Section 16(h) of the “Surface Transportation Act,” and the programme commenced operations on July 1, 1987.

Since then, they have developed and disseminated training materials, provided technical assistance, developed web-based applications, produced reports, published best practises, conducted research, and provided peer support to rural and tribal transit providers and state R.T.A.P. programmes. The programme aimed to improve the quality of training and technical assistance resources available to the industry, encourage and assist state, local, and peer networks to address training and technical assistance needs, promote the coordination of transportation services, and create a national database of industry data.

They provide free programmes and resources for technical assistance, such as training materials, webinars, newsletters and technical briefs, peer resources, research, and innovative technology initiatives. Between 1992 and 2008, the F.T.A. and the Neponset Valley Transportation Management Association operated the National R.T.A.P. under a cooperation agreement. In 1994, the Achievements in Rural Transit Assistance Awards were established. In 2012, they held the inaugural National R.T.A.P. Technical Assistance Conference. The first Rural Transit Day and Tribal Transit Awards were hosted in 2019, and the first Tribal Transit Mini-Conference was held in 2021.

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5 Interesting Facts Regarding Rural Transportation

The majority of rural transit vehicles, 69%, are owned by a public agency on behalf of the service provider.

Rural transit agencies provided 495 million kilometres and 28 million service hours in 2013.

By 2013, 79% of counties offered some form of rural transit service.

The average number of vehicles in a rural transit provider’s fleet is 16.7.

Compared to 10% of urban residents, only 4% of rural households lack a vehicle due to a dearth of infrastructure and limited public transportation options.

RURAL TRANSIT DAY DATES