Bylaws

ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION

PARAGRAPH 1 – Subcommittee Name

            The Subcommittee shall be known as the APTA Light Rail Subcommittee, hereinafter “the Subcommittee.”

PARGRAPH 2 – Mission Statement

            The Light Rail Subcommittee was organized to serve as a resource for agencies, manufacturers, vendors, consultants, and government interested in learning more about contemporary light rail systems, their application, design and operation.  The Light Rail Subcommittee is an effective way to foster communication among light rail properties, provide a source of contacts (the contact compendium), promote the mode (APTA conference sessions), provide an APTA voice to International Union of Public Transport (UITP), Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD), and foster such groups as the Vehicle Maintenance User Group and development of appropriate APTA standards.

PARAGRAPH 3 – Objectives

            The specific objectives of the Subcommittee shall be defined in a Project Work Plan to be adopted each year that guides the Subcommittee’s activities.  This Project Work Plan shall include the following five points: 1) a statement of the problem, issue or work task to be undertaken, 2) project champion and identified sponsors, 3) description of approach for accomplishing the task, 4) identification of key milestones and resource needs, and 5) a discussion of the relevance of the work and implications of foregoing the effort.  Work Plans are guided by the following overall objectives of the Subcommittee.

1. Identify and document a number of light rail related issues of interest to the vast majority of rail operating properties throughout the U.S. and Canada.

2. Rank light rail issues identified above in terms of importance and urgency.

3. Facilitate resolution of the above issues by establishing APTA workshops, forums or published materials with the aim of heightening awareness and resolving identified issues.

4. Identify and make available funding resources for light rail related research and development.

5. Foster cooperation with related committees, agencies and organizations in an effort to realize the mission and goals expressed herein.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

            Membership in the Subcommittee shall be open to APTA members who have an interest in light rail systems, related products and services, scientific advancements and application relevant to light rail, and interest in advancing the design and application of light rail systems, development of associated standards and establishment of safety practices. 

            Persons desiring membership shall submit a notice in writing or email, with the person’s name, title, organization address, telephone number and email address to the APTA Advisor for the Subcommittee.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

PARAGRAPH 1 – Officers

            The Subcommittee shall have the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary.  In any year, APTA encourages at least one transit representative to serve as an Officer of the Subcommittee.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Duties of Officers

            The duties of Officers of the Subcommittee shall be as follows:

1. Chair.  The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Subcommittee and shall be responsible for calling all meetings of the Subcommittee.  He/she shall be an ex-officio member of all regular and special Subcommittees.  He/she shall act as liaison between the Subcommittee and other APTA Subcommittees, as appropriate, and represent the Subcommittee to the parent Rail Transit Committee, providing updates on the Subcommittee at meetings at the APTA Rail Conference and the APTA Annual Conference.  He/she shall be responsible for taking action necessary to ensure the Subcommittee achieves its objectives and shall perform all such other duties as usually pertaining to such office.

2. Vice Chair.  The Vice Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair.  He/she shall assist the Chair in the development and conduct of Subcommittee activities.

3. Secretary.  The Secretary shall assist the Chair and Vice-chair in maintaining communications with members and assisting APTA staff with updates and maintenance of the Subcommittee website.  The secretary shall also assist the APTA Advisor in taking and maintaining meeting minutes.

PARAGRAPH 3 – Terms of Office

            Each Officer shall serve a term of two years.  Officers are eligible to serve two consecutive terms balloted by Subcommittee members.  No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms, but is eligible again after two years.

PARAGRAPH 4 – Vacancies

            In the event the Office of Chair becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Vice Chair shall ascend to that office for the remainder of the term.  In such case, the ascending Chair will appoint a new Vice-Chair for the remainder of the term.

            In the event the Office of Vice-Chair becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Chair shall appoint a new Vice Chair for the remainder of the term. 

In the event the Office of Secretary becomes vacant prior to the end of the term, the Chair shall appoint a new Secretary for the remainder of the term. 

ARTICLE IV – ELECTION OF OFFICERS

PARAGRAPH 1 – Election of Officers

            Election of Officers shall be completed by the time of the APTA Annual Conference meeting of the Subcommittee.  Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of Subcommittee members present and/or voting by electronic ballot.  The APTA Advisor shall provide and distribute ballots to members of the Subcommittee.  Newly elected Officers shall assume office at the conclusion of the APTA Annual Meeting at which they are elected.  To be elected chair, at least one prior term of service as vice-chair or secretary is required. In the event no new officers are eligible or available, the outgoing Chair may appoint a new Chair with concurrence of the APTA Advisor. 

PARAGRAPH 2 – Nominations

            Nominations may be taken from members at large and from a Nominating Committee designated by the Chair. 

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS AND VOTING

Paragraph 1 – Meetings

            The Subcommittee shall meet at the APTA Rail Conference and the APTA Annual.  The Subcommittee may also meet as deemed necessary by the Chair to conduct the business of the Subcommittee.  Notice of meetings shall be prepared by the Chair and distributed by email to the Subcommittee members by the APTA Advisor no less than 14 days prior to the meeting.  As needed, all meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Voting

            Only members of the Subcommittee shall be eligible to vote on issues or matters before the Subcommittee.  A vote is valid only when at least a simple majority of Subcommittee members have balloted.  Members may elect proxies to vote in their stead, but proxies must be made in writing to the APTA Advisor. 

            Except as otherwise specified herein, all votes shall be by simple majority of voting members.

ARTICLE VI – ORGANIZATION & SUBCOMMITTEE WORK GROUPS

PARAGRAPH 1 – Organization

            The Subcommittee reports to the Rail Standards Committee.  The Rail Transit Committee provides direction, oversight and integration with its Subcommittees and Technical Forums.  Subcommittees provide reports to the Rail Transit Committee at the APTA Rail Conference and the APTA Annual Conference.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Standing Work Groups

            The Subcommittee shall have the following standing Work Groups: 1) Rail Conference Planning Work Group, and 2) Research Work Group.  The purpose of the Rail Conference Planning Work Group is to recommend light rail related conference sessions for the APTA Rail Conference and Joint Light Rail Conference.  The purpose of the Research Work Group is to provide the Subcommittee with current information on new technologies affecting light rail.  Such information is to be considered in development of Subcommittee Project Plans.  Policies for these groups can be established by the chair with concurrence of its members, but any standards related activities must conform to the appropriate bylaws and procedures of the Rail Standards Policy and Planning Committee or other Policy and Planning Committee under purview of the APTA Standards Development and Oversight Council (SDOC).

PARAGRAPH 3 – Special Work Groups

            The Subcommittee may have Task Forces, Work Groups or other Committees from time to time as directed by the Chair.  Policies for these groups can be established by the chair with concurrence of its members, but any standards related activities must conform to the appropriate bylaws and procedures of the Rail Standards Policy and Planning Committee or other Policy and Planning Committee under purview of the APTA Standards Development and Oversight Council (SDOC).

ARTICLE VII – RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS

PARAGRAPH 1 – Maintenance of Subcommittee Records

            The APTA Advisor shall maintain the Subcommittee membership roster and all Subcommittee records, including meeting minutes and bylaws.  The Subcommittee Secretary shall maintain copies of all meeting minutes and bylaws for the period of their office.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Communications

            All Subcommittee notices, announcements and other communications shall be processed and distributed by the APTA Advisor or as delegated to the Subcommittee Secretary in accordance with APTA policy.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

PARAGRAPH 1 – Submission and Consideration of Amendments

            Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any Subcommittee member and must be submitted in writing to the Chair for consideration.  Voting on amendments can occur after at least a 30-day Subcommittee review of the proposed amendment.  The Chair shall request that the APTA Advisor distribute and make available copies of any proposed amendments.

PARAGRAPH 2 – Adoption of Amendments

            Amendments to these Bylaws shall be adopted by sixty percent affirmative vote of the Subcommittee member quorum.  A quorum is defined as sixty percent of Subcommittee members casting ballots.  Ballots in abstention are considered in establishing a quorum. 

ARTICLE IX – CONFLICTS WITH APTA BYLAWS OR FEDERAL OR D.C. LAW

            In the case of a conflict between these Bylaws and the APTA Bylaws or Federal or District of Columbia law, the APTA Bylaws and/or the Federal or District of Columbia law shall prevail.