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June 10, 2022 | An APTA Publication
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Celebrating Rail in San Diego!
More than 1,500 transit professionals converged this week in San Diego, CA, for APTA’s 2022 Rail Conference, presented by HNTB, to address the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing all modes of rail transportation and to share lessons learned, best practices and the latest technological innovations.
The conference began with the Opening General Session, sponsored by HDR, Mon., June 6, with APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas welcoming attendees to the event. Jeffrey A. Nelson, APTA chair and CEO/managing director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLink), Moline, IL, gave the chair’s message, and Sharon Cooney, chief executive officer of host agency San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), offered a welcome to her city. Eve Williams, president/chief executive officer, Dikita Engineering, then introduced keynote speaker Dr. Leah Weiss, acclaimed researcher, leadership consultant and author.
The event included updates from FRA and FTA; the Rail Products & Services Showcase; the 2022 APTA Rail Safety and Security Excellence Awards; and sessions focusing on such topics as ridership, safety and security, diversity and equity, TOD, workforce development, sustainability and emissions, high-speed rail, and more.
Look for coverage of APTA’s 2022 Rail Conference in the June 17 issue of Passenger Transport.
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APTAU’s Kaleidoscope Webinar Series
How DEI Efforts Impact the Bottom Line
June 16, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
As public transit agencies and businesses advance diversity, equity and inclusion in their own organizations, they are often confronted with the question: "why are we doing this?" This webinar is designed to answer that question based on business objectives and goals. In other words, it is possible to see a return on investment (ROI) for DEI efforts if they are approached systematically. Hear from Patti Phillips, an ROI researcher, and two transit systems that have aligned their organizational goals with their DEI efforts. Learn more and register. View more from the APTAU Kaleidoscope series.
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Avery, Rock Region Metro
 The Rock Region Metro Board of Directors, Little Rock, AR, has announced Justin Avery as the agency’s new chief executive officer.
Avery has been with Metro for 10 years, most recently serving as chief financial officer.
Prior to joining Metro, Avery was a staff auditor at Craft, Veach & Company. For APTA, he serves on the Innovative Funding, Finance and P3 Committee.
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FTA, FHWA Flex Funding Webinar
FTA and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are hosting a webinar June 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern, on transferring (flexing) funds to promote safer routes to public transit and better community connections through the concept of Complete Streets, which includes approaches to planning, designing and operating roadways and rights-of-way to make transportation networks safer and more efficient.
Many of FHWA’s federal highway programs directly support improved pedestrian walkways, trails, lighting, bicycle lanes, and other projects that enhance safety and access to transit. However, state DOTs, cities, and Tribes have only infrequently used FHWA funds for small-scale safety and access improvements due to processes and requirements that are more suitable for large-scale highway projects. Flexing funds from FHWA programs to FTA programs facilitates federal investments at the local level for measures that improve safe access, particularly for underserved groups.
To promote fund flexing, FTA and FHWA have created a website that provides resources for project sponsors, localities, regions, state DOTs and public transit providers to understand how to use the flex-funding provision for simplified and lower-cost project delivery.
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FTA Publishes New Reports
FTA has published the Review of Standards for Track Inspection and Maintenance as a part of its Standards Development Program. The report focuses on the state of inspection and maintenance practices for rail transit agencies in the U.S. The report includes a comparison of U.S. standards for rail transit track inspection and maintenance to those of other countries; a gap analysis to determine deficiencies in current standards; and recommendations to FTA for developing voluntary standards, protocols, guidelines or recommended practices.
The Rail Transit Roadway/Pedestrian Grade Crossing, Exploratory Report includes an industry survey, case studies on four transit agencies and existing national standards, guidelines and regulations. The exploratory research and findings presented can serve as background information to develop safety standards that will help reduce incidents and accidents at rail transit roadway/pedestrian grade crossings.
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UPCOMING 2022 APTA CONFERENCES
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| |  | | | American Public Transportation Association | 1300 I St. NW, Suite 1200 East | Washington, DC 20005
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