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October 14, 2022 | An APTA Publication
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Photo by Steve Barrett Photography
Public Transit Industry Convenes in Seattle for APTA’s Largest Ever Annual Conference!
Leaders representing all facets of the public transportation industry converged at APTA’s TRANSform Conference this week in Seattle, WA. Hosted by King County Metro and presented by HNTB, the event was APTA's largest ever annual conference, with more than 3,000 attendees and 135 exhibitors all eager to network and explore the technologies and trends that are shaping the future of the industry.
TRANSform began with the Opening General Session Mon., Oct. 10 ( view here). APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas welcomed attendees. APTA Chair Dorval R. Carter Jr., president, Chicago Transit Authority; and Immediate Past Chair Jeffrey A. Nelson, CEO/managing director, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (Metrolink), Moline, IL, also gave remarks.
Terry White, general manager, King County Metro; Julie Timm, CEO, Sound Transit; King County Executive Dow Constantine; and Adiam Emery, director, transportation operations division, Seattle DOT, offered a welcome to the city. Veronique Hakim, senior vice president and national transit and rail market sector leader, HNTB Corporation, gave the sponsor remarks.
Francis “Buddy” Coleman, chief customer officer, Clever Devices Ltd, introduced keynote speaker Kal Penn, actor, writer, producer and former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
The event included a General Session from FTA on Transit Workforce Solutions with FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, and an FRA Listening Session and Update with FRA Administrator Amit Bose and Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell.
At the Oct. 11 APTA Honors Luncheon, attendees celebrated industry excellence, leadership and innovation by honoring APTA Awards winners; winners of the 2022 AdWheel Awards, APTF scholarship recipients and Leadership APTA graduates.
Look for coverage of APTA’s 2022 TRANSform Conference in the Oct. 21 issue of Passenger Transport.
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FTA Announces $600 Million to Replace Aging Railcars
FTA has announced that it will provide $600 million this year from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace aging railcars and improve reliability, safety and accessibility on rail systems. Eligible public transit agencies and states can apply through the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY22 and FY23 Rail Vehicle Replacement Program for funds to replace vehicles on subway, commuter rail and light rail systems.
“Every day, millions of Americans rely on assets like subways, commuter rail and streetcars to get where they need to go, but too often, railcars are decades out of date,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are using new resources to help modernize America’s aging railcars so that riders who depend on them get faster, safer and more reliable service.”
“One-third of subway and commuter rail vehicles are more than 25 years old,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “Americans who ride transit deserve a world-class experience, featuring newer, safer, more efficient railcars. Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re going to help provide that opportunity.”
Instructions for applying and eligibility information can be found on the FTA website and at GRANTS.GOV (FTA-2023-001-TPM-RAIL). Complete proposals must be submitted by Jan. 5.
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APTA Research Provides Best Practices for Workforce Recruitment and Retention
Public transportation providers across North America face a shortage of drivers and mechanics during a period of economic instability and reshuffling exacerbated by the pandemic. In order for the industry to better understand the workforce shortage’s causes and provide best practices for recruiting, hiring and retaining transit operations workers, APTA has produced Transit Workforce Shortage: Root Causes, Potential Solutions, and the Road Ahead. This new study outlines the nature and severity of the transit workforce shortage and also highlights what agencies and the industry can do to deal with these issues by combining background research and the results from surveys of agencies.
“Like almost every industry, public transportation is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers, hindering our ability to best serve our communities,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “This shortage is complex, multifaceted and connected to changes in the broader culture and economy. This workforce shortage is the confluence of multiple factors and successfully responding to it will involve a comprehensive approach.”
Data regarding the transit workforce shortage is stark, showing the issue to be widespread and severe. Ninety-six percent of agencies surveyed reported experiencing a workforce shortage, 84 percent of which said the shortage is affecting their ability to provide service. Although the shortage is most acute at agencies serving large, urbanized areas and agencies with greater ridership, most agencies across the U.S. report the shortage has forced service reductions regardless of the size of an agency’s ridership, service area population or fleet.
The report’s initial findings point to a variety of steps public transit agencies and their partners can take now to begin easing the workforce shortage in the short term, and to build a more resilient workforce development program in the long term, including increased compensation, improved worker schedules, training, demonstrating a clear path to promotions or raises, and more.
The study is Phase 1 in APTA’s continuing research efforts surrounding this persistent and pervasive issue. Gaps identified in the knowledge of the ongoing workforce shortage will be filled in Phase 2 through agency case studies and frontline worker surveys.
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Native Tribes and Alaskan Villages Receive Nearly $9 Million for Transit
More than two dozen American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native communities will see an improvement in their transit, thanks to $8.6 million in grants awarded through FTA’s Tribal Transit Program. This comes on top of more than $35 million in formula funding for tribal transit each year. The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes nearly $46 million in competitive funding over five years for tribal transit, an increase of nearly 83 percent.
“With today’s announcement, we are taking an important step to help ensure Tribal residents have access to reliable, affordable ways to get around,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Using funds from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these grants will help improve transit for Tribal Nations around our country.”
According to the National Transit Database, nearly 12 million vehicle miles of service are provided by Tribal Transit systems each year nationwide, providing critical access to jobs, schools, healthcare and shopping and to provide eldercare.
FTA’s Tribal Transit Program supports public transportation for federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages, groups or communities. The funding is vital to help Tribes meet the needs of their citizens, including elders, people with disabilities and youth in rural areas.
“Today’s grant awards will improve public transportation and connections for people in communities that have been historically underserved,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “We want to make sure that no one is left behind as we expand and modernize transit systems.”
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Register for the Whistleblower Protection for Transit Workers Webinar
FTA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are hosting a webinar that will focus on the OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program Nov. 9, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern. The Whistleblower Protection Program enforces laws that protect transit employees from retaliation when reporting certain safety and security incidents.
The webinar will provide information on protections afforded to frontline transit workers under existing law and the process for reporting incidents, followed by a Q&A session.
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New CEO Named
Chan, SamTrans
 The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), San Carlos, CA, has appointed April Chan as its next general manager/CEO, effective Nov. 1. Chan is a 20-plus-year veteran of the agency, currently serving as acting deputy general manager/CEO. She will succeed acting general manager/CEO Carter Mau, who is to retire.
In the role, Chan also will serve as executive director of the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, which administers the Measure A transportation sales tax to fund transportation projects county-wide. She also will be responsible for services provided by the agency to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which owns and operates the Caltrain commuter railroad, and the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Agency.
Chan has been with the agency since April 2000, rising through the ranks from senior planner, capital programming and grants to chief officer, planning, grants and transportation authority and acting deputy general manager. She began her transportation career at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in 1992. For APTA, Chan serves on the Sustainability Committee and Sustainability Commitment Signatories Subcommittee.
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UPCOMING APTA EVENTS
Join industry-leading transit risk managers and safety professionals for APTA's thought-provoking seminar. Includes special tracks for both transit risk management professionals and safety professionals.
Jan. 24-27
Honolulu, HI
Make your voice heard and help shape APTA’s private-sector agenda at this dynamic, exclusive meeting for all APTA business members.
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