State RTAP Manager's Toolkit

State RTAP Managers organize conferences and roadeos, and often provide scholarships so subrecipients can attend these events as well. Many State RTAPs hold regular conferences, either on their own or in partnership with other organizations. Most of the time the other organization is a State Transit Association, but it may also include other government entities, other states, non-profits, universities, and vendors. Approximately 27 states host a roadeo, and of those, 75% indicated that they host it in conjunction with other organizations, most often with state transit associations. Some states prefer to partner with a transit agency or non-profit. Conferences are ideal venues for communicating with subrecipients, gathering information about needs (such as training and technical assistance), and reminding subrecipients about the programs and services that the State RTAP has to offer.

RTAP Managers share best practices for conference planning:

• Florida RTAP does a formal needs assessment and holds informal conversations to see what the transit agencies want to learn about.  In addition to their own conferences, they host sponsored sessions at other statewide conferences.
• The Illinois RTAC moves its conference to different parts of the state each year.
• Colorado RTAP/CASTA tailors its conference to the needs of its audience.  For example, if there are many new transit managers, there will be a session on Transit 101.
• Connecticut RTAP conferences have different tracks, such as leadership, operations, and administration.
• Michigan has an Annual Statewide Conference for all frontline staff, such as drivers, mechanics, and dispatchers. Michigan also hosts a statewide Transit Vehicle Maintenance Seminar. 
• Biennially Minnesota RTAP provides a 'Transit Managers Skills Workshop' training and a leadership development program on alternate years. 

Roadeos are typically held in conjunction with conferences but may also be stand-alone events. Drivers are recognized and rewarded for their performance in front of their supervisors and peers, which can boost morale and help with driver retention. These contests also serve as training opportunities for drivers and maintenance technicians where knowledge can be shared between participants and experts are often on hand to answer questions. Some states have regional roadeos whose winners then compete in state roadeos. State roadeo winners may go on to compete nationally or internationally, in roadeos like the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Bus Roadeo. The most common type of roadeo is the traditional bus roadeo, in which drivers compete by driving through a series of obstacles, performing safety checks, and other events such as wheelchair securement. National RTAP has produced the Bus Roadeo Toolkit, a guide to organizing and judging this type of roadeo. National RTAP also published a Best Practices Spotlight Article on Driver Training Best Practices: Bootcamps and Bus Roadeos, with examples of thriving roadeos in Nebraska, Connecticut, and Montana.

Less common is the maintenance roadeo. Arizona, Florida, Washington, Tennessee and other State RTAPs have held maintenance roadeos, testing maintenance employees’ knowledge of van maintenance, electronics, and equipment diagnosis.  It can sometimes be challenging for agencies to give up their maintenance staff for a day to attend, however.

California RTAP recommends having a roadeo over the weekend when drivers are more likely to be available. New Mexico RTAP suggests having special events for drivers. Texas RTAP schedules their roadeo at the beginning of their conference. They have successfully made it a fun, family event through the State Transit Association’s independent funding for additional activities and refreshments.  Michigan RTAP provides RTAP funding for food for the roadeo held by the Michigan Association of Transportation Systems (MASSTrans) and Michigan DOT provides additional funding.

State RTAPs typically provide scholarships for rural providers in the state to attend either in-state or out-of-state conferences and roadeos. See the Scholarships section of this Toolkit for more information.

Updated February 3, 2026