Welcome to APTA
(Download this document in PDF format.)
APTA IS....
As a member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), you are part of an international organization that has been representing the transit industry for over 100 years, since 1882.
APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services, and by improving those services to meet national energy, environmental, and financial concerns. Over ninety percent of passengers using transit in the U.S. and Canada are carried by APTA members.
APTA members include bus, rapid transit and commuter rail systems, and the organizations responsible for planning, designing, constructing, financing and operating transit systems.
APTA Business Members are the private organizations which supply products and services to the transit industry. In addition, government agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, state departments of transportation, academic institutions, and trade publications are also part of our membership.
APTA has six different categories of membership, and offers a "Basic Option" to some. See below for full description.
APTA members are encouraged to participate in, contribute to, and benefit from a myriad of programs, activities and services.
APTA’s Vision Statement
Be the leading force in advancing public transportation.
APTA’s Mission Statement
To strengthen and improve public transportation, APTA serves and leads its diverse membership through advocacy, innovation and information sharing.
PTA’s Policy on Diversity
APTA recognizes the importance of diversity for conference topics and speakers and is committed to increasing the awareness of its membership on diversity issues. APTA welcomes ideas and suggestions on how to strengthen its efforts to meet these important diversity objectives.
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
-
Category A – Transit
-
United States ("Basic Option" available)
-
U.S. Section 5310 and 5311 ("Basic Option" available)
-
Canadian ("Basic Option" available):
- Category B – Transit Management Companies
- Category C – Business Members
-
Manufacturers and Suppliers
Consulting Companies
Contractors
(Disadvantaged Business Enterprise rates available for Business Members with transit sales/billings at or below $250,000.)
- Category D – Governmental Agencies
- Government Agencies
- on-Operating State Departments of Transportation
- etropolitan Planning Organizations
-
Category E – Affiliates
-
Associated Railroads
-
D.C. Based Legislative Representatives
-
High Speed Rail Authorities
-
International Transit Systems and Authorities
-
Land Developers
-
New Transit Enterprises
-
Public Interest Groups
-
Publications
-
Single Professional Consultants
-
State Associations
-
Transportation Management Associations
-
Universities
-
Vanpool/Carpool Providers
Category F – Retirees
WHAT IS THE "BASIC OPTION"?
Definition:
"Basic Option" is available to U.S. and Canadian transit systems with $1,250,000 or less in operating expenses.
"Basic Option" membership includes the following benefits:
-
A listing in the APTA Membership Directory
-
Receive a copy of the Membership Directory & Public Transportation Fact Book
-
Attending APTA meetings at member registration prices
-
Purchasing APTA publications at member prices
-
Participating in APTA Committees
-
Receive announcements and government affairs news
It does not include:
|
3 Steps to Join
-
Determine your membership category
-
Refer to appropriate category description for dues rates
-
Complete and return application & organization profile!
|
Category A – Transit
U.S. and Canadian Transit Systems ("Basic Option" is available at or below the $1,250,000 operating
expense level)
U.S. Section 5310 and 5311
Definition:
Those entities (persons, firms or corporations, trustees or receivers, municipal or other government agencies) operating any form of organized public transit system within the boundaries of the United States or its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico.
Please note: Canadian bus only transit systems have a separate
dues schedule (see below).
How dues are calculated:
Dues are based on annual Operating Expenses*, including paratransit, for your
most recent completed year. (see chart below)
Canadian systems that operate both rail and bus are calculated
similarly, but pay 55% of the dues calculated.
Those systems engaged in operating or constructing fixed guideway transit
activities (commuter, heavy rail, light rail and people movers) calculate
dues based on operating expenses as below and then add 30% of the calculated
dues up to a maximum of $9,129.
"Basic Option" reduces dues by $200 for systems in the $320,001 - $1,250,000 range.
Canadian Transit Systems - Bus Only (Basic Option Available)
Definition:
Those Canadian transit systems that operate buses only.
How dues are calculated:
Membership dues are based on the total number of licensed buses. Dues are
computed at the rate of $18.66 per licensed bus with a $265 (U.S. funds) Basic
Option as the minimum floor, and a minimum of $483 (U.S.funds) for the Full
Option.
International Transit Systems -- see " CATEGORY E-AFFILIATES"
for membership information.
Transit System Dues Information
(Call APTA Membership Department for exact quote)
| Operating Expenses
| | Dues Range per category |
 |
$0 | to |
1,000,000 | | $265 | to | $1,518 |
|
1,000,001 | to |
5,000,000 | | $1,629 | to | $8,984 |
|
5,000,001 | to |
10,000,000 | | $9,566 | to | $16,066 |
|
10,000,001 | to |
25,000,000 | | $17,839 |
to | $26,072 |
|
25,000,001 | to |
50,000,000 | | $26,973 | to | $33,107 |
|
50,000,001 | to |
100,000,000 | | $36,214 | to | $38,777 |
|
100,000,001 | to |
250,000,000 | | $40,940 | to | $48,632 |
|
250,000,001 | |
and over | | $50,794 | | and up |
|
Those systems engaged in operating or constructing fixed guideway (commuter,
heavy rail, light rail and people movers) transit activities shall calculate
their dues based on annual operating expenses* as listed above and then add
30% of dues to the maximum of $9,129.
Canadian Transit Systems pay 55% (U.S. funds) of schedule above.
*OPERATING EXPENSES
PLEASE NOTE: Operating expenses, including paratransit, include all costs and expenses paid or accrued arising in connection with or from the operation, maintenance, and/or management or supervision of transit operations, excluding any provision of payment for depreciation or replacement reserves or funds. Excluded are interest and principal payments or accruals on any form of debt assumed or incurred in the acquisition, construction, extension, improvement, modification or replacement of any transit system equipment or appurtenances thereto. Federal, state, or local income taxes paid or accrued on any and all transit operations also should be excluded.
Category B – TRANSIT MANAGEMENT COMPANIES
Definition:
A firm or corporation organized to provide professional management services to transit systems within the same boundaries as a U.S. or Canadian System provided that Management Company Membership shall not take the place of the transit system membership.
IN ADDITION, Transit Management Companies who also do consulting work must include consulting activities when calculating dues.
How dues are calculated:
( Call APTA Membership Department for Exact Quote)
Based on number of systems managed, plus, if appropriate, additional charge for consulting activities.
| 1. |
Five and under |
$ 1,132 (minimum) |
| |
Above five systems managed |
$ 95 Per additional system |
| 2. |
Those Transit Management Companies who also do consulting work shall calculate their dues based on the Category C-Business Members schedule, and add that figure to the total from #1 above. |
CATEGORY C – BUSINESS MEMBERS
Manufacturers/Suppliers, Consulting Companies, Contractors (Special rates available for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises)
Definition:
Organizations which supply goods and services to the transit industry; provide professional consultation services; or engage in the construction of transit facilities.
How dues are calculated:
Annual gross transit sales or billings for your most recent completed
year**
Business Members Dues Schedule
| Annual Gross Transit Sales or Billings
| Total Dues Payable
|
|
| $100,000 or less |
$ 1,250 |
|
| $100,001 to 500,000 |
$ 2,564 |
|
| 500,001 to 1,000,000 |
$ 5,119 |
|
| 1,000,001 to 2,500,000 |
$ 6,308 |
|
| 2,500,001 to 4,000,000 |
$ 7,874 |
|
| 4,000,001 to 6,000,000 |
$ 10,245 |
|
| 6,000,001 to 10,000,000 |
$ 13,370 |
|
| 10,000,001 to 15,000,000 |
$ 15,739 |
|
| 15,000,001 to 20,000,000 |
$ 18,115 |
|
| 20,000,001 to 25,000,000 |
$ 21,984 |
|
| 25,000,001 to 30,000,000 |
$ 24,359 |
|
| 30,000,001 to 35,000,000 |
$ 26,729 |
|
| 35,000,001 to 40,000,000 |
$ 30,606 |
|
| 40,000,001 to 45,000,000 |
$ 32,983 |
|
| 45,000,001 to 50,000,000 |
$ 35,351 |
|
| 50,000,001 and up |
$ 39,225 |
**PLEASE NOTE: Gross sales are defined as the total dollar sales in the public transportation industry, and not gross sales associated with other activities. You should include all transit industry sales or billings for goods and services, both direct and indirect, produced in or bound for North America based on your most recent completed year.
DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
Dues for this group are reduced to assist business owners who are designated as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Woman-owned Business Enterprise, or Minority Business Enterprise. To qualify, gross
transit sales/billings have to be $250,000 or less. If gross sales are higher, the regular Business Members dues schedule prevails.
How dues are calculated:
Set fee over four years–
| lst year dues |
$ 556 |
|
| 2nd year dues |
$ 681 |
|
| 3rd year dues |
$ 806 |
|
| 4th year dues |
$ 931 |
NOTE: This schedule will remain in effect ONLY as long as the organization's transit sales/billings level remains at or below $250,000. After the fourth year, dues are based on the regular Business Members dues schedule (see above). The organization must submit proof of DBE status: either a state/federal certificate, or a letter from a transit system which states that the organization has been awarded a contract based on its DBE status, or has been considered as a DBE under the system's guidelines.
CATEGORY D – GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Definition:
Non-Operating State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Government Agency Members (includes agencies of local or regional levels of government responsible for the planning and/or development of public transit systems.)
How dues are calculated:
Based on population of the area to be served by the agency. For State Departments of Transportation, the service area population equals the entire state population.
| Population
| Dues
|
|
| Under 1,000,000 |
$ 997 |
|
| 1,000,001 to 3,500,000 |
$ 1,310 |
|
| 3,500,001 to 6,000,000 |
$ 2,566 |
|
| 6,000,001 to 10,000,000 |
$ 3,995 |
|
| Over 10,000,001 |
$ 5,307 |
NOTE: Upon start-up of transit operations, State Department of Transportation members shall become subject to dues of transit system members.
CATEGORY E – AFFILIATES
Definition:
Broad-ranged category which includes the following:
-
Associated Railroads
-
D.C. Based Legislative Representatives
-
High Speed Rail Authorities
-
International Transit Systems and Authorities
-
Land Developers
-
New Transit Enterprises
-
Public Interest Groups
-
Publications
-
Single Professional Consultants
-
State Associations
-
Transportation Management Associations
-
Universities
- Vanpool/Carpool Providers
Please call the APTA Membership Department for further information on category descriptions and specified dues.
How dues are calculated:
Based on a range of fees from $483 -- $604
CATEGORY F - RETIREES
Definition:
For those persons retired from transit systems or related businesses who want to continue their contact with the transit industry. Individuals should no longer be seeking consulting business.
How dues are calculated:
Based on a flat fee of $104.
Note: Includes access to MyAPTA,
to the Online Membership Directory and to Passenger Transport, but not to other mailings
(Download this document in PDF format.)
Some of these pages may include links to documents in the Adobe PDF format. Please download the Adobe PDF reader if you have not already done so.
