|
|
March 17, 2023 | An APTA Publication
|
Public Transportation, Rail Professionals Gather for APTA Legislative, High-Speed Rail Events
More than 750 public transportation industry professionals from across the U.S. convened in Washington, DC, for APTA’s 2023 Legislative Conference March 12-14. Opening day featured remarks by Mitch Landrieu, senior advisor to the President and infrastructure coordinator, The White House; Polly Trottenberg, deputy secretary, USDOT; FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez; Mary Frances Repko, deputy national climate advisor, The White House; as well as panel discussions with other key Administration and Capitol Hill staff and top political journalists.
Paul P. Skoutelas (left) and Mitch Landrieu
The event included sessions with federal officials on top public policy issues affecting public transportation, including implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and discussions centered around creating jobs, advancing equity and addressing climate change. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with congressional staffers on Capitol Hill to discuss priorities for their communities.
More than 300 industry leaders from around the world attended APTA’s High-Speed Rail Seminar, Connecting America’s Cities, to discuss the growing number of rail projects under the IIJA March 15-16.
From left: APTA Chair Dorval R. Carter Jr., Ray LaHood, Former APTA Chair Jeff Nelson
Sessions included a conversation with former congressman and former USDOT secretary Ray LaHood, opening and closing remarks from FRA Administrator Amit Bose and Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell and an overview of global trends in advancing high-speed rail from the leaders of the International Union of Railways.
Read full coverage of the two events in the March 24 issue of Passenger Transport.
|  |  | |
From left: Sara Stickler, Paul P. Skoutelas, Laura Chace, Dave Bauer, Victoria Sheehan, Jim Tymon
APTA President Speaks at WTS Symposium
APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas spoke on a panel at the Spring Policy Symposium held by WTS on The State of Transportation: Through an Association’s Lens March 16 in Washington, DC.
Fellow panelists included Laura Chace, president and CEO, Intelligent Transportation Society of America; Dave Bauer, president and CEO, American Road & Transportation Builders Association; Victoria Sheehan, executive director, Transportation Research Board; and Jim Tymon, executive director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Sara Stickler, president and CEO, WTS International, was moderator.
Skoutelas explained the diversity of APTA’s membership and how the association’s members work together with transparency and inclusivity as key values, which is a core strength of APTA.
Panelists discussed how their organizations advocate on behalf of their members, the workforce challenges they face, how they are navigating new mobility technologies, and the importance of advocating for sustained funding for transportation through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
| |
Kaleidoscope Event on Advancing Racial Equity in Transit
Join APTA for part two of a discussion about being black in the transit industry March 21, 4:00 p.m. Eastern, presented by HNTB. This unique APTAU Kaleidoscope event brings together three esteemed industry leaders for a frank discussion about progress that has been made on racial equity and hopes for the future.
Bookmark this page for the video premier of this Kaleidoscope conversation. The event is free to all.
| | |
| |
FTA Notice of Proposed Asset Disposition Guidance and Request for Comments
FTA has published and is seeking comment on proposed guidance for a significant step to implement a new provision in law that permits public transit agencies to use their property to support affordable housing.
The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act allows FTA to authorize the transfer of FTA-funded property no longer needed for its originally authorized purpose to a local governmental authority, nonprofit organization or other eligible entity if, among other factors, it will be used for transit-oriented development and affordable housing.
FTA is providing more information and seeking comments in a Notice of Proposed Asset Disposition Guidance and Request for Comments and has posted interim guidance here. The deadline for public comments is April 14. Transit agencies, state and local governments and authorities, housing nonprofits and other interested parties can learn more at one of two webinars on this topic:
| |
FTA Publishes Dear Colleague Letter on Local Match Waiver for Complete Streets
FTA has published guidance in the form of a Dear Colleague letter waiving the local match for Complete Streets planning activities for the Metropolitan Planning Program and the State Planning and Research Program. FTA and the Federal Highway Administration will now start providing more support to transit agencies working on Complete Streets planning projects. This reflects a priority written into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase safe and accessible transportation options across the U.S.
Complete Streets focuses on safety for all users: pedestrians, cyclists and public transit users in addition to motorists. The Dear Colleague letter lists the eligible Complete Streets planning activities and conditions, as identified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
| | |
| |
|
Legal Affairs Seminar
April 2-4, Portland, OR
|
Mobility Conference
Presented by HNTB
April 23-26, Minneapolis, MN
|
|
Transit CEOs Seminar
May 19-21, Houston, TX
|
Rail Conference
Presented by HNTB
June 11-14, Pittsburgh, PA
|
|
Passenger Rail Engineering
Education Symposium (p-REES)
July 11-13
Washington, DC
|
Transit Board Members
& Board Administrators Seminar
July 15-18, Birmingham, AL
|
APTAtech
July 30-Aug. 2, Anaheim, CA |
Sustainability / Operations Planning
and Scheduling Workshop
July 30-Aug. 2, Anaheim, CA
|
|
Study Mission to Australia,
New Zealand
Aug. 7-18
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland
|
TRANSform Conference & EXPO
Presented by HNTB
|
| | |
| |  | | |
|
|
_2452013.jpg)
