Saturday, November 6

Registration & Host Desk

Rail Transit Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Working Group

Technology Workforce R&T Subcommittee

APTA Board of Directors Meeting w/ Business Meeting of the Membership

Capital Projects Subcommittee

Intergovernmental Issues Legislative Subcommittee

Commuter & Intercity Passenger Rail Legislative Subcommittee

Sunday, November 7

High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Committee

Registration & Host Desk

Speaker/Audio Visual Preview Room

Business Member Small Business Committee

Membership Committee

Business Member Procurement Committee

Federal Procedures & Regulations AND Funding, Finance & Tax Policy Legislative Subcommittees

Rail Standards Policy & Planning Committee

Business Member Business Development Committee

Diversity and Inclusion Council

Small Operations Committee

Fare Collection Systems Committee

American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) Board of Directors

Business Member Programs Committee

Bus Technical Maintenance Committee

Transit Board Administrators Subcommittee

Latinos in Transit Annual Membership Meeting

Legislative Committee

Streetcar Subcommittee

Bus Operations Committee

Mobility Management Committee

Commuter Rail CEOs Subcommittee

Transit Board Members Legislative Subcommittee

Systems Engineering Committee

Rail Transit Committee

Marketing & Communications Committee

Safety Coordinating Council

Leadership APTA Alumni Group

Bus & Paratransit CEOs Committee

Business Member Legislative Subcommittee

Access Committee

Transit Board Members Committee

Business Member Board of Governors

Information Technology Committee

Mid-Size Operations Committee

Rail Transit CEOs Committee

Workforce Development Committee

Zero Emission Fleet Committee

Planning, Policy and Program Development Committee

Commuter Rail Committee

Welcome Reception

American Public Transportation Foundation Reception

Please join the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) Board of Directors for a hosted reception and fundraiser in the Hyatt Regency Orlando's Orchid Room, 4th Level.. The 2021 APTF scholarship recipients, sponsors, and friends will enjoy a festive and inspirational event celebrating the future leaders of the public transit industry.

Remember to bring a gift for the Foundation. All donations will directly support the APTF’s mission to provide scholarships and engagement opportunities to the future leaders of the industry.

Visit the APTF website to learn more and make a donation

Title Sponsor: APTA Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) 

Sponsors: AECOM, ALSTOM, Genfare, WSP, Jacobs, STV Incorporated, Hatch LTK, Wabtec Corporation, United Safety and Survivability Corporation, GILLIG LLC, and SYSTRA Consulting, Inc./SYSTRA Engineering, Inc.

Monday, November 8

Research & Technology Committee

Coffee Service

Registration & Host Desk

Speaker/Audio Visual Preview Room

OPENING GENERAL SESSION w/ KEYNOTE

Opening General Session sponsored by AECOM

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

• Hon. Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC

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

• Hon. Jerry L. Demings, Chair, Board of County Commissioners and Mayor, Orange County, Orlando, FL
• Hon. Buddy Dyer, Mayor, City of Orlando and Chairman, LYNX - Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando, FL
• James E. Harrison, LYNX - Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando, FL

• Diane H. Cowin, SVP Director Global Transit – ESG, AECOM, Oakland, CA

• Eve Williams, President/Chief Executive Officer, Dikita Engineering, Dallas, TX

• Dr. Cady Coleman, former NASA Astronaut and Air Force Colonel, STEM Advocate, Washington, DC

EXPO 2021

GENERAL SESSION: Federal Partners Update

Attend this General Session to learn about our federal partners’ current initiatives and priorities. The session will begin with a fireside chat between FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez and FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose on the state of the industry, COVID-19 funding, Administration priorities, and IIJA opportunities. This will be followed by a panel discussion of top government officials discussing all aspects of safety.

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

• Hon. Nuria I. Fernandez, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Hon. Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC

• Joseph J. Giulietti, Connecticut Department of Transportation, Newington, CT

• Stephen J. Gardner, President, AMTRAK, Washington, DC
• Gregory K. Hynes, National Legislative Director, SMART Transportation Division, Washington, DC
• Jeffrey Rosenberg, Director of Government Affairs, Amalgamated Transit Union, Silver Spring, MD
• Polly Hanson, Senior Director - Security, Risk and Emergency Management, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC

Cities, Real Estate, Downtowns & Building-Back-Better

Trip patterns will continue to be impacted by the return of downtowns, the longevity of work-at-home trends, and the choices people and employers make about where they choose to live and work. Our panel will probe these and other real estate trends and their implications on public transportation, and discuss how the transit industry and its partners can work together to create communities and mobility networks that will be stronger, more sustainable, resilient, customer centric, and equitable.

• Dr. Joshua Schank, Ph.D., Managing Principal, InfraStrategies LLC, Los Angeles, CA

• Eulois Cleckley, Director and CEO, Department of Transportation & Public Works, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL
• Monica G. Tibbits-Nutt, AICP, LEED AP BD+C, Undersecretary of Transportation, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Boston, MA
• Tanya Wilder, Director of Transportation, City of Orlando Transportation Planning Bureau, Orlando, FL
• Charles DiMaggio, CEO, Greystone Management Solutions, New York, NY
• Karina Ricks, Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Congress and the Year Ahead on Infrastructure Investment

This session focuses on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Build Back Better Act, Transportation Appropriations, and implementation of critical infrastructure investment.

• Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL

• Jackie Schmitz, Majority Senior Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
• Homer Carlisle, Senior Advisor on Infrastructure, Transportation and Transit Policy, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
• Nicole Christus, Professional Staff Member, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate
• Kara Fischer, Senior Counsel, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC

Making an Organizational Commitment to Racial Equity Discussion Group

April, 2021 the APTA Board of Directors adopted a Racial Equity Action Plan to support the industry and APTA members in making a transformational impact on racial equity. The Action Plan establishes five goals, one of which is to provide APTA members with a pathway for advancing racial equity. To that end, APTA is launching a two-year Racial Equity Commitment pilot program open to all APTA members. Join this discussion to hear more about how your organization can get involved and what the program entails.

• David M. Stackrow, Sr., CPA, Member, Board of Directors, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY

• Adelee Marie Le Grand, AICP, Strategic Advisor, Intellectual Concepts LLC, Atlanta, GA
• Lauren Skiver, Chief Operating Officer, Transdev, Thousand Palms, CA
• Matthew O. Tucker, Global Transit Director, HDR, San Diego, CA
• Freddie C. Fuller, II, Vice President & Geographic Sales Manager, Jacobs, Woodbridge, VA

New Technologies and Issues in Fare Collection

• Endya M. Freeman, CPA, MBA, Immediate Past Chair, APTA Fare Collections Systems Committee; Revenue Manager, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Gregory Elsborg, Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX
• Cassandra Ecker Borchers, AICP, Chief Development Officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
• Sheri Dixon, Director of Revenue, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA
• Katharine Kelleman, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA

Transit as a Central Strategy for Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Regions and the Nation

Transportation is the economic sector with the largest output of greenhouse gas emissions, and is the place where the greatest opportunity for emissions reduction. Public transit is positioned to be a prime solution through a combination of strategies, including electrification, better land use, mode shift, and adoption of sustainable operating practices and climate action plans. Panelists will discuss strategies they have implemented, how they are measuring results and outcomes, and how your participation in FTA’s Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge can help make a difference.

Session sponsored by BAE SYSTEMS

• Janet R. Gonzalez Tudor, MBA, ENV SP, PROSCI, STP, Director, Transport Advisory Services, HDR, Chicago, IL

• Megan Blum, Director, Environmental Programs, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Aliesa Adelman, CSDP, LEED BD+C, Director of Sustainability, Wendel, Williamsville, NY
• Bob Dean, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago, IL
• Michael Wojnar, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, NY

Committee of Audit Professionals

Tuesday, November 9

Rolling Stock Equipment Technical Forum

Procurement and Supply Chain Committee

Business Member Workforce Development Committee

Registration & Host Desk

Speaker/Audio Visual Preview Room

APTA HONORS BREAKFAST

APTA HONORS CEREMONY

EXPO 2021

Inside the APTA Bus and Rail Safety, Security, and COVID-19 Response Excellence Awards

The Excellence Awards recognize bus and rail systems in North America for their outstanding safety and security programs and their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic through the application of effective safety, security, and/or COVID-19 initiatives. The session will highlight how the Excellence Awards recognize exceptional safety, security, and COVID-19 response and innovation, as well as effective solutions that serve the transit industry by benchmarking successful programs for others to adopt and derive similar benefits.

• Ronald Edwards, TSSP, WSO-CSSD, VP, Public Transportation and Safety Management Systems, ADS System Safety Consulting, LLC, Baltimore, MD

Infrastructure Investment and the View from Washington

Join us for this special session sharing current infrastructure investment updates from Washington.

• Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL

• Hon. Peter A. DeFazio, (D-OR), Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC

LYNX TECHNICAL TOUR

Enhancing the Customer Experience through Quality, Real-Time and Open Data

The digital world brings with it an abundance of data. How can we assure high-quality of data? How do we determine what should be made open? How can open architecture and integration make riding transit simpler and more cost-effective for transit agencies and riders? Our panel will discuss these and other possibilities to help determine how data can be the tool for improving network performance and service to the customer.  

• Jeff Hiott, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

• Andy Walker, Ito, Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Eric Reese, Managing Director - Americas, Vix Technology (USA) Inc., Tempe, AZ
• Norman K. Tuitavuki, Chief Operating Officer, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Monterey, CA
• Gretchen Newcomb, Director, Partnerships North America/Australasia, MobilityData International Organization, Hood River, OR

Innovations in Mobility: Transformational Ideas from Across the Continent

It's not easy for transit agencies to deploy new technologies or service models that save money or improve the passenger experience.  Creative start-ups can be overwhelmed by extensive procurement processes, and existing infrastructure may not easily accommodate a desired extension, update or integration. Drawing from the experiences of several transit systems that have launched creative technology pilots, and from key takeaways from APTA's Innovations in Mobility Webinar series, the panel will explore how agencies can move quickly when a great idea presents itself, while collecting data that informs decisions about whether to ultimately end the pilot or expand it.

• David Zipper, Principal, DZ Strategies LLC, Washington, DC

• Carlos Cruz-Casas, P.E., Chief Innovation Officer, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL
• Sharmila Mukherjee, AICP, Executive Vice President - Planning and Development, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
• Mark K. Dowd, Chief Innovation Officer, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, NY
• Christopher Pangilinan, Uber Transit | RouteMatch by Uber
• Sylvain Haon, Sr Director Strategy, UITP (International Association of Public Transport), Brussels, Belgium

Post-Pandemic Landscape

This session focuses on a forthcoming APTA report on public transit and the post-pandemic landscape. The session will cover the broad picture of what was learned during the pandemic and the future of public transit and their communities in a post-pandemic environment.

• Dr. Yonah Freemark, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute, Washington

• Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
• Julie E. Timm, GRTC Transit System, Seattle, WA
• Katharine Kelleman, Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Pittsburgh, PA
• E. Susan Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, Spokane Transit Authority, Spokane, WA

What an Equitable Transit Service Looks Like: Putting Equity Into Action

Transit agencies are reevaluating and reshaping their service with an equity lens in place. Join transit leaders to discuss what a commitment to delivering equitable service entails and how that is shaping service structures, delivery and access. Learn about the tools, practices, and policies that are effective in achieving equitable outcomes from comprehensive equity assessments to authentic community engagement and discuss the future of transit planning.

• Inez Evans Benson, SVP National Bus and Facilities Practice Director, WSP USA, New York, NY

• Monica Jones, Chief Equity Officer, Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Columbus, OH
• Sean L. Adgerson, Chief Operating Officer, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD
• Collina Washington-Beard, Director of Business Services, Lane Transit District, Eugene-Springfield, OR

What Can You Do To Stop a Cyber-Attack?

Cyber-attacks are a significant problem. Defending your networks and infrastructure against a ransomware hack or service disruption is more critical than ever, but where do you begin? Federal government cyber experts will share best practices, cybersecurity requirements, and available resources. 

• Yolanda R. Williams, CISSP, Cybersecurity State Coordinator and Advisor, Region IV, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Washington, DC
• Richard W. Andreski, President & CEO, Trinity Metro, Fort Worth, TX
• Nicholas E. Promponas, Senior Vice President, Transit Management Services, Transdev, Cincinnati, OH
• Sonya T. Proctor, Assistant Administrator for Surface Operations, Transportation Security Administration, Springfield, VA

LYNX TECHNICAL TOUR

CEOs Sharing Panel: Transit Agency Priorities and Challenges as we Emerge from the Pandemic

The past 18 months have presented unimaginable challenges for transit agencies trying to navigate the pandemic. But now agency CEOs must focus on putting back the pieces to support their communities as the nation recovers. Over the past six months, APTA has led a series of small group discussions with transit agency CEOs to discuss the major issues they are confronting – how to bring back riders, how to address issues of equity, where to find workers, and how best to support their employees and communities. APTA Chair Jeff Nelson will lead a discussion with transit leaders to explore the issues that were raised in these sessions and are shaping their decisions as the nation moves forward.

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

• Carrie Butler, Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY
• Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
• Jeanne Krieg, Retired, Jeanne Krieg, Oakley, CA
• Randy S. Clarke, General Manager and CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

Defining Workforce Needs to Support Bus Fleet Electrification

The expert panel of transit agency executives and APTA business members will discuss current success attracting adults and youth to the transit industry, identify career opportunities at all levels of the industry, and explain how agencies and OEMs working together can attract future workers to the industry.

• Ken Mall, Managing Director, Workforce Consulting, Educational Data Systems, Inc., Dearborn, MI

• Kirt Conrad, Chief Executive Officer, Stark Area Regional Transit Authority, Canton, OH
• Brad Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg, FL
• Sheila Jordan, Managing Partner, Knowledge Architects, LLC, Atlanta, GA
• Emmanuelle Toussaint, Nova Bus, Plattsburgh, NY
• Mike Finnern, VP, Transit, Proterra Inc., Greenville, SC
• Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
• Pamela J. Nabors, President/Chief Executive Officer, CareerSource Central Florida, Orlando, FL

From Volume to Value: Measuring and Communicating the Value of Transit Beyond Ridership – Part 1

The pandemic has shown communities across North America that transit is essential to keeping our economy moving and providing vital access each day to jobs, healthcare, education, and other basic needs. Traditionally, however, transit’s success has been quantified by how many passengers we carry rather than the true economic, social, and environmental benefits we provide to the broader community, both for those that use transit and those who do not. Join this compelling discussion on rethinking how transit’s value is measured and communicated to customers, the general public, and business and political leaders. What new metrics and practical tools are available and how are they being applied to tell a more comprehensive story?

• John M. Lewis, Jr., Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte, NC

• Dr. Cecilia Viggiano, Principal, Transit, EBP, Boston, MA

• Hon. Oliver G. Gilbert, III, Vice Chairman, Board of County Commissioners; Chair, Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, Miami, FL
• Robbie Makinen, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Kansas City, MO
• Khaled Jamil Shammout, Vice President, Strategic Planning & Transit Development, Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority(SORTA)/Metro, Cincinnati, OH
• Dr. Adiele Nwankwo, Managing Partner, Cincar Consulting Group LLC, Atlanta, GA
• Aileen Boucle, AICP, Executive Director, Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, Miami, FL

Hot Topics in Safety and FTA Safety-related Initiatives

Join us for this important session covering major issues in transit and rail safety. This includes the FTA’s Part 673 Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) rule for which 100% of bus and rail transit agencies are now in compliance. Two transit agency representatives will speak about their PTASPs, including how they drafted them, best practices, and moving forward with SMS implementation at their respective agencies. A representative from FTA will also speak about the PTASP rule, including compliance and technical assistance; and will provide an update on FTA’s major safety and security-related initiatives, including: COVID-19 vaccine access, the safety concerns and RWP/worker assaults request for information, and the enhanced transit safety and crime prevention initiative. Finally, a Transportation Research Board (TRB) contractor, involved in the project titled “TCRP SA-51 Transit Safety Risk Management Methodologies,” will speak on relevant findings regarding safety, SMS, and risk management.

Session sponsored by HNTB Corporation 

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

• Gail Lyssy, P.E., Acting Associate Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight and Chief Safety Officer, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
• Ronald L. Ester, Jr., Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Boston, MA
• James Wojciechowski, Jr., Assistant Chief Safety Officer, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC
• Joan German Hudson, Research Engineer, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, College Station, TX

Smart Money – Successful Strategies for Capital Investment and Project Selection

Join us for an engaging session on capital investment strategies including selecting and prioritizing the right projects. We will also provide an overview of FTA’s Capital Investment Grant Program (CIG), giving attendees a great framework for what is and is not covered in this grant program. Whether your interest lies in New Starts, Small Starts, or Core Capacity, this is the session for you.

• Andrew D Brennan, Vice President/National Transit & Rail Practice, HNTB Corporation, Boston, MA

• Peter M. Rogoff, Managing Partner, Contorta Group, Seattle, WA
• Leanne P. Redden, Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago, IL
• Carmino N. Basile, Chief Executive Officer, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY
• Kammy Horne, AICP, CEO, Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility (formerly Rail-Volution), Austin, TX

Transit Ridership Trends and the Future of Ridership

The pandemic has brought about major changes in ridership levels and trends – some temporary, some potentially longer lasting. Modes like commuter rail and commuter bus have seen a large reduction in ridership with a tepid recovery. Certain urban bus routes have maintained ridership and some services have seen a “flattening” out of traditional peak/nonpeak patterns. This session will highlight best practices on ridership growth during these times and as we transition to a post-pandemic world. It will also feature thoughts on how a city/region can drive ridership growth, as well as what fare policies will look like in the future to drive ridership growth and revenue for transit agencies.

• Kevin S. Corbett, President & CEO, New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT), Newark, NJ
• Miguel Velazquez, CEO, Regional Transit Service, Inc., Rochester, NY
• Leslie S. Richards, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
• Nadine Lee, P.E., President & CEO, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX

Leadership APTA Alumni Reception

Wednesday, November 10

Continental Breakfast

Registration & Host Desk

Speaker/Audio Visual Preview Room

GENERAL SESSION w/ KEYNOTE

General Session sponsored by BYD Motors, Inc.

• Matthew O. Tucker, Global Transit Director, HDR, San Diego, CA

• Frank Girardot, Senior Director of Communications, Ride, Los Angeles, CA

• "Chef Jeff" Henderson, Award-Winning Celebrity Chef, Best-Selling Author, Entreprenour, Motivational Speaker, Newport Beach, CA

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

EXPO 2021

Becoming an Equity-Fluent Leader

Your organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is putting the operational elements in place. As a leader, whether you are a CEO, senior executive, or transit board member, how do you provide consistent vision and direction and remain congruent with the DEI values of your organization? What do you do to educate yourself on historical and current equity challenges and to connect to what DEI means to your team, your customers, and your stakeholders? What does authentic engagement truly look like?

• Flora M. Castillo, C.H.I.E., President, Pivot Strategies, LLC, Ventnor, NJ

• Dorval R. Carter, Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL
• Jannet M. Walker-Ford, Senior Vice President & National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA, Orlando, FL
• Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Board Director, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA

Designing and Building Resiliency into our Transit Infrastructure Networks

Transit facilities, equipment, and networks must be planned, designed, and built to be resilient and able to withstand extreme weather events. Panelists will share their forward-looking planning and practices to address system vulnerabilities associated with the increased frequency of extreme heat, rising sea levels, storm surge, high winds, flooding, earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes.

Session sponsored by HDR

• Adelee Marie Le Grand, AICP, Strategic Advisor, Intellectual Concepts LLC, Atlanta, GA

• Naomi Renek, Senior Advisor, Federal Policy, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, NY
• Andrew S. Skabowski, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX
• Carlos Cruz-Casas, P.E., Chief Innovation Officer, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami, FL

Now Hiring! Successful Approaches to Your Transit Worker Shortage

The COVID-19 landscape has taken a toll on an already constrained labor market, especially on our frontline workforce. From employee incentives, modifying service and re-vamping internal processes, agencies are pulling out all the stops to bring in and retain one of transit’s most critical assets – its workforce. Please join us as we hear from our agency peers on successful approaches to workforce hiring and retention challenges that are impacting our industry.

• LaShanda Dawkins, Esq., Assistant General Manager, Labor & Employee Relations, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA
• Patrice McElroy, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
• Andrew Aiello, Chief of Staff, Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority(SORTA)/Metro, Cincinnati, OH
• Gary Howard, VP - Rail Operations, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro), Houston, TX

Reimagining Transit Public Safety and Security

Transit CEOs are thinking critically about transit public safety and security. Working with their Boards of Directors, employees, and the community, agencies have begun reshaping what transit public safety and security looks like. These reimagined initiatives move away from enforcement when it can be averted and employ transit ambassadors, mental health clinicians, crisis interventionists, and advocates for the unsheltered to ensure that transit systems serve their communities in an equitable way.

• Darryl Jamail, Sr. Director of Public Safety & Emergency Management, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
• Marla Blagg, Chief Safety Officer, AC Transit (Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District), Portland, OR
• Matt Walling, Interim Chief of Police/Deputy Chief, Field Operations, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX

Seizing the Moment: New Opportunities to Advance High-Performance Rail

The United States is on the verge of a historic investment in passenger rail corridors. How can the transportation community seize the moment to deliver projects expeditiously and translate plans into actions? Our panel will describe how these new opportunities will translate into projects that bring economic growth, improved equity, and sustainability.

• Norman Forde, Vice President Market Leader - Fleet and Facilities, North America, Mott MacDonald, Tampa, FL

• Christine Kefauver, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Brightline Trains Florida LLC, Orlando, FL
• Ray Lang, Senior Director - National State Relations, AMTRAK, Chicago, IL
• Nicole Bucich, Director, Planning, Northeast Corridor Commission , Washington, DC

The Evolution of Zero-Emission Technology and How to Manage It

The transit industry continues to embrace battery and fuel cell buses, deploying them at a record pace and embracing a future of zero-emission fleets.  How do you successfully navigate through this multi-year transition even as the battery and fuel cell bus technologies will keep evolving? How do you make smart decisions, avoid being paralyzed by options, and make steady progress? There’s no one formula, but in this session you’ll hear from experts on how they are thinking about and planning the ZEB transition, taking into consideration how battery and fuel cell buses and their infrastructure options may progress – all with an eye toward maintaining service and avoiding stranded assets.

• Lauren Skiver, Chief Operating Officer, Transdev, Thousand Palms, CA

• Doran J. Barnes, Chief Executive Officer, Foothill Transit, West Covina, CA
• Kellen Schefter, Director, Electric Transportation, Edison Electric Institute, Washington, DC
• Jeff Hiott, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Washington, DC

Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Affordable housing is integral to the planning of transit corridors. E-TOD builds equitable communities, maximizes ridership, and serves our core market. The pandemic has made clear who are the essential workers and what are the essential destinations. As we build back better, transit agencies will be more focused on expanding communities for these persons and places. Our panel will present case studies on building transit-oriented communities with equity as an essential outcome.

• Collie Greenwood, general manager and CEO, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA

• Jeffrey A. Parker, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
• Catherine LaFata, AICP CTP, Transportation Equity Director, HDR, Boston, MA
• Kammy Horne, AICP, CEO, Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility (formerly Rail-Volution), Austin, TX
• Christine Beckwith, PE, MBA, PMA Consultants, Minneapolis, MN

From Volume to Value: Measuring and Communicating the Value of Transit Beyond Ridership – Part 2

The pandemic has shown communities across North America that transit is essential to keeping our economy moving and providing vital access each day to jobs, healthcare, education, and other basic needs. Traditionally, however, transit’s success has been quantified by how many passengers we carry rather than the true economic, social, and environmental benefits we provide to the broader community, both for those that use transit and those who do not. Join this compelling discussion on rethinking how transit’s value is measured and communicated to customers, the general public, and business and political leaders. What new metrics and practical tools are available and how are they being applied to tell a more comprehensive story?

• David M. Stackrow, Sr., CPA, Member, Board of Directors, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY

• Mark R. Aesch, Chief Executive Officer, TransPro Consulting, Spring Hill, FL

• John M. Lewis, Jr., Charlotte Area Transit System, Charlotte, NC
• Robbie Makinen, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, Kansas City, MO
• Caitlin Vargas, President, Board of Directors, Lane Transit District, Springfield, OR
• Kevin J. Holzendorf, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, FL
• Carmino N. Basile, Chief Executive Officer, Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY

Passenger Rail Shared-Corridor Best Practices

Commuter and passenger rail authorities are always looking to grow the footprint for passenger rail. One of the key facets of growth is working with host railroads, especially freight railroads. This session will highlight some of the best practices to work with freight and other host railroads to encourage faster realization of capital projects to increase capacity.

• Michael McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Richmond, VA
• Derrick James, Senior Manager, Government Affairs, AMTRAK, Washington, DC
• Ulrich Leister, CEO, DB E.C.O. North America Inc., Sacramento, CA

Sustainable State & Local Transit Funding and Innovative Financing Post-Pandemic

Many state and local governments see the months ahead as an opportune time to consider new, forward-looking strategies to help assure the ongoing financial health of public transportation. VMT fees, delivery fees, special transit taxes and low-cost capital programs to accelerate project delivery are a few of the ideas to be highlighted in this session. Come hear how these approaches can be replicated in your own community.

• Damian J. Carey, C.Eng., Senior Program Director, Jacobs , Washington, DC

• Aileen Boucle, AICP, Executive Director, Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, Miami, FL
• Dr. Joshua Schank, Ph.D., Managing Principal, InfraStrategies LLC, Los Angeles, CA
• Joshua Cohen, Executive Director, APTA Center for Transportation Excellence, Washington, DC

Transit’s Response to the Societal Issue of Homelessness

It has been reported that homelessness is present across transit systems. Transit agencies have reported an increase in persons experiencing homelessness during the pandemic and are exploring solutions to address their needs. Agencies are engaging their employees and regional stakeholders and partnering with social service and charitable organizations to develop strategies to provide support to those who need them.

• Kenneth A, Divers, Assistant Director of Transportation, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Philadelphia, PA
• Flora M. Castillo, C.H.I.E., President, Pivot Strategies, LLC, Ventnor, NJ
• James A. Cook, Assistant Chief of Police, AMTRAK, Washington, DC
• Laura J. Grams, Transit Planning Lead, HDR, Houston, TX

EXPO Advisory Committee