Find Anything Toolkit

Peer support is an excellent way to gain intimate knowledge of an aspect of the transit industry. Generally, to take advantage of peer support, a rural or tribal transit employee or State DOT staff-person contacts an organization with a peer network, explains their needs, and is connected to an industry professional who can provide a level of mentorship and guidance. A peer support request may entail a simple interaction, such as through an email or phone conversation, or it may involve a more comprehensive conversation about anything from starting up a transit agency to understanding what information to include in an effective grant proposal. Transit agencies who use peer support can save time and money by gaining skilled knowledge from one expert at a time.

This section of the Find Anything Toolkit contains information on: (click on any of these links to jump to a section)

• Online Dialogues and Forums
• Technical Assistance Resources
• State DOT Peer Resources
• University Transportation Centers

Online Dialogues and Forums

Online dialogues are excellent tools for acquiring information and public opinion on a specific topic, and for allowing transit agencies and state personnel to have an active say in the formulation of regulations and best practices. Dialogues and forums are an effective way to network and form partnerships.

National RTAP offers peer networks for rural transit managers, State RTAP managers, tribal transit managers, mobility managers, intercity transportation providers. Peer support services include all aspects of operating a rural and tribal transit agency or a State RTAP program. Visit the Connect with Us page and contact National RTAP to make a request for, or to be, a peer.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Transit Management is a network of state personnel, the primary purpose of which is to help states implement Federal Transit Administration Programs, provide feedback to FTA on implementation issues and best practices and to create a professional network to share best practices, receive technical assistance, and obtain new ideas from other states. States must become paying members to belong to MTAP.  AASHTO Peer Exchanges are a regulatory requirement for State DOT departments of research, development and technology. 

The Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board includes an American Transit Discussion Forum.
 

FTA offers a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) Community of Practice. The Community includes at PTASP Technical Assistance Forum and a State Safety Oversight PTASP Forum. FTA's TAM Peer Library is a resource to exchange information about transit asset management.
 

National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Peer Networks meet to exchange ideas and experiences both online and in-person.
 

U.S. DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office ITS Peer Program provides short-term technical assistance to agencies facing ITS planning, procurement, deployment, and operational challenges.

US DOT's Transportation Planning Capacity Building (TPCB) Peer Exchange - One-on-one site visits and small-group discussion of specific, shared transportation planning issues that respond to agencies' direct needs.