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2020 APTAtech - 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.

Please note we have identified sessions for continuing education credits (CEUs) for professional engineers and certified planners.
 

Wednesday, September 9

Welcome & Opening Remarks

11 - 11:15 a.m.

Kick off Day 1 of your APTAtech experience with opening remarks from our leadership and hosts for the day.

Welcomes/Introductory Remarks
  • Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
  • Hon. Nuria I. Fernandez, General Manager/CEO, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Washington, DC
Hosts for the Day
  • Manjit Kaur Sooch, Director of Innovation and Technology, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
  • Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

Covid-19 Innovations for Recovery

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

As transit agencies begin the difficult work of reorienting themselves for a post-COVID-19 world, there is a looming question about the role of Innovation and Technology in COVID-19 response and recovery. While the pandemic has strained transit agencies with new challenges, it has also forced agencies to think differently on how to adopt innovative ways that can ultimately regain the trust of the rider. Hear from speakers at AC Transit and Austin’s Capital Metro about how innovation is helping transit to recover from the pandemic. 

Moderator
  • Megan C. Huff, Vice President & Managing Principal, TYLIN (formerly T.Y. Lin International, Inc.), Lansdale, PA
Speakers
  • Mirza Ahsan Baig, Chief Information Officer, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
  • Charlie Jackson, Senior Director of CX Innovation, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA

Navigating Ridership Demographic Changes

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Hear from agencies across the U.S. about how they’ve responded to the changing demographics and demands of their riders. As ridership has shifted from 9-5 commuters to service industry and essential workers, transit agencies are pressed to rethink the ways in which they will meet rider preferences and needs, and how they will plan for the future.

PLANNING CEUs: .75CM  

Speakers
  • Sharmila Mukherjee, AICP, Executive Vice President - Planning and Development, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
  • Katharine Kelleman, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA
  • Richard I. Tree, Transit Manager, Transit Division, City of Porterville, Porterville, CA
  • Michael Epstein, AICP, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL

Networking Break

12 - 12:15 p.m.

During the networking break, watch a short video on how to navigate our virtual meeting site or visit the Networking Room and connect with your colleagues!

Innovative New Technologies for Transit

12:15 - 1 p.m.

Technology continues to be more and more inextricably linked to mobility. Hear from our speakers about how they are embracing new technological innovations. First, Piper Networks will talk about how they’re using proprietary Ultra-Wideband positioning technology to help transit agencies in Contact Tracing. Then we will hear from AC Transit and WSP about transitioning to Zero-Emission Bus Technology.

Moderator
  • Mike Nabhan, Asset Performance Manager, Regional Transportation District, Denver, CO
Speakers
  • Robert Hanczor, CEO, Piper Networks, San Diego, CA
  • Salvador Llamas, Chief Operating Officer, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
  • Alva Carrasco, Director, Rail & Transit/Los Angeles Officer Lead, Burns Engineering Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Intellectual Property & Protecting Your Ridership Data: Legal Concerns & What You Need to Know

12:15 - 1 p.m.

We once again welcome back Holland and Knight Partner, Max Bodoin. Learn all about the legal and intellectual property implications of fare technology. As many of us know, there are several concerns centered around intellectual property and data. This session will review what to consider when procuring new technology — identifying new sources and uses of data, significant added value, as well as significant potential risk. We will offer an extended Q&A session to allow the audience to interact and ask questions.

Speaker
  • Maximillian J. Bodoin, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, Boston, MA

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Virtual Tour 1

1 - 1:15 p.m.

Don’t miss Part 1 during the break! Join representatives from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority on a virtual tour of Austin and their facilities. Throughout the conference, there will be 3 different tour segments hosted by Cap Metro.

Tabletop Discussions

1:15 - 2 p.m.

Feeling inspired by a previous session? Looking to discuss a topic in depth? Join one of our informal tabletop discussions; be ready to speak your mind and make connections -- these discussions will be highly interactive and bring attendees together to tackle some of the most salient issues in the industry.

PLANNING CEUs: .75 for TABLE 3
 
Table 1 discussion presented by Moovit
Table 2 discussion presented by Macro a Division of Ross & Baruzzini
 
TABLE 1: Transit Agency CEO\GM Roundtable
Facilitator
  • Hon. Nuria I. Fernandez, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Washington, DC
Discussants
  • Inez Evans Benson, SVP National Bus and Facilities Practice Director, WSP USA, New York, NY
  • John Manconi, OC Transpo/City of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON
  • Michael Hursh, General Manager, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
  • Paul J. Wiedefeld, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
  • MJ Maynard, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
TABLE 2: The Chief Innovation Officer’s Role in Inclusion and Equity
Facilitator
  • Alesia Cain, Head of Umo Solutions and Market Development, Cubic Transportation Systems, New York, NY
Discussants
  • Gary Miskell, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA
  • Veronica M. Vanterpool, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
  • Kimberly J. Williams, J.D., Chief Innovation Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX
  • Dr. Richard Ezike, Senior Policy Associate/Manager, Accelerating Innovation for Inclusion Initiative, Urban Institute, Washington, DC
TABLE 3: International AV Transit Projects
Facilitator
  • William Tsuei, PMP, CPA, CSM, Director of Information Technology, Access Services, El Monte, CA
Discussants
  • Sharad Agarwal, Senior Vice President, EasyMile, Inc., Denver, CO
  • Jean-Baptiste Boneu, Head of Solutions Marketing & New Mobility Activities, Ratp Dev, Paris, France
  • Ming-te Wang, Ph.D., Director, Bureau of Transportation, Tainan City Government, Tainan City, Taiwan
TABLE 4: Fare Collection for Small Agencies
Facilitator
  • Robert G. Ayers, President, Ayers Electronic Systems, LLC, Richmond, VA

Networking Break

2 - 2:15 p.m.

During this break, make new connections in the Networking Room or engage with our sponsors by visiting the Sponsor Page.

Open and Contactless Payment and the Realities of Technology

2:15 - 3 p.m.

With more and more push for contactless fare technology, transit agencies need to understand the realities of procurement and implementation. This session will cover how to implement open and contactless payment to your current fare collection system, as well as the benefits this advanced technology can provide to both agencies and riders. This session will also address setting expectations with leadership, stakeholders, and more.

Speakers
  • Eric Kaled, President, Genfare, Elk Grove Village, IL
  • Edward Donovan, Solution Architect, Siemens Mobility, Inc`, New York, NY

Voice Communication Technology for Transit

2:15 - 3 p.m.

Transit technologies have gone through transformative changes in recent years in on-board, central, and infrastructure-related systems. Throughout this transformation, voice communication remains the backbone of driver and dispatch exchanges. Whether it is to report an accident or to inform a bus driver of an operational change, voice communication technology is critical to successful public transit operations. Historically agencies have used wireless communication based on land mobile radio (LMR)-based technology that required significant capital investment along with operations and maintenance expenses. However, the advent of affordable high-bandwidth cellular communication has opened other opportunities. This session will provide lessons from several transit agencies’ experiences with voice communication projects.

ENGINEERING CEUs: .75CM 

Moderator
  • Jon Adams, P.E., Communications Systems Practice Lead, HDR, Phoenix, AZ
Speakers
  • Mackenzie Arthur de Carle, Mobility Specialist, IBI Group, Boston, MA
  • Luis Tolosa, Jr., Technology Manager, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA

Fitness Break

3 - 3:15 p.m.

This fun and interactive break will get you moving and help you refocus for the next set of sessions. A licensed fitness instructor will guide you through low-impact exercises and stretches designed to strengthen your body and mind.

Instructor
  • Braegan Padley, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Washington, DC

The Possibilities of Autonomous Vehicle Technology for Transit

3:15 - 4 p.m.

As we continue to craft a vision for the mobility network of the future, autonomous and connected vehicle technology seems to become more and more central to that vision. Hear about the latest autonomous vehicle (AV) landscape and from some of the agencies that have launched successful transit AV pilots.

PLANNING CEUs: .75CM  

Moderator
  • Valentin Scinteie, MBA, Director Business Development, Transportation, Kontron America, Inc., Boisbriand, QC
Speakers
  • Marc Amblard, Managing Director, Orsay Consulting, Palo Alto, CA
  • Joshua J. Cregger, Technology Policy Analyst, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, MA
  • Justin John, Transportation Program Specialist, Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Transit Applications for Systems Engineering

3:15 - 4 p.m.

Systems engineering (SE) should be considered a means by which transit agencies can successfully deliver projects and meet agency and customer needs. Hear about case studies that underscore the benefits/successes of an SE approach. This session will also provide an update on the progress on the APTA Systems Integration Guide.

ENGINEERING CEUs: .75CM 

Moderator
  • Bridgette A. Beato, Chief Executive Officer, Lumenor Consulting Group, Alpharetta, GA
Speakers
  • David M. Springstead, Logistic Consultant, Radix Engineering & Software, Atlanta, GA
  • Dale A. Brown, P.Eng., Director of Systems Engineering, Atkins, Edison, NJ

Virtual Happy Hour & Debrief

4 - 5 p.m.

Join us for a fun cocktail hour with a little bit of Austin flair! We will take this opportunity to do a quick debrief of Day 1 of the conference.

 

Thursday, September 10

Welcome & Opening Remarks

11 - 11:15 a.m.

Welcome to Day 2 of APTATech. Join our hosts for the day and hear from Randy Clarke, President &CEO of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Jeff Nelson, APTA Vice Chair, as we get set for another day of engaging sessions.

Welcomes/Introductory Remarks
  • Randy S. Clarke, General Manager and CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
  • Jeffrey A. Nelson, Past Chair, APTA; CEO/Managing Director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink), Moline, IL
Hosts for the Day
  • Dan Harmuth, PMP, CDPSE, IT Director, Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Christina Belmont, Vice President of Marketing, SDI, Chicago, IL

Anticipating a Second COVID-19 Spike - How to Prepare, Innovative Approaches, and Lessons Learned

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

As some states and countries struggle to get out of the first spike of COVID-19, transit agencies are in the position of calling on their experiences with the virus to prepare and use best practices. This includes leveraging some of the latest innovations in disinfecting, contact tracing, contactless fare collection, and using data to enforce low vehicle capacity/social distancing. Hear about how transit agencies will prepare for a second wave of COVID-19, and what they will do to continue offering essential transit service while keeping their riders and employees safe. Furthermore, we’ll delve into leadership during a pandemic — how to empower employees, how to educate employees on health and safety procedures, how to motivate and protect frontline employees, and more.

Speaker
  • Cyndi Raskin, Director of Commuter Services and Chief Safety Officer, Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority, Tampa, FL

Open Data Standards

11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Open data and open source software can allow transit agencies to make integrated service information readily accessible to riders without requiring them to navigate a constellation of different apps, websites, and phone trees. In this session, attendees will learn about the real-world impact of public transit accessibility data (and its absence). We will hear from agencies in urban, suburban, and rural contexts that are using GTFS-Flex to address a number ofdemand response services.

ENGINEERING CEUs: .75CM 

Moderator
  • Scott Mazick, Director, Technical Services, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Speakers
  • Dr. David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer, Transit app, Montreal, QC
  • Katie Monroe, Partnerships, Transit app, Montreal, QC
  • Paul Sorensen, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Cambridge Systematics, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Virtual Tour 2

12 - 12:15 p.m.

Join representatives from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority for Part 2 of a virtual tour of their facilities.

Leveraging Technology to Improve Service

12:15 - 1 p.m.

To be successful developing new mobility options in this rapidly changing transit environment, you need to be able to leverage technology and measure its impacts. This session will feature two case studies from agencies doing just that: San Joaquin Regional Transit Authority (RTD) and Metro Transit. RTD is providing multiple modes of service, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Fixed Route, Commuter Bus, County Hoppers (Deviated Fixed Route, Demand Response ADA and Non-ADA Paratransit, Non-Profits, Taxis, and VanGo Ridesharing services. Metro Transit is using flexible, open source coding software (R, R Markdown, and R Shiny) to develop datasets, figures, reports, and interactive data tools from existing APC datasets from the bus and rail CAD-AVL systems. Example outputs included: daily ridership changes from pre-COVID baseline by mode, trips, and segments experiencing overloading under a new, more restrictive standard of 10 passengers per 40-foot bus; and amounts of time passengers and operators experienced overloaded conditions across the bus network.

Session presented by Hallcon Corporation

Moderator
  • Stuart Crust, Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc., Lowell, MA
Speakers
  • Dr. Eric Lind, Ph.D., Manager of Research & Analytics, Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN
  • Gloria G. Salazar, CEO, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton, CA

Payment Processing 101: Everything You Should Know

12:15 - 1 p.m.

What is the role of an acquirer? How about the issuing bank? This educational session will delve into the process of payment processing. Hear about the basics of payment processing, how it all works and comes together, as well as how to better negotiate with vendors.

Speakers
  • Arash Kahvazadeh, Business Development Director, Mastercard, New York, NY
  • Richard Combs, Discover Global Network, Riverwoods, IL
  • Kenneth H Ritchie, Directory, Cybersource Global Travel and Transit Solutions, Cybersource, Lechlade, United Kingdom

Fitness Break

1 - 1:15 p.m.

Get up and stretch during this interactive break. A licensed fitness instructor will guide you through low-impact exercises designed to refresh your body and mind and help you focus for the next set of sessions.

Instructor
  • Braegan Padley, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Washington, DC

Tabletop Discussions

1:15 - 2 p.m.

Feeling inspired by a previous session? Looking to discuss a topic in depth? Join one of our informal tabletop discussions; be ready to speak your mind and make connections -- these discussions will be highly interactive and bring attendees together to tackle some of the most salient issues in the industry.

PLANNING CEUs: .75 for TABLE 5
ENGINEERING CEUs: .75 for TABLE 6
 
Table 6 discussion presented by Moovit 
 
TABLE 5: North America Transit AV Projects Update
Facilitator
  • Valentin Scinteie, MBA, Kontron America, Inc., Boisbriand, QC
Discussants
  • Bernard Schmidt, Vice President of Automation, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
  • Gregory A. Walker, AECOM, Tempe, AZ
  • Tara Lanigan, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Transportation, Ann Arbor, MI
TABLE 6: Chief Information Technology Roundtable
Facilitator
  • Paul Comfort, Esq., Executive Director, North American Transit Alliance, Cedar Rapids, IA
Discussants
  • Al Martinez, Director, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
  • Jeffrey Devlin, CIO, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA
  • Michael Helta, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD
  • Julie Cagliostro, Chief Information Officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Lisa Walton, Chief Technology Officer, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), San Francisco, CA
TABLE 7: MaaS – Fares on the Phone
Facilitator
  • Richard J Lobron, PMP CBBSS, Assistant Vice President / Director Rail Operations, WSP USA, Berwyn, PA
TABLE 8: Best Practices of Revenue Management
Facilitator
  • David deKozan, Vice President, Business Development, Cubic Transportation Systems, San Diego, CA
TABLE 9: Using Loyalty Programs to Increase Ridership and Decrease Carbon Emissions
Facilitator
  • George Karayannis, Vix Technology (USA) Inc., Seattle, WA

Networking Break

2 - 2:15 p.m.

During this break, make new connections in the Networking Room or engage with our sponsors by visiting the Sponsor Page.

COVID-19’s Impact on the Technology Transit Workforce

2:15 - 3 p.m.

The challenges facing today’s transit workforce make up a trifecta -- the transit workforce is aging, which will ultimately result in a ‘silver tsunami’ of retirements and position vacancies; mobility is becoming more entrenched in technology, which means the future workforce will need different skill sets; and a global pandemic is threatening the safety and health of the many essential workers that keep our service running. Hear various perspectives on how to manage these significant shifts in the transit workforce.

Moderator
  • David A. Boate, P.E., Vice President, Transit & Rail NE USA Business Line Leader, Gannett Fleming, Inc., Newark, NJ
Speakers
  • Eric R. Daleo, Gateway Development Commission (GDC), Newark, NJ
  • Matthew Karaman, Vice President, HR and Talent Acquisition, Clever Devices Ltd., Woodbury, NY

Emerging Technology in Fare Collection

2:15 - 3 p.m.

Attend this session for a broad conversation about new technologies in fare collection and payment. Everything from the procurement of new technology to the impact of its implementation will be discussed as we take a deep dive into how new solutions affect a transit agency, from agency operations to ridership.

Speakers
  • Sanford M. Weinberg, Retiree, Sanford Weinberg, Orange Village, OH
  • Xavier Perez, Project Manager, Conduent Transportation, Guilarend-Grange Cedex, France
  • Peter Knudsen, General Manager, Passenger Predictability Solutions, Veovo Inc, Orlando, FL

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Virtual Tour 3

3 - 3:15 p.m.

Don't miss Part 3, the finale, of the virtual tour hosted by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Safety and Security Considerations in the Age of Connected Mobility

3:15 - 4 p.m.

Safety and security is one of the most important pillars of transit agency operation. Many agencies oversee different modes of transportations, such as bus, light rail, commuter rail and others. With technology evolving rapidly, there are many solutions to resolve safety and security matters in the transit and rail industries. All of these technologies will empower the industry to prevent incidents and accidents and reduce any associated injuries, human or financial costs. These new technologies are also required to go through rigorous certification processes by authorities such as FTA and FRA. Come to this session to learn more about the rapidly changing and evolving safety and security landscape for transit.

Moderator
  • Alireza Edraki, MASc, LLM, PEng, PMP, Associate Vice President, HNTB Corporation, New York, NY
Speakers
  • Scott Belcher, JD, MPP, Founder and CEO, SFB Consulting, LLC, Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), Alexandria, VA
  • Gardner C. Tabon, CSE, EVP, Systemwide Accessibility & Chief Safety Officer, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX

The Future of Fare Payment Is Now

3:15 - 4 p.m.

The future of fare collection is now. Take a peek at what some select fare collection system providers are developing for customers to pay their fares. Providers will showcase some of the most advanced fare collection technology demonstrating how it works and answer attendees questions. You won’t want to pass on these demonstrations of future fare collection technologies and miss the opportunities to plan for future fare payment technology.

Demo/Q&A - Genfare
  • Daria van Engelen, Chief Revenue Officer, Genfare, Elk Grove Village, IL
Demo/Q&A - Scheidt & Bachmann USA
  • Daniel Terryn, CEO, North America, Fare Collection Systems, Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc., Lowell, MA
Demo/Q&A - Conduent Transportation
  • Peter C. Comps, Fare Collection Systems Specialist, WSP USA, Chicago, IL
  • Bill Burnet, Conduent Transportation
Demo/QA - Bytemark, Inc.
  • Alex Litchfield, Vice President, Business Development, Strategic Sales, Vix Technology (USA) Inc., New York, NY
  • Stephanie Schrauth, VP Product Management, Siemens Mobility, Inc`, New York, NY
Demo/QA - Cubic Transportation Systems
  • Robert Sprogis, Senior Product Director, Cubic Transportation Systems
Demo/QA - INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc.
  • Thomas Schaich, Director of Engineering, Fare Collection, INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc., Chesapeake, VA
Demo/QA - Vix Technology (USA) Inc.
  • Gary P. Googins, PMP, General Manager, Vix Technology (USA) Inc., Seattle, WA
  • Nick Halden, Director of Technology, Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc., Lowell, MA

Closing Remarks

4 - 4:10 p.m.
Speakers
  • Manjit Kaur Sooch, Director of Innovation and Technology, AC Transit (Alameda Contra-Costa Transit District), Oakland, CA
  • Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL