Sunday, August 14

Zero Fare Subcommittee

Registration

Technology Standards Policy and Planning Committee

Fare Collections 101

• Christina Belmont, Vice President of Marketing, SDI, Chicago, IL

• Nancy Brooks, Specialist Master/Manager, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Rosslyn, VA
• Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Douglas D Deckert, PMP, CSCIP, Fare Collection Systems Specialist, WSP USA, Philadelphia, PA
• Alex Litchfield, Vice President, Business Development, Bytemark, Inc., New York, NY

Innovation Officer Peer Exchange

Lunch on your Own

Fare Collection Systems Committee

Information Technology Subcommittee

Research & Technology Committee

APTAtech Conference Program and Planning Committee

Technologies for Vehicle Automation and Connectivity Subcommittee

Monday, August 15

Continental Breakfast

Registration

Opening Session and Keynote Presentation

Artificial intelligence and robotics are creating major changes in the way people live and work, and transit is no exception. Ideas that were once science fiction are now becoming research prototypes and even deployed systems. This talk will examine some of these upcoming changes through example research being conducted in university labs and out in the world. One of the best aspects of transit is that it serves the whole community, including people who do not have the option to drive personal vehicles. This talk will focus heavily on the potential for AI and robotics to provide inclusive service and create new ways for transit personnel to help riders reach their destinations.

• Aaron Steinfeld, Associate Research Professor, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

• Tracey D Trexel, Leader, Transit & Tolling, Amazon Web Services, Kirkland, WA

Beyond Account-Based Ticketing

We all know there’s more to Account-Based Ticketing than meets the eye! During this session, presenters will examine the ins and outs of account-based ticketing and what the future might hold as fare collection technologies continue to evolve.

• Michelle Picard Cousins, Manager- Emerging Systems, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, ON

• Peter C. Comps, Fare Collection Systems Specialist, WSP USA, Chicago, IL
• Tonya R. Anderson, PMP, Sr Project Manager, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO

Safety and Security Technologies for Transit

The purpose of APTA’s Safety, Security & Risk Subcommittee is to support and connect transit agencies on the path to acceptance and implement new technologies to mitigate potential safety challenges.  During this session, presenters will discuss implementing new technologies to improve safety in transit and rail systems, including presentation on new technologies, the necessities of using the technologies to overcome safety and, the government funding and support for implementing technologies to improve safety.  

• Alireza Edraki, MASc, LLM, PEng, PMP, Sr. Program Director, Wabtec Corporation, Jacksonville, FL

• Mihir Phadke, Senior Product Manager, Wi-Tronix, Bolingbrook, IL
• David L. Mayer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, Washington, DC
• Tara Lanigan, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation, Ann Arbor, MI

Emerging & Innovative Technologies

Presenters will discuss new technologies being used to support innovative mobility solution alternatives as well as equitable transportation outcomes. This session will highlight new technologies for proactively addressing vehicle maintenance items and operations and also improving real-time vehicle arrival times for customers. Other topics include ride sharing, cost/contract tracing, first and last mile services, round trip planning and other functions related to new mobility solutions.

• Molly E Poppe, Chief Innovation Officer, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL

• Krish Inbarajan, CEO, Preteckt, Inc., Memphis, TN
• Gary J Rosenfeld, CEO, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Memphis, TN
• Christine Mongeau, Partnerships, Transit app, Montreal, QC
• Blossom Albuquerque, Database Administrator, DevOps, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA

Small Agency Opportunities and Challenges

Small transit agencies have unique challenges. During this session, presenters will address how small agencies are overcoming the issues of limited staff and budgets. Join us in discussing the unique programs keeping agencies running and thriving and how these agencies are deploying the latest technologies.

• Alex Litchfield, Vice President, Business Development, Bytemark, Inc., New York, NY

• James C. Keel, Director, Greenville Transit Authority, Greenville, SC
• Zachary Karson, Manager, Manager, Rebel Group, Washington, DC

Product Showcase and Lunch

Join us in the Product Showcase for lunch. Introduce yourself to the exhibitors, network with colleagues and don’t forget to bring plenty of business cards to exchange.

Fireside Chat: Future of Fare Collection & Beyond

Come settle in by the fire and join us to learn the ins-and-outs of fare collection. Hang out as we discover how today’s superstar subject matter experts started in the field, how they overcome daily challenges, and where they see the future of fare collection. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear and ask questions of the best and brightest in the industry.

• Christina Belmont, Vice President of Marketing, SDI, Chicago, IL

• Tonya R. Anderson, PMP, Sr Project Manager, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
• Erica Brown, Senior Account Manager, INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc., North Vancouver, BC
• Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Sheri Dixon, Director of Revenue, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA

Using Systems Engineering for Deployment of Technology Projects

Join us for an interactive session learning more about using systems engineering processes for deploying transit technology projects. This session includes presentations on best practices and an overview of a guidebook for assisting you when deploying technology projects at your agency.

• Bridgette A. Beato, Chief Executive Officer, Lumenor Consulting Group, Alpharetta, GA

• David Jackson, Industry Solutions Executive, TransTrack Solutions Group, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Dale A Brown, P.Eng., Director - Systems Engineering Rail & Transit, Hatch, LA GRANGE, IL
• Hannah Gildar, Business Consultant, Lumenor Consulting Group, Alpharetta, GA

Case in Point: Real-World Learnings from Agencies

One of the most powerful things about working in transit is learning from each other! This is extremely important for those working in fare collection—a  unique niche. In this session, presenters will highlight case studies from agencies pursuing innovative revenue collection solutions and exploring struggles around moving to new technology. Presenters will also review challenges, opportunities and lessons learned—come learn from agencies of various sizes from across the US.

• Bonnie Crawford, VP & General Manager, Umo, Cubic Transportation Systems, San Diego, CA

• Sophia Maletz Franklyn, Director, Fare Revenue & Administrative Services, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
• Chris Mahood, Director of IT, Regional Transit Service, Rochester, NY
• Robert Villar, Chief Financial Officer, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL

Cybersecurity Considerations for Transit

This session will show explain what cyber vulnerability means for public transit agencies. See how agencies put new cybersecurity emphasis on applications and technologies and  also a cybersecurity culture throughout all parts of the agency. Presenters will show the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in the ever-evolving cyber landscape.

• Steve Young, Vice President of Technology & Innovation, VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, TX

• Eric Keijzer, T.Y. Lin International, Inc., Lansdale, PA
• Christos Karanicolas, Senior Vice President of Engineering, Clever Devices Ltd., Woodbury, NY
• Timothy Coogan, Chief Information Security Officer, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO

APTAtech Technical Tour #1: Commuter Rail Technology

RTD is one of the first agencies in the country to implement Positive Train Control [PTC] on a new build under the revised FRA requirements. Come see one of RTD’s new commuter rail vehicles and hear about the technology elements powering commuter rail operations from implementation through operations and maintenance. Participants will meet at the Sheraton, take to Mall Shuttle and go to Track 7 at Denver Union Station for this tour by an RTD docent. This 90-minute tour includes travel time via Mall Shuttle to Denver Union Station, tour of Commuter Rail Vehicle and return to hotel.

APTAtech Technical Tour #2: CAD/AVL Systems and RTD Bus Operations Dispatch

Innovations in Fare Technology

This is a great opportunity to learn more about some of the next generation fare technologies! Join us for this session going over everything from new technology procurement to the impact of its implementation. We’ll be taking a deep dive into how new solutions affect a transit agency, from agency operations to its impact on ridership.

 

• Don Russell, Director Public Sector, Elavon, Bear, DE

• Antoine Belaieff, Lead, North America, Fairtiq, Bern, Switzerland

• Edward Meng, Principal Program Coordinator, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, San Francisco, CA
• Mirza Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA

Reimagining Technology Workforce: Innovating for Equity and a Diverse Talent Pool

Join us in an engaging and interactive discussion on how emerging technology and innovative applications help to support diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Advances in credentialing, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), augmented reality (AR), and digital work instructions are helping to make the industry rethink existing hiring practices and create more equitable education and workforce spaces.

• Alesia Cain, Head of Umo Solutions and Market Development, Cubic Transportation Systems, New York, NY

• Mark Godin, Strategic Account Executive, Trapeze Group, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Sheila Jordan, Managing Partner, Knowledge Architects, LLC, Mableton, GA
• Monica F. DaCosta, Chief Officer, Operations Training, MTA New York City Transit, Brooklyn, NY
• Geeta Verma, Ph.D., Professor and Co-Editor in Chief, Journal of Science Teacher Education (JSTE), University of Colorado at Denver, Denver, CO

Welcome Reception and Product Showcase

Join us in the Product Showcase as we celebrate the return of the APTAtech Conference. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones. This event is open to all conference registrants.

 

Tuesday, August 16

Continental Breakfast

Registration

Cal-ITP: Its Purpose and Its Progress

California’s residents and visitors face a disaggregated public transportation network that is often not as friendly to use as it could be and is costly to operate. To address these issues and improve the current mobility system, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and its partners are working on an initiative to facilitate easy and accessible travel planning and payments across California. This project, knows as the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), is for making travel simpler and more cost-effective for all. The initiative is a new way of looking at procurement and technology—come learn more about Cal-ITP's purpose, selection process, and progress.

• Adam Tresh McGavock, Business Development Manager, Littlepay, London, United Kingdom

• Gillian Gillette, Program Manager, California Integrated Mobility, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Sacramento, CA
• Lilly Shoup, AICP, Managing Director, Rebel Group, San Francisco, CA

Micropositioning

Accurate locations of vehicles is key to efficient and cost-effective operations. This presentation will cover the sensors commercially available technologies for vehicle positioning such as IMUs, GNSS, UWB, LiDAR and computer vision. It will also cover using these technologies for improving yard management and CAD/AVL as well as research projects in Europe and North America aiming to improve train location for vital and non-vital applications.

• Jon Adams, P.E., Communications Systems Practice Lead, HDR, Phoenix, AZ

• Robert James, Executive Technology Innovation Advisor, New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT)
• Shawn Harper, Technical Solutions Consultant, Vontas, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Joffrey Lauthier, Vice President, Control Systems, WSP USA, San Jose, CA

Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) Roundtable - Making the Case for Innovation

The role of the Chief Innovation Officer is to not only manage the process for innovation in their organization, but to also originate new and innovative ideas, as well as drive opportunities for innovation across their transit agency. How do CINOs tackle their role? How do they integrate with fare payments and technology? Join us for a lively dialog and learn from this exciting group on CINOs—we’ll dive in and discuss how they approach collaboration, what does their strategy look like, as well as how they create buy-in across the agency’s leadership team and Board.

• Manjit Kaur Sooch, Director of Innovation and Technology, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA

• Molly E Poppe, Chief Innovation Officer, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
• Steve Young, Vice President of Technology & Innovation, VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, TX
• Mary Leary, Ph.D., Acting Associate Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Gregory Elsborg, Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX

Cloud Infrastructure Application in Transit

What is the role of today’s enterprise public and private cloud markets in Transit? How do cloud platforms have adequate solutions for security, access, and storage? This session will provide examples of cloud-based transit technologies using AWS, Azure, Google cloud and other cloud deployments.

• Ravindra Misra, Assistant General Manager Technology / CIO, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA

• Steve Young, Vice President of Technology & Innovation, VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio, TX
• Tracey D Trexel, Leader, Transit & Tolling, Amazon Web Services, Kirkland, WA
• Matthew Weidner, Strategic Planning and Systems Analysis - Demand Responsive Transportation, King County Metro , Seattle, WA

Ridership, Rewarding Your Riders, and Community Benefits

Rewards programs can be an effective means to attract and retain ridership, improve loyalty, and help travelers feel better about their choice to use public transportation. As we work to bring back ridership, we can learn from “fun” strategies such as gamification to appeal to a wider audience. Mobile devices have given agencies new ways to engage with their riders that were unimaginable just ten years ago. One way to deepen the agency/rider relationship is by integrating rewards and incentive programs into their fare payment and passenger information systems—learn from a couple agencies that have had success.

• Sheri Dixon, Director of Revenue, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA

• Jacob Labutka, Senior Planner, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
• Angela Michele Ubben, UMO Senior Program Manager, Cubic Transportation Systems, Louisville, KY
• Doug Bermudez, Chief, EASY Card & Transit Service Centers, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Roundtable Luncheon – Casting Visions of the Future

 

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

• Carl G. Sedoryk, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Monterey, CA
• Kevin J. Holzendorf, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Debra A. Johnson, General Manager and CEO, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
• Robert M. Powers, General Manager, BART, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA

• Jannett M. Walker-Ford, Senior Vice President & National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA, Jacksonville, FL

Digitization of Cash: Is Cash a Thing of the Past?

With the onset of the pandemic, digitization of cash went from a buzzword-like concept to reality overnight. As many agencies continue to transition to cashless payments, there are a number of ethical, equity, community, and policy issues that bubble up to the surface. Come learn from agencies as they illustrate what they have done, and how their rider community has responded.

• Michael J Veltri, Vice President, TRS Facilities, WSP USA, Pittsburgh, PA

• Nicholas Mantia, Project Manager, Mobility as a Service, Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority, Dayton, OH
• Michelle Whitney, Manager of Revenue Operations, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
• Eric Kaled, President, Genfare, Elk Grove Village, IL

ZEB Technology and Data Integration Management

What are the best practices and latest experiences in the industry for Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) technologies to manage and plan for operations, evaluate service performance, etc.? What are some success stories? Attend this session to learn more about planning and managing your ZEB Fleet.

• David Jackson, Industry Solutions Executive, TransTrack Solutions Group, Cedar Rapids, IA

• Dr. Paola Massoli, Project Manager, Microgrid Labs Inc, Boulder, CO
• Mx. Adrienne Heller, Associate, Cambridge Systematics, Inc., Denver, CO
• Manjit Kaur Sooch, Director of Innovation and Technology, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA

Equity in Fare Collection: Are the Fairest Fares Zero Fares?

As more agencies move away from cash and adopt new fare technologies, issues of equity and inclusion are coming to the forefront. This panel presentation will address challenges agencies are facing related to prioritizing equity and its impact to our communities while they consider new revenue collection technologies and business models.

• Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

• Ashley Hightower, Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• Mary Buchanan, Research Manager, TransitCenter, Inc., New York, NY

Microtransit & Demand Response

What can technology do to ease the burden of managing and operating paratransit, also known as paratransit, systems? Although there are a number of well-developed ITS technologies available that have direct application, there is more to be done to make it all work together. What is out there and what is on the horizon?

 

• Geoff Colbath, TransLoc Inc., Durham, NC

• Stuart Crust, Director Business Development, TransTrack Solutions Group, Cedar Rapids, IA

• Matthew Weidner, Strategic Planning and Systems Analysis - Demand Responsive Transportation, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
• Gregory Elsborg, Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
• Paul Comfort, Esq., Executive Director, North American Transit Alliance, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Carlos Cruz-Casas, P.E., Chief Innovation Officer, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL

Federal Transit Administration Strategic Transit Automation Research (STAR) Plan Update

• Christina Belmont, Vice President of Marketing, SDI, Chicago, IL

• Gwo-Wei Torng, Ph.D., Director, Mobility Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Justin John, Transportation Program Specialist, Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Wednesday, August 17

Continental Breakfast

Registration

Connected and Automated Vehicles

The evolution of connected and autonomous vehicle technology continues rapidly and is becoming increasingly important to all segments of transportation. This presentation will explore the impacts and effects of this technology in public transportation.  Are there collaborative deployments by transit agencies and their partners that look to improve communities, safety, and services that these innovative technologies provide? As an example, can an agency work with the traffic department for sharing of fiber optic cables?

• William Tsuei, PMP, CPA, CSM, Director of Information Technology, Access Services, El Monte, CA

• Amit Sidhaye, ITS Director, T.Y. Lin International, Inc., Lansdale, PA
• Maureen Marshall, Senior Director, CALSTART, Pasadena, CA
• Jacob Labutka, Senior Planner, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL

Special Fare Programs: Bringing Ridership Back

As we move out of the pandemic and things start returning to normal, more and more people are returning to the office. What is your agency doing to encourage riders to return? This presentation will examine how ridership is faring and what agencies are doing to convince riders to return to their system.

• Alex Litchfield, Vice President, Business Development, Bytemark, Inc., New York, NY

• Abubakr Ziedan, Graduate Research Assistant, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• Tami Coleman, Revenue Manager, Whatcom Transportation Authority, Bellingham, WA

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Roundtable - CIOs Delivering and Enabling Transit Innovation and Transformation

Come and engage with some of the most forward-looking CIOs in the transit industry as we examine the forces impacting the delivery of transit technology. Organizational changes moving technology to become more democratized across the enterprise has pushed leaders in the field to become enablers for efficiency, growth, and resiliency.  CEOs expect their technology leaders to collaborate and innovate to drive growth and provide more direct digital pathways to connect with their customers. CIOs are expected to have the acuity to recognize opportunities to introduce new technologies which will allow for value creation. During this discussion, we will share how these industry-leading transit agencies are not only modernizing legacy systems but also helping to shift the organizational mindset to redefine IT as we know it.  

• Alesia Cain, Head of Umo Solutions and Market Development, Cubic Transportation Systems, New York, NY

• Mirza Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
• Dr. Julius Smith, VP & Chief Information Officer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
• Tanya Acevedo, Senior Vice President and CIO, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
• Ravindra Misra, Assistant General Manager Technology / CIO, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA

Closing Session

• David Jackson, Industry Solutions Executive, TransTrack Solutions Group, Cedar Rapids, IA
• Alesia Cain, Head of Umo Solutions and Market Development, Cubic Transportation Systems, New York, NY
• Christina Belmont, Vice President of Marketing, SDI, Chicago, IL
• Michelle Picard Cousins, Manager- Emerging Systems, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto, ON
• Michael J Veltri, Vice President, TRS Facilities, WSP USA, Pittsburgh, PA

APTAtech Technical Tour #3: RTD Fare Collection and Treasury Visit

The tour starts with a 15-minute presentation while at the conference hotel describing RTD’s Revenue Service group (RSG). Participants will then be shuttled over to RTD for the physical tour. This 2-hour tour includes travel time via RTD-arranged buses to District Shops, two-way tour of Bus Operations Dispatch and CAD/AVL operations and return to hotel.

APTAtech Technical Tour #4: RTD Electric Bus Program

Participants on this tour will have the opportunity to tour RTD’s Electric Charging System for its all-electric Mall Shuttles. Participants will be provided with a background on the RTD Electric Bus Program and have the chance to view the infrastructure installed to support 36 electric Mall Shuttles. PPE [vests and safety glasses] are required and will be provided. Participants must please wear closed toe shoes.