A Multimodal Tour10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Full – this tour is at capacity. The Sunday and Wednesday afternoon technical tours are still available.
Prior to the start of the APTA Sustainability & Multimodal Operations Planning Conference, maximize your training and travel dollars by joining us first for a Multimodal Tour (MMT) in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Twin Cities region is more connected than ever, and improvements in the regional transit network have had a profound effect, creating communities that are more equitable, economically competitive and sustainable. The MMT marks the traditional start of the annual workshop, offering the unique experience of seeing passenger transportation in action from the passengers' perspective. The Multimodal Tour of the Twin Cities offers the opportunity to sample the diversity of the transit network in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Host agency staff from Metro Transit will take us from downtown to south Minneapolis, across the Mississippi River to the capital city of St. Paul, and conclude with a visit to one of the area’s premier taprooms at Surly Brewery. We will have local experts on hand to cover key development opportunities and answer questions about operating practices and projects. New this year is an optional bike portion of the tour using Nice Ride, our regional bikeshare program! There are two options for the morning - via bike or transit - and then the groups will join together over lunch for the afternoon itinerary. Those participating in the bike tour will be asked to pay $35 for the bike and helmet rental. Cash only, please. This Multimodal Tour is conducted by Michael Mechtenberg from Metro Transit. Participation was limited to 40 people and advance registration was required. THE TOUR IS FULL; tour registration is closed. Participants should arrange travel to arrive in Minneapolis on Saturday. Contact Michael at michael.mechtenberg@metrotransit.org (612-349-7793) to arrange for bike rental (if necessary) and any other questions. Tabletop Displays10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Registration10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Sustainability & Transit-Oriented Development Tours1 - 4 p.m.These two tours will feature the sustainability elements and transit-oriented developments along two Light Rail lines and an Arterial Bus Rapid Transit line. Both tours will have the same route, going in different directions, with slightly different emphasis from the tour guides. The tours will meet in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel at 1 p.m., then walk to the Nicollet Mall station to catch the LRT to U.S. Bank Stadium. The TOD Tour will head east on the Green Line, through the University of Minnesota campuses on both sides of the Mississippi River. (The Green Line heads east to Downtown St. Paul, connecting the two downtowns, the University of Minnesota, four professional sports venues (soon to be five) and has been a catalyst for innovative development at almost all the stations along the way.) The group will transfer to the A Line at Snelling Station near the future Major League Soccer Stadium. (Running from Roseville North of Snelling to a connection from the Green Line to the Blue Line in Southeast Minneapolis, the new A-Line is exceeding ridership expectations, hitting a million rides in early 2017.) From the A Line, the tour will transfer to the Blue Line at the 46th Street Station. The Blue Line section will focus on the continuing transformation of the station areas. Both developers and Metro Transit have increased the community and sustainability of this corridor that connects the Mall of America, MSP International Airport, strong Minneapolis neighborhoods, and Downtown Minneapolis.
The Sustainability Tour will head south on the Blue Line from US Bank Stadium to 46th Street, transfer to the A Line there, and then to the Green Line at Snelling Station. Both tours will have TOD and Sustainability handouts.
Both tours are expected to take 2.5 hours, ending at the hotel. The TOD tour has the option of taking a bus from Lake Street east to the Midtown Global Market and then bus back to the hotel. The Sustainability tour has the option of taking the Green Line east from Snelling to Union Depot in Downtown St. Paul. The TOD Tour will be led by Lucy Galbraith, Metro Transit’s TOD Director, and the Sustainability Tour will be led by Jeff Freeman, Senior Project Coordinator for Sustainability for Metro Transit. NOTE: Please contact Michael Greif at michael.greif@metrotransit.org to RSVP for the TOD Tour and Jeff Freeman at jeff.freeman@metrotransit.org to RSVP for the Sustainability Tour. And, be sure to reconfirm for participation at the APTA registration desk no later than one-half hour before the start of the tours. Networking Breakfast7 - 8 a.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Registration7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Tabletop Displays7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Welcome and Opening Remarks8 - 8:30 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Introductory Remarks- J. Barry Barker, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY
- Paul Bignardi, AICP, Principal Transportation Planner, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco, CA
Metro Transit Host Forum8:30 - 10 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisHear from Metro Transit leadership on recent accomplishments and future new initiatives with an emphasis on maximizing mobility, energy efficiency, and economic development. Session sponsored by HNTB Corporation Moderator- Adam E. Harrington, Director, Service Development, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Host Welcome- Alene Tchourumoff, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN
Presenters- Adam E. Harrington, Director, Service Development, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
- Pat Jones, Metro Transit
- Lucy Ferguson Galbraith, AICP, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Health + Transit for Sustainability: Strengthening the Connections with Health10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Moderator- Janet R. Gonzalez Tudor, MBA, ENV SP, PROSCI, STP, Director, Transport Advisory Services, HDR, Chicago, IL
Public Health and Public Transit, What’s the Connection?- Tim Vaske, State and Community Advocacy Manager, Office of State Advocacy, Voices for Healthy Kids, American Heart Association, Washington, DC
How Minnesota Transit Operators and Others are Helping Clear the Air- Lisa Thurstin, Senior Manager, Environmental Programs, American Lung Association, St. Paul, MN
Bike Share and Transit for Health- Alan Mitchell, Strategy & Corporate Development Associate, Motivate, Brooklyn, NY
Sustainable Value Analysis for Transit and Active Transportation Infrastructure – The Benefits of Smart Transportation Choices- Pamela Yonkin, ENV SP, Sustainability & Resiliency Director of Transportation, HDR, Boston, MA
Interagency Service Coordination10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisOften there are multiple service providers in the same region, and we have to get along with each other. Our customers don’t care about politics or city/county boundaries; they just want to be able to ride anywhere in the region easily and conveniently. Tell us about how your agency cooperates with other providers in places where services co-exist, such as shared transit centers and major regional destinations. How do you coordinate service so that customers can find information in one place and don’t need multiple fare tools? In areas with space constraints, how do you determine who operates where and when? Moderator- Jim Moore, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Together at Last: Modernizing Legacy Paratransit Programs in Alameda County- Samantha K. Erickson, Senior Planner, Parametrix, Portland, OR
Aurora Corridor and E Line Case Study- Jack Edson Whisner, Transit Planner, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
Common Ground: Combining the Strengths of DOTs and Transit Agencies- Ken Zatarain, Senior Planning Manager, WSP USA, Portland, OR
Working Together to Improve Operations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel- Alex Kiheri, RapidRide Expansion Lead, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
Speaker Luncheon12 - 1:30 p.m.
Northstar A, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Introduction- Arthur L. Guzzetti, Vice President – Mobility Initiatives and Public Policy, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
Featured Speaker- Vincent Valdes, Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
Interactive Session on Scheduling1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisA good scheduler must balance multiple factors, including those related to operator and customer needs and desires. Computerized scheduling software programs simplify the scheduler’s task but do not necessarily teach him/her about alternate ways to achieve the same goal. How were you trained as a scheduler? How do you train the coming generation of schedulers? How do you weave the “art” of scheduling into the necessary technical expertise?\ Facilitators- Daniel K. Boyle, President, Dan Boyle & Associates LLC, Alexandria, VA
- John E. Pappas, Principal, John E. Pappas Transit Operations Consultant, Brooklyn, NY
So You Want to be a Scheduler: King County Metro's Scheduling Trainee Program- Jayson Peterson, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
Supporting Schedulers of the Future- Edmund Paul Dornheim, Principal Scheduler, Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA), Allentown, PA
Battery-Electric Buses 1012 - 3:30 p.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisWhat is an electric bus? What are the drivers and barriers when it comes to the choosing this technology? This session will explore the history and basics you need to know when planning for putting electric buses into your fleet. The facilitator will lead a discussion on creating an electric solution for transit bus networks. Facilitator- Erik Bigelow, Senior Project Manager, Technology Development, Center for Transportation and the Environment, Atlanta, GA
Completing the Trip Sustainably2 - 3:30 p.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis As the oft-said phrase goes, "every transit rider is a pedestrian" at some point in their travel journey. With increased interest in bicycling in American society, more transit riders are also becoming bicyclists at some point in their journey. Finding ways to improve the experience of pedestrians and bicyclists in transit not only provides opportunities to increase ridership by increasing transit accessibility, but helps reduce regional VMTs by facilitating non-automotive transportation choices.
Moderator- Michael J Jelen, PE, FASCE, Executive Vice President, SZ PM Consultants, Washington, DC
Back to Basics:The Rider Experience, Door to Door- Christof Spieler, PE, AICP, LEED AP, Director of Planning, Huitt-Zollars, Inc., Houston, TX
Planning Beyond the Bike Lane: Steps to Empowering the First & Last Mile- Dan Suraci, AICP, TransPro Consulting
Tracking Bike Rack Usage on Buses with Automated Passenger Counter Technology- Tony Drollinger, Commuter Programs Specialist, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
UTA’s Passenger Enhancement Program- Jacob L Splan, MCMP, Head of Facility Development and Operations, Stadler US Inc., Salt Lake City, UT
External Sustainable Business Practices2 - 3:30 p.m.
Lake Harriet, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis When pursuing sustainability in business practices, agencies not only look to their own internal operations, but those that riders interact with, both visually and tactically, during their journey. Incorporating sustainability into business practices like these involves the examination of long-term practices that establish new ways of conducting business, from the sustainable construction and maintenance of infrastructure to green procurement.
Moderator- Aliesa Adelman, CSDP, LEED BD+C, Director of Sustainability, Wendel, Williamsville, NY
Delivering Sustainability and Social Value through Procurement- Ersoy Gulecoglu, Manager, Sustainability, Metrolinx (GO Transit), Toronto, ON
Integrating Sustainability into the Design and Construction of Major Capital Projects- Christina Jaworski, Senior Environmental Planner, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA
Leveraging Partnerships to Achieve 25 Acres of Stormwater Infrastructure- Rebecca R. Collins, LEED AP O+M, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Break3:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisSponsored by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Asking the Right Questions When Planning a New Service for a Specific Market3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisYou are planning a new service for a specific market, such as service to a new neighborhood, new express service from a suburb to downtown, new service to serve a sports venue, special senior service, etc. The new service could be one of a thousand different concepts, but what are the right questions that should be asked when planning the service so it is successful once it begins operation. What needs to be done to avoid having a service “that can’t miss” becoming an expensive flop once it starts?
Moderator- Lawrence Deeter, Manager Systems Development, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
Evaluating the Cost Implications of Introducing Night Service: A Case Study from Cedar Rapids, IA- Caroline Nardi, WSP USA, Cleveland, OH
The Design Development of a Multimodal Transit Facility – East Link South Bellevue Station- Stephen Mak, High Capacity Transit Development Manager, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
- Jim Moore, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Sun and Sand: Summer Beach Shuttles- Daniel K. Boyle, President, Dan Boyle & Associates LLC, Alexandria, VA
Downtown Arena Special Event Service- James Drake, Principal Planner, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Sacramento, CA
Internal Sustainable Business Practices3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Lake Calhoun, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisGreening one’s practices is not always easy, as it often requires changes in corporate culture, a learning curve to those unfamiliar with sustainability, and time to learn new technologies and facilities. It can be well-worth the investment, though, as the process provides opportunities to not only demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, but be good community stewards and reductions in operating expenses.
Moderator- Sean O'Brien, President, Geocomp, Inc., Acton, MA
Defining Report Content - What Matters to your Stakeholders- Sarah Buckle, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink), New Westminster, BC
Sustaining Environmental Compliance: Evolution/Intersection of Compliance, EMS and Sustainability- Steven Eget, WSP USA, New York, NY
Strategy for Energy and the Environment in JR East- Satomi Suzuki, East Japan Railway Company, Tokyo, Japan
Creating a Corporate Baseline for Recycling and Setting Measurable Goals- Joanne L. Maxwell, CHMM, LEED Green Assoc., Director Environmental Programs, AMTRAK, Philadelphia, PA
Putting BEBs in Service from an Agency’s Perspective3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisThis session will give an in-depth look into how three different agencies decided to invest in battery electric bus technologies for their bus operations. It will explore lessons learned and give insight into how they are successfully putting BEBs into service in their communities. Leading the Way to a Zero-Emissions Fleet: How King County is Planning for the Transition- David VanderZee, AICP, Transportation Planner, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
- Joseph T. Iacobucci, Director of Transit, Sam Schwartz Engineering, New York, NY
AVTA’s Journey to Fleet Electrification- Len Engel, Executive Director, solutionLAB, Inc., Sacramento, CA
- Zachary S. Kahn, Ride
Advancing electric buses in Metro Vancouver- David Cooper, MPI., MCIP, RPP, South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink), New Westminster, BC
Social and Economic Sustainability3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Lake Harriet, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisFor transit agencies, the social and economic pillars of sustainability create opportunities to improve the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of their regions. Hear from these speakers as they discuss the forthcoming APTA Social and Economic Sustainability Guidelines and other initiatives from transit agencies to create more opportunities for social mobility and economic development. Moderator- Rachel Healy, Director, Sustainability, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
An Overview of the APTA Recommended Practice on Social and Economic Sustainability- Rachel Healy, Director, Sustainability, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
Partnerships for Education: TARC and Jefferson Community and Technical College- J. Barry Barker, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY
The Wheels on the Bus Go to the Grocery Store- Marisa Jones, Healthy Communities Manager, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, Oakland, CA
Rides to Wellness Update- Danielle Nelson, Senior Program Analyst, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
Multimodal Operations Planning Subcommittee5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Great Lakes A1, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisChair, Lacy Bell Sustainability Commitment Signatories Subcommittee5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Great Lakes A3, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisCo-Chairs, Dr. Emmanuel "Cris" Battad Liban, PE. ENV SP & Rachel Healy Evening Reception6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Networking Breakfast/Sustainability Transit Jeopardy!7 - 8 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
This session is like a live Jeopardy game, although teams compete instead of single participants.Learn some very useful and interesting facts about sustainability issues and transit operations while enjoying breakfast. To acknowledge the two distinct groups present at this workshop - questions on both topics are present in the Jeopardy categories. To compete you will have to reach across the aisle to build a team with very smart transit people and some knowledgeable sustainability folks. Sounds like transit agencies of the future. Of course to win you have to be lucky or crafty - or both. A valuable prize (OK - not really!) will be awarded to the winning team.
Registration7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Tabletop Displays7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Battery Electric Bus Charging Infrastructure8 - 9:30 a.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisWith different ways to charge a battery electric bus, how do you know what is what and what is best for you? This session will look into the installation and running of charging infrastructure, the state of standards and the different charging types available today.
Presenters- Seamus McGrath, Manager, Charge Station, Proterra Inc.
- Jewels Carter, Vice President, National Zero Emission Bus Facility Lead, AECOM, Houston, TX
- David Warren, Director -Sustainable Transportation, NFI Group, St. Cloud, MN
- Michael Masquelier, Chief Executive Officer, WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification), Salt Lake City, UT
Community Engagement and Public Outreach 8 - 9:30 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Although related, public outreach and community engagement are not synonyms. Public outreach is focused on a specific project for a defined period of time to receive feedback about a particular initiative. Community engagement is more long-term, building the relationships with stakeholders and community-based organizations that will form a strong foundation for public outreach. What elements and strategies have your agency or consulting firm used to build and maintain relationships with neighborhoods and groups, and to get useful feedback from communities that can assist transit planning and operations? Share triumphs (and failures, which are just as important) of how you have done engagement and outreach that discusses useful strategies and illustrates lessons earned so we can all continue to improve.
Moderator- Michael Abegg, Principal, Minuteman West Consulting Group, Benicia, CA
Better Bus Stops Community Engagement- Caitlin Schwartz, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Feedback Loops and the Need to be Heard- Michael Helta, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD
Winning Riders Over by Raising the Bar for More Weekend Service- Gordon Robinson, AICP, PMP, Managing Director of Operations, Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority, Corpus Christi, TX
Working Together: Engineering, Planning and Engagement Solutions Along Gold Line BRT- Lyssa Leitner, Senior Planner, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority, Stillwater, MN
Sustainability Resource Roundtables8 - 9:30 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Presiding- J. Barry Barker, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY
Update to the APTA Recommended Practice on Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Scope 3 Emissions Inventories- Margaret Cederoth, AICP, LEED AP, Director of Planning and Sustainability, California High-Speed Rail Authority, Sacramento, CA
- Eric Hesse, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
Decarbonizing Transportation- Timothy Doherty, Senior Planner-Policy and Long-Range Planning, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco, CA
Sustainable Reclamation of Transit Vehicles- André Porlier, Corporate Manager, Sustainability, Societe de transport de Montreal, Montreal, QC
Continued Interagency Sustainability Collaboration: An Example from the Northeast Corridor- Andrew D Brennan, Vice President/National Transit & Rail Practice, HNTB Corporation, Boston, MA
- Joanne L. Maxwell, CHMM, LEED Green Assoc., Director Environmental Programs, AMTRAK, Philadelphia, PA
- Erik Johanson, Director of Operating Budgets, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
Autonomous Vehicles and Transit- Joseph T. Iacobucci, Director of Transit, Sam Schwartz Engineering, New York, NY
Design Excellence in Facilities- Bob Hastings, FAIA, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
- Ken J. Anderson, AIA, LEED AP, Vice President, Civic Sector Leader, Buildings, Stantec , Arlington, VA
Transit Agency and TNC Collaboration- Heather Sobush, Director of Planning, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
- Louis Pappas, Via Transportation, Inc., New York, NY
Transit Parking 101: Balancing Competing Needs of Transit-Adjacent Parking and Sustainability- Daniel H. Rowe, Senior Transportation Planner, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
- Jemae Hoffman, VIA Architecture, Seattle, WA
FTA's TOD Technical Assistance Program- Kimberly Ann Gayle, Deputy CEO, Federal Transit Administration, Stockton, CA
- Christopher Zimmerman, Smart Growth America, Columbia, MD
- Mark Olinger, Director of Planning and Development Review, City of Richmond, Richmond, VA
How Does Data Inform Planners?9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisMost transit planners are awash in data. APC information, on-time performance information, farebox reports on numbers and type of fare instruments being used, long-range planning projections, bus performance reliability, and the giant NTD database. How does a single planner or a transit planning group decide which data is the most relevant, and which is the best way to use it as a tool in the service planning process? How has this issue evolved during the past decade, and where is it going in the next decade? Does data play a more important role in “big picture” thinking and analysis, or is it better to be used for “fine tuning” service? Moderator- Lacy Bell, Principal - Seattle Office Lead, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc., Seattle, WA
Applying Data Science Tools to Transit Planning- Joel Huting, Manager, Analytics & Research, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Somebody’s Watching Me: Using Big Data to Create Commuter Xpress Service Running Times- Glen L. Waters, Principal, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, inc., Atlanta, GA
Combining Multiple Data Types in a Single Measurement Tool for Service Planning at Amtrak- Darrell J. Smith, Associate, Steer , Boston, MA
How Does Data Inform Planners in the Service Planning Process?- Christopher S. Chesnut, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
- Stephanie McVey, Senior Transit Consultant, HDR, Phoenix, AZ
Number Crunching for Dummies: Collecting, Identifying, Presenting, and Developing an Effective Plan- Jim Archer, Director, Service Planning, Scheduling, and Evaluation, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX
Public Transportation Resiliency9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Lake Harriet, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisWith the threat of increased extreme weather events and sea level rise, public transportation infrastructure is becoming more and more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The industry must adapt and become more resilient to remain viable and effective. Hear from these speakers to learn about different tools that help identify climate-related threats, organizational thinking around the issues, and specific technologies to implement adaptation and resiliency projects. Moderator- Andrew D Brennan, Vice President/National Transit & Rail Practice, HNTB Corporation, Boston, MA
New Release: Improving the Resiliency of Transit Systems Threatened by Natural Disasters- Deborah W. Matherly, WSP USA Solutions Inc., Columbia, SC
Finance and Sustainability - Managing Climate Resiliency- Derek Stewart, Director, Safety, Environment & Emergency Management, Coast Mountain Bus Company Ltd., Surrey, BC
Using Your Management Systems to Prepare for Climate Change and Increase Resilience- Beth Rodehorst, Senior Manager, ICF, Portland, OR
Hudson Bergen Light Rail Hurricane Sandy Impact, Recovery, and Future Resiliency- Patrick Harrison, Senior Chief Engineer, 21st Century Rail Corp - Shimmick, Jersey City, NJ
Sustainable Communities and Universal Design9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Lake Calhoun, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Cities and towns across the country are embracing public transportation as the catalyst to create thriving communities where people want to live, work, and play. Urban design initiatives, like transit-oriented communities (TOCs), Complete Streets, and universal design, provide opportunities to increase livability, improve health and sustainability, and create greater accessible by all and barrier to none.
Moderator- Tian A. Feng, FAIA, FCSI, District Architect, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA
From Inclusive To Universal: Why We Develop Transit Universal Design Guidelines- Tian A. Feng, FAIA, FCSI, District Architect, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA
A Global View of Wayfinding and Universal Design- Sally Swanson, CEO, Sally Swanson Architects, Inc, San Francisco, CA
FTA Perspectives on the TOD Technical Assistance Program- Christopher Zimmerman, Smart Growth America, Columbia, MD
- Mark Olinger, Director of Planning and Development Review, City of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Healthy Community Design – A Holistic Approach to Transit Planning- Kari Hewitt, Director of Sustainability, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB)
SPARCCing Community Innovation to Fight Anti-displacement- Mariia Zimmerman, Strategic Advisor for Technical Assistance and Community Solutions, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
Working with your Utility Company to Provide an Electric Solution for your Bus Fleet9:45 - 11:45 a.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisHow are you going to get the power required to charge your battery electric buses? What are demand charges and how can they be managed? This session will help transit agencies understand the opportunities for partnering with utilities and how to best maximize the value of that relationship. You will also learn about demand charging and why it’s important to understand utility rates as you plan for introducing BEBs into your fleet. Peak Demand Charges and Electric Transit Buses- Fred Silver, CALSTART, Pasadena, CA
Utility Rates and Demand Changes- Seamus McGrath, Manager, Charge Station, Proterra Inc.
Partnerships Models and Strategies for Working with Utilities- Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, Director, Transportation Efficiency, VEIC, Winooski, VT
Speaker Luncheon12 - 1:30 p.m.
Northstar A, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Lunch sponsored by HDR 
Introduction- Scott M Reed, Vice President, HDR, St. Louis Park,, MN
Featured Speaker
Charting Paths to a Sustainable, Multimodal Future- Lewis Fulton, Director, STEPS (Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways), University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
Doing a Lot with Less - Most Bang for the Buck1:45 - 3:30 p.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisTransit agencies are always trying to do more with less. When there is only so much low hanging fruit to be picked, what do transit agencies do to get more accomplished – while spending a small amount of money? What techniques and experiences are available to provide more service hours, expand service into new areas, repurpose or repackage existing service to reach new markets, or achieve other cost neutral of low cost actions? These actions should have a large positive impact to passengers, or internal agency practices, without having a large impact on the bottom line. Moderator- Leslie Bienenfeld, Manager of Special Events and Construction, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), San Francisco, CA
Do More with Less – Partnering with Municipalities to Expand Amenities with Limited Resources- Bonnie J. Epstein, Director of Mobility Services, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
Designing Service for the Future: The Success of the JTA Route Optimization Project- Carl Weckenmann, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
Everything but the Kitchen Sink - Planning and Scheduling Efficiencies in a Growing San Francisco- Kathleen Phu, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco, CA
Implementing the A Line - The Minneapolis-St. Paul region's first rapid bus line- Kristin Thompson, Director, Asset Management, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
- Katie Roth, Director of Arterial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Roundtable Discussions on Battery Electric Buses1:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisThe session is organized with three groups in three rounds of approximately 30 minutes. A moderator will lead each topic and will change tables at the end of each round allowing all groups to cover the three topics.
The following topics will be explored based on your experiences.
1. Deployment of Battery Electric Buses
• How to strategically plan BEB upscaling?
• What support and tools would be necessary for efficient planning?
• What are the impacts of large scale BEB deployments on maintenance processes and maintenance garage
orientation?
• How can impacts be addressed throughout different deployment phases?
2. Operations – Considerations and Optimizations
• What are the initial operating needs?
• How do you plan for a mixed fleet that includes electric buses?
3. Maintenance, Training and Safety
• How to train and prepare drivers and maintenance staff for battery electric buses?
• How to manage safety for garages, contractors and external stakeholders (i.e. first responders), etc.?
Sustainability Tools Training Workshop 1:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisThis workshop will introduce two new sustainability tools and familiarize attendees with their use. Participants will leave the session feeling confident interacting with the tools and ready to apply the tools within their transit agencies. **Please bring your laptop or tablet, if you have one, in order to experiment with the tools.**
PART 1: Meet the Sustainability Routemap: Level Up Your Sustainability Program - 1:45 - 3:30 p.m.
What does your sustainability program need to succeed? Performance measures, buy-in from leadership and staff, a solid committee structure; or, all that and more? The brand new Sustainability Routemap, a product of the Transit Cooperative Research Program, is an interactive tool that will help you chart your course to fully integrate sustainability into your agency. The tool will be publicly released later this fall. Come download a sneak peek of the tool on your laptop and learn how to use it!
PART 2: Meet the S+ROI Calculator: Evaluate Sustainability Benefits the Easy Way - 3:45 - 5:15 p.m.Have you ever struggled to quantify the positive impacts of your projects or your transit service on the environment, social equity, or cost savings. The brand new S+ROI Calculator, a product of the Transit Cooperative Research Program, will guide you through simple calculations to help you estimate and describe those benefits. The tool will be publicly released later this fall. Come download a sneak peek of the tool on your laptop and learn how to use it! - Frank Gallivan, Change Strategist, ICF, San Francisco, CA
- Jemae Hoffman, VIA Architecture, Seattle, WA
Making First and Last Mile Connections3:45 - 5:15 p.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisTransit riders use transit as a component of their trips and often use other modes to as part of the “first and last mile” of their journeys. In promoting mobility and ridership, transit agencies are looking into strategies and methods to help begin and complete these trips. This session will focus on focus on integrating shared mobility, walking, and bicycling with transit.
Moderator- Ronald Downing, Director of Planning, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District, San Rafael, CA
Lessons Learned from the West Salem Connector On-Demand Transit Pilot Project- Matt Berggren, Salem Area Mass Transit District
Lessons Learned in Implementing a Pilot TNC / Transit Agency Partnership- Christin Wegener, Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (WHEELS)
Shared Mobility in Seattle: Catch a Fish, Catch a Bus, Catch a Ride- Benjamin A. Smith, Senior Transportation Planner, City of Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle, WA
Bicycle Accessibility to Transit: A National Framework- Dan Suraci, AICP, TransPro Consulting
Sustainability Committee Meeting5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
Great Lakes A1-A2, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisChair, Lawrence J. Murphy, P.E. Continental Breakfast7 - 8 a.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Registration7 - 10 a.m.
Great Lakes Promenade, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Stepping Up to Ridership Challenges7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisJoin a facilitated informal, discussion to discuss experiences and information on the cause of declining ridership. More importantly, join the discussion on ideas and actions to address declining ridership. - Arthur L. Guzzetti, Vice President – Mobility Initiatives and Public Policy, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
How Can Sustainability Initiatives Be Effective?8:15 - 9:45 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisAgencies have been adopting Environmental & Sustainability Management System (ESMS) as part of their operations to improve agency performance in sustainability. Hear from this panel of speakers, all of whom participated in Virginia Tech's Environmental and Sustainability Management System Institute, as they share specific agency experiences in advancing relatable and actionable initiatives, overcoming many challenges, and building on the lessons learned.
Moderator- Bob Hastings, FAIA, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
Panelists- Bob Hastings, FAIA, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
- Antoinette Quagliata, ENV SP, LEED AP, Sustainability Consulting Lead, Dewberry, Parsippany, NJ
- Dr. Emmanuel "Cris" Battad Liban, PE. ENV SP, Chief Sustainability Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
- Robert Frazier, Environmental Manager, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD
Current State of Public Transit Funding Options for Electric Vehicles and Charging Systems8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisWith 2017 comes the beginning of a new presidential administration. Since the federal government is responsible for a large portion of transit bus funding in the U.S., any change can potentially impact the stability of funding for future transportation needs. The good news for public transit is that the 2014 FAST Act provides significant annual funding for transportation programs through 2020. The first part of this session will explore funding options for BEBs to help introduce this new technology into your fleet. The second part of the session will talk about the Volkswagen Settlement. States will receive almost $3 billion that may be used for investment in transit buses, electric vehicle charging stations, and other alternative fuel vehicles. This presentation will discuss opportunities to grow fleets and the electric vehicle market through the Volkswagen Settlement, and explore other EV funding opportunities available to states. Presenters- Alan Westenskow, Director, Business Development, Proterra Inc., Greenville, CA
- Cassie Powers, Senior Program Director, National Association of State Energy Officials, Arlington, VA
The Real Link Between Planning and Scheduling8:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisRelationships between service planning and scheduling can realize untold benefits. But not all service planners speak "operation," while schedulers may feel that planners are making service decisions without incorporating the realities of day-to-day operations. What are the best approaches to enhance the relationship between planning and scheduling? What goals should transit planners and schedulers have for these relationships, and what should each party bring to the table?
Moderator- Cyndi Harper, Senior Manager, Route Planning, Service Development, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
Improving Data for 21st Century Information Systems and Reporting- Leslie Bienenfeld, Manager of Special Events and Construction, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), San Francisco, CA
Best Laid Plans: When Service Expansion Meets Reality- Michael Eshleman, Service Planning Manager, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
Actively Managed Fallbacks- Jonathon Bez, Scheduling Supervisor, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
Developing a Shedule for the R Line: RTD’s New Suburban Rail Line- Lacy Bell, Principal - Seattle Office Lead, Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc., Seattle, WA
A Multimodal Potpourri10 - 11:40 a.m.
Great Lakes B, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Moderator- James Drake, Principal Planner, Sacramento Regional Transit District, Sacramento, CA
Meeting In the Middle: Overcoming the Organization Chart, Silos, and Mutually Exclusive Goals- Jim Archer, Director, Service Planning, Scheduling, and Evaluation, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX
Performance Based Planning- Mark Kane, Transportation Program Analyst, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
Wayfinding: Making the Connections to and within Transit- John Bosio, Principal, MERJE, West Chester, PA
Operator Restroom Task Force - Delivering A Basic Necessity- Jessica Garcia, Service Planning Manager, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco, CA
Incorporating Operations Planning in Transit Oriented Development Projects- Douglas Monroe, Manager, Corridor Planning (Operations), Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
Beyond the Vehicle...10 - 11:40 a.m.
Lake Minnetonka, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisBEBs and the Bigger Energy Picture for Your Community
Increasing electrification of public transit through deployment of BEBs is just one way that cities may harness the power of transformational transportation technologies to meet big-picture transportation energy efficiency goals. This session will enable a dialogue with transit agencies on new research that investigates how the cities of tomorrow can seek to maximize mobility and minimize energy impacts of connected, automated, electric, and shared vehicles. - Sarah Olexsak, Energy Efficient Mobility Systems and Electric Vehicle Deployment Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC
Including Equity Impact Review in the Transition to a Zero Emission Fleet
King County Metro has set forth a bold plan to transition its’ fleet to a zero emission fleet by 2034. The presentation will explore King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan that focused on how the air pollution benefits of zero-emissions technology could advance social equity by first serving communities most vulnerable to air pollution. In alignment with King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan this analysis focused on how the air pollutions benefits of zero-emissions technology could advance social equity by first serving communities most vulnerable to air pollution. - Gary Prince, Senior Project Manager, King County Metro Transit Division/Department of Transportation, Seattle, WA
Regulations for Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles
California’s ambitious sustainability goals aim to support charging infrastructure for 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2020. As electric vehicle ownership increases in California and nationwide, public transit agencies seek to provide charging infrastructure to those who drive electric vehicles to public transit facilities.The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all programs and services offered by a state or local government to be accessible to individuals with disabilities, but the federal accessibility standards do not address specific accessibility requirements for electric vehicle charging. As a leader in sustainability and accessibility, California has developed and adopted the first regulatory requirements in the nation for accessibility to electric vehicle charging stations. Come learn about California’s requirements and how these requirements can be applied to electric vehicle charging stations in transit facilities nationwide. - Ida Clair, Principal Architect, California DGS Division of the State Architect, Sacramento, CA
The Electric Evolution - A European & North American Perspective
This presentation will provide history and context of Europe’s and North America’s evolving transit electrification market from a system provider’s perspective. We’ll relate experiences, focus on challenges and technology options, as well as provide information on future trends in electrification of transit bus systems.
- Robert (Bob) Devine, Director of Advanced Applications, BAE SYSTEMS, Endicott, NY
Maximizing the Value of Sustainable Projects10 - 11:40 a.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency MinneapolisConvincing key stakeholders of sustainability projects requires demonstrating and maximizing its value to agencies. Often working with limited budgets, sustainability programs at agencies can create a substantial return-on-investment that realize strategic goals and generate support for the work. Hear from these speakers as they discuss initiatives that demonstrate and maximize the value of sustainability at their agencies, ranging from stakeholder engagement to working within budgetary constraints to realize greater efficiencies.
Moderator- Lawrence J. Murphy, P.E., Senior Director | Buildings, Infrastructure & Advance Facilities, Jacobs, Wethersfield, CT
Implementing Low Cost, High Impact Sustainability Measures in Times of Constrained Budgets- Andrew C. Rodgers, P.E., Vice President, Local Business Leader, WSP USA
Enterprise Energy Management as a Risk Mitigation Strategy- Michael Donaghy, Manager of Energy Efficiency, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston, MA
Full of Energy Today? How to Get the Most from Your Energy Budget- Daniel Lee, Sustainability Analyst, Strategy Planning & Program Management, Office of Sustainability, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
Sustainability Financing - How Do You Make Sustainability a Core Part of a Transit Agency's Business?- Amy Shatzkin, APTA Sustainability Committee Chair; Deputy Director, Environmental Affairs & Sustainability, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
Closing Session11:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Great Lakes C, 4th Floor, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Closing Remarks- Paul Bignardi, AICP, Principal Transportation Planner, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco, CA
- J. Barry Barker, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY
Multimodal Technical Tours1 - 4 p.m. - Union Depot and METRO Green Line OMF – Few sites within the Twin Cities offer such a clear view of the past, present, and future of the Metro Transit transportation system. Explore the historic Union Depot, recently restored to its former grandeur, then get a behind the scenes look at Metro Transit’s new rail facility.
- Nicollet Mall and Marquette and 2nd Avenue Bus Lanes – Take a guided walking tour along two of the region’s most active bus corridors. The tour will start with Nicollet Mall, the nation’s first transit mall, which is now putting the final touches on a $50 million renovation. Following that we’ll observe the innovative Marquette and 2nd Avenue bus lanes as service ramps up for the afternoon rush hour.
- Target Field and US Bank Stadium – Explore the grounds of two new professional sports stadiums, including adjacent public spaces, and learn how Metro Transit manages post-event crowds at these rail-adjacent sporting venues.
- Minnesota Transportation Museum – Travel through history with exhibits showcasing railway and bus history from the Twin Cities. The museum has 50 historic train cars on site and features a genuine operating roundhouse turntable, one of the last of its kind in the country.
- METRO Red Line BRT – The state’s first BRT service is a regional investment resulting from a partnership between the Metropolitan Council, Dakota County, and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. The service connects the Mall of America and Apple Valley, located 10.3 miles to the south. A tour of the line will highlight the planned 2018 Mall of America Transit Station re-design, new Cedar Online Station that opened in May 2017 adjacent to the Twin Cities Premium Outlets, and level-boarding that has been in operation since June 2013.
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