This National RTAP Technical Brief is a companion to the technical brief Getting Started: Creating a Vision and Strategy for Community Transportation. That preliminary document describes the process for building a foundation of values, needs, vision, strategy and community commitment for transit, one that ensures that the transit systems mission and goals are clearly stated and understood by all. The information in this technical brief outlines the important next steps: how the transit organization develops, designs and delivers its services. Developing, Designing and Delivering Community Transportation Services was originally created in 1994 and updated in 2022.

As a first step in updating its resources and training materials regarding the Section 5311(f) Intercity Bus Program, the National Rural Transit Assistance Program, (National RTAP), conducted a survey to assess the needs of rural and tribal public and private intercity bus operators, state programs, and other parties essential to the development of a connected bus network. Developed in conjunction with partners at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and with input from members of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) AP055 Rural, Intercity Bus, and Specialized Transportation Committee, the survey was designed to collect information that would enable National RTAP to and research needs of the industry. The result of the survey will be used to develop training resources and to provide technical assistance.

This National RTAP Technical Brief from the John Martin Series introduces concepts that will help transit leaders incorporate vision and values into decision-making, set goals and priorities, and make their agency’s mission statement a part of how and why they do business.  The tech brief was launched in 2009 and updated in 2021.