The National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) is a not-for-profit organization representing and serving the 52 LTAP and TTAP Member-Centers in the United States and Puerto Rico. All staff of Member-Centers are entitled to Association services and opportunities to serve.

What does NLTAPA do?

The Association’s main objectives are to build awareness about LTAP in the transportation community, assist FHWA with developing strategies for the Program, and build the capacity of each Center to best meet the needs of its customers.

The Association manages six work groups:

  • Communications: Encompasses both internal and external communication efforts; and ensures collaboration between NLTAPA and Centers, strong communications amongst the member centers of the Association, and represents Centers to FHWA, our external partners, elected officials, other national Associations and the transportation community. The Communications work group manages the NLTAPA website as a key marketing and communications tool for the Association.
  • Innovation and Implementation: Works to find, promote, and support innovation of interest to the local and tribal highway community.
  • Partnerships: Develops, nurtures, and evaluates national and international NLTAPA business partnerships that benefit member centers.
  • Training Resources: Identifies LTAP-TTAP training needs, current available resources, opportunities for new products, development strategies, and funding sources for new products.
  • Safety: Helps Centers implement training and safety initiatives to reduce the risk of roadway fatalities and serious injuries across the country; and provides Centers with the resources to take their skills beyond the scope of their current safety program.
  • Professional Development: Provides services and resources to improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of LTAP-TTAP Center leaders and staff.

These work groups, with members from NLTAPA elected representatives and the general membership, produce most of the Association’s tangible results. Each work group develops an annual plan and budget.

How do LTAP Centers benefit from membership?

NLTAPA members enjoy a range of benefits, including but not limited to:

  • a voice for the Centers in Washington
  • resources for LTAP Centers and staff to grow as professionals – and to better serve their customers
  • new products for customers
  • discounts from, and collaborations with, partners

How is NLTAPA structured?

The Association is guided by its Constitution and led by its elected representatives, one for each of the 8 LTAP regions. Each representative serves a 3-year term and is elected at his or her LTAP region’s Spring meeting. The regional representatives and officers comprise NLTAPA’s Executive Committee (EC) which meets four times a year and has monthly conference calls.

The officers of the Association are President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Both the Secretary and Treasurer are nominated by the EC. The Vice President is elected from the general membership of NLTAPA, and is a successive office transitioning after one year to President-Elect, and then one year as President.

Association Business Meetings take place twice a year – a winter meeting in January and a summer meeting at the National LTAP/TTAP Conference each July.

How do the Association and FHWA work together?

NLTAPA works in concert with FHWA’s Center for Local Aid Support (CLAS) to help guide the overall LTAP program. Through CLAS, FHWA provides direct services, support and stewardship to LTAP/TTAP, including assistance for national NLTAPA activities and annual Program conference and meetings. FHWA also provides operational and informational support to Centers through CLAS.

FHWA staff participate in Executive Committee meetings and conference calls. The Association is represented on FHWA’s Strategic Planning Committee, which guides the strategic direction of the Program and develops reporting tools.

How is NLTAPA funded?

The Association receives its funding from membership dues.

Who are NLTAPA's partners?

The Association also has formal partnerships with:

  • National Association of County Engineers (NACE)
  • American Public Works Association (APWA)
  • American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
  • National Transportation Training Directors (NTTD)

NLTAPA partnerships increase awareness of LTAP in the transportation profession and add value to LTAP Centers and the partner organizations by sharing expertise, efforts, and resources.

How does a Center become a member of NLTAPA?

Member-Centers pay annual dues determined by the membership – currently $750. Invoices are sent to Centers in September.

How many votes does each Center have?

Each Center with paid dues has one vote on official Association business.

How do NLTAPA and its members communicate?

Communication is vital in assuring the Association is responsive to member needs. Members can keep up with Association business by reading minutes from meetings and conference calls. Minutes are posted at nltapa.org. In addition, regional representatives are expected to communicate with the Centers in their regions on a regular basis.

Regional representatives also facilitate communication back to the Association from Center directors and staff. Members can also communicate about NLTAPA issues via the NLTAPA Google Group or with any elected representative or officer. And of course, a great resource is NLTAPA’s website.

What is at the NLTAPA Website?

The Association’s website contains official documents, meeting minutes, names and contact information for elected regional representatives and officers, links to partners and stakeholders, reports on major Association initiatives, and products developed for the Centers by the Association.

How can I get involved?

The Association needs committed and active members to be successful. Let any elected representative know if you would like to participate on an NLTAPA work group or project. If you are interested in being an elected representative yourself, offer your name as a candidate at your Spring LTAP regional meeting when it’s time for a new election.

 

For more information…
Contact your regional LTAP representative.