Home

2020 TRANScend - An APTA Virtual Event - Program

This page is an overview of the conference schedule and subject to change.

All times listed are in Eastern Time.

 

Wednesday, October 21

Welcome and Opening Remarks

11 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us as we kick off our innovative two-day event with opening remarks from APTA and FTA leadership.

Welcomes/Remarks
  • Hon. Nuria I. Fernandez, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Washington, DC
  • Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
Remarks
  • Hon. K. Jane Williams, Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Keynote Address: Tony Seba

11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

Tony Seba is a world-renowned author, thought leader, educator, and entrepreneur. He predicts a future where automated fleets of electric vehicles replace personal cars, cities become more self-sufficient, and regions accumulate political power, all driven by disruptive advances in technology. He will discuss the role of public transportation in this future and how transit leaders can lead rather than react to disruptive change. Seba is the author of the best-selling book “Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation” and co-author of “Rethinking Transportation 2020-2030." Seba teaches at Stanford and is also a co-founder of RethinkX, a think tank that focuses on technology disruption and its implications for society.

Keynote address presented by WSP USA
 
Keynote Speaker
  • Tony Seba, Author, Educator, and Co-Founder, RethinkX, San Francisco, CA

Break

12:20 - 12:30 p.m.

How Can Transit Lead in a Disrupted Future?

12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Keynote speaker Tony Seba projects a future where automated fleets of electric vehicles replace personal cars, cities become more self-sufficient, and regions accumulate political power, all driven by disruptive advances in technology. What is the role of public transportation in this future and how can transit leaders lead rather than react to disruptive change?

Session presented by Proterra Inc. 
 
Discussants
  • Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
  • Leslie S. Richards, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
  • Peter M. Rogoff, Managing Partner, Contorta Group, Seattle, WA
  • Julie E. Timm, GRTC Transit System, Seattle, WA

Break

1:30 - 1:40 p.m.

What Will Cities Look Like in 2025?

1:40 - 2:40 p.m.

Social and economic trends over the past 25 years have strongly favored cities and metropolitan living. Cities have thrived in generating economic output, job creation, creativity and innovation, and as vibrant places of culture and entertainment.  To what degree will these long-term trends be affected by the pandemic, protests over policing, and other current disruptions? Will health concerns and cautions about urban density affect life and work decisions? How will transportation decisions made today affect the design and architecture of cities going forward? How will streets and street life change as a result?

Discussants

  • Andres Sevtsuk, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Urban Science and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
  • Alice Bravo, Florida District Leader, WSP USA, New York, NY
  • Marla Westervelt, Community and Partnerships, North America and Asia-Pacific, MobilityData IO, Chicago, IL
  • Karina Ricks, Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Breakout Discussions

2:40 - 3 p.m.

Please join us for one of two breakout sessions:
 
Meet the Speakers. Want to hear more from our speakers? Join us for a live discussion with the speakers from the What Will Cities Look Like in 2025? session. Ask your questions, share your thoughts, and hear from your colleagues.
   
Small Group Discussions. Are you feeling nostalgic for those chance encounters that you get at in-person events? Then join us here to get matched with other attendees at random to spark conversations and connections.

Break

3 - 3:10 p.m.

How Do We Bring Back Riders and Broadly Position Public Transit in the Year Ahead?

3:10 - 4:10 p.m.

The pandemic has created challenges and opportunities for public transportation in positioning public transit for the future for riders and for stakeholders. How do we recapture riders? As we bring back service or need to reduce services, how do we prioritize services that are equitable and sustainable? How should our messaging change? What are the opportunities to position public transit with new stakeholders, such as health care organizations, to expand our advocacy?

Session presented by BAE SYSTEMS 
 
Discussants
  • Andy Byford, Commissioner, Transport for London, London, United Kingdom
  • Katharine Kelleman, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA
  • Inez Evans Benson, SVP National Bus and Facilities Practice Director, WSP USA, New York, NY
  • Randy S. Clarke, General Manager and CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

Breakout Discussions

4:10 - 4:30 p.m.

Please join us for one of two breakout sessions:
 
Meet the Speakers. Want to hear more from our speakers? Join us for a live discussion with the speakers from the How Do We Bring Back Riders and Broadly Position Public Transit in the Year Ahead? session. Ask your questions, share your thoughts, and hear from your colleagues.
   
Small Group Discussions. Are you feeling nostalgic for those chance encounters that you get at in-person events? Then join us here to get matched with other attendees at random to spark conversations and connections.

APTA Awards Celebration

4:30 - 5:45 p.m.

Join us as we recognize and honor the 2020 APTA Award winners. APTA has selected 13 outstanding individual and agency winners of the 2020 APTA Awards. After the awards are announced, you’ll have an opportunity to hear from each winner and congratulate them.
 
The APTA Awards program recognizes excellence in the public transportation industry in North America. Known as the “best of the best,” award winners are outstanding role models of excellence, leadership, and innovation whose accomplishments have greatly advanced the industry.
 
Awards Celebration presented by Genfare
 
2020 AWARD WINNERS
Innovation Award
Golden Empire Transit, Bakersfield, CA
Pace Suburban Bus, Arlington, Heights, IL

Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award
0 – 4 Million Rides
Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, Livermore, CA
4 – 20 Million Rides
Central Ohio Transit Authority, Columbus, OH
Over 20 Million Rides
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston TX

Distinguished Service Award (Local & State)  
Sharon Bulova, Former Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Fairfax, VA

Outstanding Public Transportation Board Member Award
Sharon McBride, Board Secretary, Greater Peoria Mass Transit District, Peoria, IL 

Outstanding Public Transportation Business Member Award  
Freddie Fuller, II, Vice President, Jacobs, Arlington, VA

Outstanding Public Transportation Manager Award  
Nathaniel Ford, Sr, CEO, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

APTA Hall of Fame  
Barry Barker
Paul Jablonski (posthumously)
Celia Kupersmith
Dr Beverly Scott  
 

Thursday, October 22

Welcome and Opening Remarks

11 - 11:10 a.m.

Join us for the kickoff to another exciting day of in-depth and thought-provoking conversation.

Welcome/Introductory Remarks
  • Jeffrey A. Nelson, Past Chair, APTA; CEO/Managing Director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink), Moline, IL

Keynote Address: Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.

11:10 - 11:30 a.m.

Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. is the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and chair of African American Studies at Princeton University.  He is the former president of the American Academy of Religion, the largest professional organization of scholars of religion in the world.  He is the author of several important books on African American religion and philosophy, including An Uncommon Faith: A Pragmatic Approach to the Study of African American Religion and Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, which has been described as “one of the most imaginative, daring books of the twenty-first century.”

Keynote address presented by WSP USA
 
Keynote Speaker
  • Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Author, Noted Scholar, Professor, and Chair, Department of African American Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Break

11:30 - 11:40 a.m.

How Can the Industry Put Social and Racial Equity and Inclusion at the Forefront?

11:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.

The disproportionate  impact of the coronavirus pandemic on black and brown communities and the continued tragic examples of long-standing racial injustice have further illuminated the monumental work remaining to create an inclusive society. Public transportation plays a critical role in this effort. How does the industry address social and racial inequity and systemic racism with intentionality? What kinds of hard questions do we need to be asking our agencies and organizations? How can, and should, the pursuit of social and racial equity shape decision-making within transit organizations? Join these prominent leaders in a compelling discussion on how to create truly transformational change through the lens of equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Session presented by TranSystems Corporation
 
Discussants
  • Freddie C. Fuller, II, Vice President & Geographic Sales Manager, Jacobs, Woodbridge, VA
  • Alva Carrasco, Director, Rail & Transit/Los Angeles Officer Lead, Burns Engineering Inc., Los Angeles, CA
  • Adelee Marie Le Grand, AICP, Strategic Advisor, Intellectual Concepts LLC, Atlanta, GA
  • Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Author, Noted Scholar, Professor, and Chair, Department of African American Studies, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

Breakout Discussions

12:40 - 1 p.m.

Please join us for one of two breakout sessions:
 
Meet the Speakers. Want to hear more from our speakers? Join us for a live discussion with the speakers from the How Can the Industry Put Social and Racial Equity and Inclusion at the Forefront? session. Ask your questions, share your thoughts, and hear from your colleagues.
   
Small Group Discussions. Are you feeling nostalgic for those chance encounters that you get at in-person events? Then join us here to get matched with other attendees at random to spark conversations and connections.

Break

1 - 1:10 p.m.

How Have Calls To Reform Policing Affected Transit Security?

1:10 - 2:10 p.m.

Recent events have led to conversations about race, equity, and police reform. Join this discussion as agencies examine how these conversations impact their approaches to public safety and the support they receive, from both transit police and local law enforcement, to ensure the safety and security of transit riders and employees.

Introduction
  • Alex Z. Wiggins, Regional Transit Authority, New Orleans, LA
Discussants
  • Ronald Pavlik, Jr., Deputy Assistant Administrator, Surface Operations, Transportation Security Administration, Washington, DC
  • Ed Alvarez, Chief of Police, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), Oakland, CA
  • Vera Bumpers, Chief of Police, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX
  • Marla Blagg, Chief Safety Officer, AC Transit (Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District), Portland, OR

Breakout Discussions

2:10 - 2:30 p.m.

Please join us for one of two breakout sessions:
 
Meet the Speakers. Want to hear more from our speakers? Join us for a live discussion with the speakers from the How Have Calls To Reform Policing Affected Transit Security? session. Ask your questions, share your thoughts, and hear from your colleagues.
   
Small Group Discussions. Are you feeling nostalgic for those chance encounters that you get at in-person events? Then join us here to get matched with other attendees at random to spark conversations and connections.

Break

2:30 - 2:40 p.m.

What Megatrend Should we be Paying Most Attention to Right Now?

2:40 - 3:40 p.m.

Over the last decade the technology megatrends of smartphone adoption and electrification had tremendous impacts on urban mobility. So did the demographic megatrend of affluent people increasingly choosing to live in urban areas. What will the next decade bring? 

Looking ahead, possible technology megatrends include automation, artificial intelligence, and enhanced connectivity through 5G. On the societal side, possibilities include a retreat from density or a preference for sharing assets instead of owning them. Overlayed on top are the overarching forces of climate change and political polarization. Which of these is most likely to define the coming decade? What impact will they have on transit? Are there steps agencies should take now to prepare?

Session presented by Proterra Inc. 
 
Discussants
  • Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., Chief Executive Officer, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
  • Doug Kelsey, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), Portland, OR
  • Dr. Kari Edison Watkins, P.E., Associate Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
  • Charles A. Zelle, Chair, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

Breakout Discussions

3:40 - 4 p.m.

Please join us for one of two breakout sessions:
 
Meet the Speakers. Want to hear more from our speakers? Join us for a live discussion with the speakers from the What Megatrend Should we be Paying Most Attention to Right Now? session. Ask your questions, share your thoughts, and hear from your colleagues.
   
Small Group Discussions. Are you feeling nostalgic for those chance encounters that you get at in-person events? Then join us here to get matched with other attendees at random to spark conversations and connections.

Closing Discussion

4 - 4:30 p.m.

After two days of critical conversations, we ask APTA leaders to reflect on what they heard and tell us what gives them the most hope for the future of transit.

Speakers
  • Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
  • Hon. Nuria I. Fernandez, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Washington, DC
  • Jeffrey A. Nelson, Past Chair, APTA; CEO/Managing Director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink), Moline, IL