Wednesday, December 15

Joint Opening Session

Join us at the seminar kick off with remarks from Paul Skoutelas, APTA; Gail Lyssy, FTA; and keynoter Jennifer Homendy, NTSB. These leaders in public transportation and safety will provide remarks on transit and rail safety and discuss each organization's various initiatives, including APTA’s standards, peer review, and safety audit programs; FTA’s PTASP requirement and request for information (RFI) on transit safety and worker assaults; and the NTSB’s most-wanted list.

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
• Gail Lyssy, P.E., Acting Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight and Chief Safety Officer, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

• Jennifer L. Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, DC

Networking Break

RISK: New & Evolving Finance Trends

Risk is a corporate culture that touches all aspects of the transit industry. The use of risk management in transportation is important so that risks can be identified, and strategies developed to address and reduce risks so that our employees, customers, and infrastructure can be protected, and costs and exposures can be reduced. What’s next for the insurance sector and what impacts can we see on both the asset and liability sides of the balance sheet? What will be key themes to watch in 2022? This session will examine new and evolving trends.

• Kathy Brittin, Director of Risk Management, Bi-State Development Agency (dba Metro), St. Louis, MO

• Cathy Wells, CPCU, ARM, CRIS, MBA, Principal and West Coast Practice Leader, Albert Risk Management Consultants, Needham Heights, MA

SAFETY: APTA Standards, Recommended Practices, and TRACS Update

This informative panel will address various safety-related APTA standards, including recommended practices being developed by the Operating Practices Working Group (OPWG) on defensive driving and other safety-related standards including those on bus operator safety training and safety and security certification. An overview also will be provided on CUTR's efforts with the Safety Standards Working Group. In addition, an update will be provided on FTA’s Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS), including three recent reports published on Employee Safety Reporting, Roadway Worker Protection (RWP), and Trespassing and Suicide Prevention.

• Gerard John Ruggiero, Senior Consultant, ADS System Safety Consulting, LLC, Baltimore, MD

• Lisa Staes, Associate Director, Center for Urban Transportation Research, Tampa, FL
• Christopher Wallgren, Vice President, Transportation Resource Associates, Inc., New York, NY
• Joyce Rose, Principal Consultant - Transit & Rail Safety, WSP USA, Baltimore, MD

Networking Break

RISK: Insurance Market Update

What are the underlying issues in the current market? Social inflation has impacted jury verdicts and casualty losses, ransomware has increased, climate change has impacted the frequency of catastrophic events, including those we can anticipate, like hurricanes, and those we can’t, like tornados and wildfires. What are the forecasts for the coming year and, looking back, what data do we have that can help inform us? This session will provide an opportunity to hear about what you can expect in the marketplace.

• Kenneth Reed, Director of Risk Management, Ohio Transit Risk Pool, Wadsworth, OH

• Otis Tolbert, Rail National Practice Leader, AON Risk Services, Owings Mills, MD
• Barbara J. Rhoades, Chief Executive Officer, Ohio Transit Risk Pool, Wadsworth, OH

SAFETY: Safety & Security Certification Session

Safety and Security Certification is a hot topic right now in the transit and rail safety & security industries. Join us to hear about a recommended practice APTA is creating in this area with a working group of transit agencies and business members to be utilized in conjunction with FTA’s Handbook on Safety and Security Certification. Learn what transit agencies and APTA business members are doing in this area and how they have been implementing safety and security certification, including perspectives from Sound Transit, Hatch LTK and K&J Safety.

• Kevin Jones, WSO-CSSD / CSE, Principal, Eastern Region, ADS System Safety Consulting, LLC, Baltimore, MD

• Kevin Reilly, MS, AHFP, PTSCTP, TSSP, Principal Consultant, Hatch, Ambler, PA
• Matthew Mitchell, Transit Safety & Security Manager, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA
• Larry Kauffman, MCP, CFM, Senior Fire Life Safety Consultant, K&J Safety and Security Consulting Services, Inc., Riva, MD

Networking Break

RISK: Specialty Insurance - Deadly Weapons & Environmental Exposures

Specialty Insurance
Environmental exposures and deadly weapons response are "black swan" events. Black swan events are characterized by their extreme rarity and severe impact. Risk differentiation begins, as always, with a strong commitment to risk management. This discussion will focus on planning to reduce risks and delve into specialty insurance.

Deadly Weapons Response
Speakers will discuss the deadly weapons risk, the deadly weapons landscape, violence protection program best practices, the three pillars of insurance coverage, and protection coverage.

Environmental Exposures
Environmental exposures for the public transit industry are often overlooked until something catastrophic happens. Become more familiar with some these potential exposures and the components of the insurance policies that can apply. Case studies will be presented to show real-world scenarios and some costs associated with them.

• Kathy Brittin, Director of Risk Management, Bi-State Development Agency (dba Metro), St. Louis, MO

• P.J. Skarlanic, CPCU, ARM, Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., San Francisco, CA
• Suzanne R. Loughlin, EVP & General Counsel, CrisisRisk Strategies, LLC, Sea Island, GA
• Dennis Mulqueeney, CPCU, Senior Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc., San Francisco, CA
• Dave Haverkamp, Vice President, Synapse Services, LLC, Lakewood, CO
• Logan O'Connor, Producer - Risk Management and Insurance Consulting, McGriff Seibels & Williams, Inc., Birmingham, AL

SAFETY: COVID-19 and Cleaning & Disinfecting of Stations and Vehicles

Hear more about the cleaning and disinfecting of stations and vehicles due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn about APTA's updated white paper on this topic and hear the perspectives of three APTA members, Keolis, Sound Transit, and Hatch LTK, who were all integral in writing the white paper. They will share how they worked with their own agencies and others in implementing COVID-19 related practices and what they are doing now, 21+ months into the pandemic.

• Brian Alberts, Senior Director - Safety and Advisory Services, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

• Teresa Cole, Vice President of Safety and Security, Keolis Transit America, Boston, MA
• Daniel O. Lang, PE, PMP, Manager System Assurance, Hatch, Ambler, PA
• Ariel Piedmont, Community Transit Incorporated, Seattle, WA

Networking Break

FTA Safety Updates, SMS, and PTASP Implementation

Over the past year, FTA has implemented the Part 673 “Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan” (PTASP) final rule. All agencies that fell under the purview of the rule became fully compliant earlier this summer. FTA speakers will discuss the final rule, the rule’s requirements, and how they are assisting agencies with the drafting and implementation of their PTASPs (including the technical assistance center). Further, a SEPTA representative will discuss drafting the agency’s PTASP and implementation of SMS at SEPTA. Finally, Sound Transit and contractor speakers will discuss the implementation of SMS on a large-scale extension/construction project.

• Louis J. Brown, Jr., P.E., Senior Project Manager - Engineering, HNTB Corporation, Lake Mary, FL

• Frank Hackett, Program Manager, Safety Risk Management, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Ray Anthony Biggs, II, Senior Project Director, Purple Line, Maryland Department of Transportation, Riverdale, MD
• Edward Abel, Jr., Director, Operational Safety, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
• Grantley Martelly, Chief Operating Officer, Pierce Transit, Lakewood,, WA
• Robert D. Taaffe, Director of Construction and Employee Health Safety, Sound Transit, Seattle, WA

Thursday, December 16

Joint Cybersecurity Session

According to DHS Secretary Mayorkas, “The nation’s cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link.” The Secretary highlighted the ongoing spike in ransomware attacks and the need to protect critical infrastructure against attacks. Transit agencies may be ill-equipped to respond to today’s complex cyber threats. Transit agencies obtain services and goods from transit businesses, contractors, and consultants who may not possess the cybersecurity processes needed to protect their business and the transit agency. Attendees will hear from government and agency officials regarding available resources and recommended practices.

• Polly Hanson, Senior Director - Security, Risk and Emergency Management, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

• Lee Allen, Surface Division, Cybersecurity Lead, Industry Engagement Branch, Mass Transit and Passenger Rail Section, Office of Security Policy & Industry, Transportation Security Administration, Arlington, VA
• Benjamin Gilbert, CISSP, CRISC, CEH, Cybersecurity Advisor - Region III, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Washington, DC
• Kyle N. Malo, Sr. Director, Cybersecurity & CISO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
• Shane Moylan, RPLU, AINS, Assistant Vice President, Cyber Solutions, AON Risk Services, Philadelphia, PA

Networking Break

RISK: Emerging Technology Panel

The bipartisan U.S. infrastructure agreement would boost the rollout of electric buses. More than a dozen alternative fuels are in production or under development for use in alternative-fuel vehicles and advanced- technology vehicles. As the industry moves to fuel-efficient buses, what are the risk implications associated with new technologies and what should we be thinking about?

• Kenneth Reed, Director of Risk Management, Ohio Transit Risk Pool, Wadsworth, OH

• Lisa Jerram, Senior Director - Bus Operations & New Vehicle Technologies, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
• Kirt Conrad, Chief Executive Officer, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, Canton, OH

SAFETY: Cutting-edge Technologies in Bus and Rail Collision Avoidance, Maintenance and Roadway Worker Protection (RWP)

Join us for this informative session on safety-related technology. APTA business members will discuss bus and rail collision avoidance systems, and how a system was piloted at Pierce Transit in Washington State. Further, a SEPTA representative will discuss a similar rail collision avoidance system being procured. Further, a speaker from Trapeze will discuss technology related to maintenance. Finally, Miller Ingenuity and Protran representatives will discuss their rail and bus products used to protect track workers and others out on the right of way. They will show that this is being implemented through Roadway Worker Protection-related technology, including arm bands, alarms, boxes, and alerts.

• Jodi Godfrey, Senior Research Associate, Center for Urban Transportation Research, Tampa, FL

• Dr. Jerome Lutin, Ph.D., P.E., SBA certified SDVOSB, Principal, Jerome M. Lutin, PhD, LLC, Monmouth Junction, NJ
• Joanne Kerrigan, Member Services Manager, Washington State Transit Insurance Pool, Olympia, WA
• Heidi Soule, PMO Manager, Pierce Transit, Lakewood, WA
• William J. Brown, Jr., Senior Project Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
• Jaime Maguire, Program Director, Transit Safety Solutions, Protran Technology, a division of Harsco Rail, Cherry Hill, NJ
• Christine Nestor, Director of Marketing and Communications, Miller Ingenuity, Winona, MN
• Matt Edmonds, Director of Technical Sales, Miller Ingenuity, Winona, MN

Networking Break

RISK: Risk Management Committee Meeting & Round-Robin

• James Keane, Port Authority of NY & NJ, Jersey City, NJ

• Kenneth Reed, Director of Risk Management, Ohio Transit Risk Pool, Wadsworth, OH
• Kathy Brittin, Director of Risk Management, Bi-State Development Agency (dba Metro), St. Louis, MO

SAFETY: FRA, Operation Lifesaver Inc., and Trespassing Awareness

This session will include a number of informative presentations. FRA’s presentation will include information on the re-structuring of the FRA safety office, how inspections will be conducted moving forward, and the implementation of the Part 270 SSP rule and projected timeline for the review of plans by the FRA. An Operation Lifesaver speaker will discuss its many initiatives pertaining to rail safety, including 2021 Rail Safety Week and grant program). Finally, a TCRP project on trespassing safety will be discussed, and an Amtrak representative will discuss its implementation of SMS and the organization’s Part 270 plan.

• Gardner C. Tabon, CSE, EVP, Systemwide Accessibility & Chief Safety Officer, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX

• Michael Ramsey, Passenger Railroad Safety Specialist, Federal Railroad Adminitration, Conifer, CO
• Michael T. Long, Director, Railroad Operations & Outreach, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC
• Rachel Maleh, Executive Director, Operation Lifesaver, Inc., Washington, DC
• Dennis Lytton, AMTRAK, Oakland, CA
• Jeff Warner, Associate Research Scientist, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX

Networking Break

Operator Assaults, COVID-19, and Crime Prevention

Operator assaults and transit worker safety continue to be issues in the transit safety community, as assaults have risen over the past few years. Join us to learn about how FTA is trying to assist in this area through its Request for Information (RFI) on Transit Worker Safety, and its recently implemented Crime Prevention Initiative. A CUTR representative will present on statistics pertaining to operator assaults; an ATU speaker will also address this issue and how it pertains to its members, as well as the “bus of the future”; and King County Metro will present on transit worker assaults and how the agency has recently implemented system-wide bus barriers.

• Lisa Staes, Associate Director, Center for Urban Transportation Research, Tampa, FL

• Paulina Orchard, Division Chief, Safety Policy & Promotion, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Sharece Tyer, Senior Program Analyst (Policy), Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Brian Sherlock, Safety Specialist, Amalgamated Transit Union, Silver Spring, MD
• Rebecca Frankhouser, MSTM, WSO-CSSD, Chief Safety Officer, King County Metro , Seattle, WA
• Stephan A. Parker, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC

Joint Closing/Wrap Up