FTA ADMINISTRATOR’S CONNECTING RURAL COMMUNITIES AWARDS

Request for Nominations

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) invites your nominations of rural transit systems to be considered for the FTA Administrator’s Connecting Rural Communities Awards. The awards will be presented during the 24th National Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation Virtual Conference on October 25-27, 2021. 

Any local, rural transit provider receiving assistance under the Section 5311 Program may be nominated for the award. FTA will accept self-nominations but encourages letters of support from the State transit associations and/or State Department of Transportations. Nominations will be based on rural transit providers that demonstrate how their transit system improves access to vital services, advances equity, and addresses the needs and challenges of rural transit infrastructure.

Award recipients will be expected to participate virtually during the conference where they will be honored and will have an opportunity to share the secrets of their success with other conference attendees.

The nomination must include the following information:

• System’s formal name, operating name (if different), address, contact person, and phone number
• Identification of the person who will represent the system at the rural conference (name, title, address, phone number, fax, email)
• Brief (not to exceed one page) background information about the system (for example: history, service area and operating characteristic, fleet size, operating statistics, annual budget, and Section 5311 funding description)
• Brief (not to exceed 2 pages) description of the accomplishments deserving national recognition. Nominations must directly address the following: 

• Demonstrate how the service provides assistance and access to vital services during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Demonstrate how the service advanced equity for all, including individuals who have been historically underserved and adversely affected by persistent poverty or income inequality; and
• Demonstrate how the service has addressed the needs and challenges of rural transit infrastructure to enhance safety.

Letters of support and marketing materials may be attached. Send your nominations and supporting material via email to your regional office by September 24, 2021 clearly marked AWARD NOMINATION.

The regional office will make recommendations to headquarters. Upon receipt, the FTA Awards committee will review the nominations and make final recommendations to the Administrator. Award recipients will be notified prior to the conference and should plan to attend virtually. The Notification of Awardees are expected by mid-October 2021.

Questions may be addressed to your regional office, Élan Flippin at Elan.Flippin@dot.gov, or Sarah Clements at Sarah.Clements@dot.gov.

FTA Regional Office Contacts

REGION I - Michael.Burns1@dot.gov

 REGION II - Adam.Klein@dot.gov

or Ayla.Schermer@dot.gov

REGION III - Kathleen.Zubrzycki@dot.gov

REGION IV - Robert.Buckley@dot.gov

REGION V - Evan.Gross@dot.gov

REGION VI - Luciana.Nears@dot.gov

REGION VII - Mark.Bechtel@dot.gov

REGION VIII - Cindy.Terwilliger@dot.gov

or David.Beckhouse@dot.gov

REGION IX - Ted.Matley@dot.gov

REGION X - Kristine.Ziglar@dot.gov

For full details and how to submit:

www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/grant-programs/2018-fta-administrator%E2%80%99s-award-outstanding-public-service

Questions: Contact Élan Flippin at Elan.Flippin@dot.gov or Sarah Clements at Sarah.Clements@dot.gov.