About NLTAPA
Q and A

A primer for LTAP members

What is NLTAPA?

The National Local Technical Assistance Program Association (NLTAPA) is a not-for-profit organization representing and serving the 58 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.

In 2005, the Association formed six work groups:

Training and resource development. Identifies LTAP/TTAP training needs, opportunities for new products, and funding sources for these products.
Professional development for Center staff. Provides opportunities for Centers to improve internal staff and trainer capacity.
Program strategy and evaluation. Advises FHWA on Program needs, helps devise National Program initiatives, and communicates Program accomplishments.
External communications. Represents Centers to FHWA, our external partners, elected officials, national associations and the transportation community.
Partnerships. Develops, nurtures and evaluates national and international NLTAPA business partnerships that benefit member Centers.
Internal communications. Develops strong communications in the Association.

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 10 LTAP regions. Each representative serves a 3-year term and is elected at his or her LTAP region's Spring meeting. The 10 representatives comprise NLTAPA's Executive Committee (EC) which meets four times a year and has monthly conference calls.

The officers of the Association are the President, Secretary and Treasurer. Both the President and Secretary are nominated by the Executive Committee, elected by the Centers, and serve one-year terms. The Treasurer is selected by the EC from the general membership of NLTAPA.

Association meetings take place twice a year - a winter meeting in January, in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting, and at the LTAP National Conference each July.

How do the Association and FHWA work together?

NLTAPA works in concert with FHWA's Office of Professional and Corporate Development (OPCD) in Arlington, VA, to help guide the overall LTAP program. Through OPCD, 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 its LTAP/TTAP Clearinghouse, under contract.

FHWA and Clearinghouse 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, and FHWA's Clearinghouse Steering Committee, which helps guide and evaluate LTAP Clearinghouse services.

How is NLTAPA funded?

The Association receives its funding from membership dues and also receives some financial and administrative assistance from FHWA.

Who are NLTAPA's partners?

The Association also has formal partnerships with:

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 $300. 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 LTAP.org. Members are notified on T2ALL when new minutes are posted. 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 T2ALL 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...

Visit LTAP.org or contact your regional LTAP representative.

About NLTAPAQ and A