Mark your calendars and make plans to join your rural transportation peers at the 2026 National Regional Transportation Conference! from July 20-22, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Development of the conference agenda is well underway, with sessions planned on project implementation, bike/ped, partnerships to advance safety, rural transit issues and mobile tours. NADO’s program affiliate RPO America and its leadership group, the National RPO Council of Peers, will hold a business meeting during the conference. All sessions will be eligible for AICP CM credits.
The Excellence in Regional Transportation Award, a program of NADO’s RPO America and the NADO Research Foundation, recognizes noteworthy projects and practices in rural, small metropolitan, and larger areas that help meet regional needs through various program areas across transportation modes. NADO members are encouraged to apply by April 10!
Carsharing is a transportation model where individuals have access to a fleet or a vehicle on a temporary basis. Instead of owning a car, people can rent vehicles for short periods and only pay for the time they use the vehicle and the distance they travel. This report identifies types of carshare programs that may develop in rural places, steps to start a program, and case studies of places and agencies where shared vehicle programs have become a rural mobility option.
Beginning in late 2017, the NADO Research Foundation and project partners Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University and the National Rural Transit Assistance Program conducted technical assistance related to rural transportation and rural development with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. USDA is an equal opportunity provider.
Technical assistance materials published by the team are available for review.
On May 12th, NADO hosted a virtual roundtable on tribal transit facilities. The session explored the full life cycle of transit facility grants, from early planning and project development to
Public transportation, especially in rural and tribal areas, is crucial for connecting people to jobs, education, healthcare, and much more. However, there are often several hurdles to bringing good and
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for approximately $657 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Passenger Ferry Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry
FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) NOFO – Now Open! The Department of Transportation released the FY26 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads
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The Thriving Communities Toolkit resources are organized around five core activities: Discover opportunities; Build a team; Develop a project; Get it financed; and Activate & manage infrastructure. Each section contains clickable links with more information and direct access to tools that support transportation and placemaking.