News Release
Charlotte, North Carolina, October 7-10, 2007
September 21, 2007
Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816
(Download In Adobe PDF format)
From October 7-10, North American public transportation officials will convene at the 2007 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Annual Meeting at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. This year, APTA expects more than 2,000 public transportation leaders to attend the conference which will address all aspects of this $43 billion industry that employs more than 366,000 people.
“We are looking forward to coming to Charlotte where public transportation ridership has grown by 67 percent since 1998,” said APTA President William W. Millar. “Additionally, the express bus service that extends to the suburbs has grown over 300 percent since 1998! All of this demonstrates how important public transportation is to the people of the Charlotte Metro area. People need it, want it, and use it.”
Issues that will be covered at the conference include: the “greening” of public transit systems; managing transit security and disaster risk exposure; technology management and the importance of technology in the public transit industry, including emerging software technologies; linking smart growth, transit oriented development to help create new and revitalized communities; how the transit industry can gain the competitive edge to attract, hire, develop, and retain the Generation X, Y, and Millennium workers; and the latest on APTA’s industry standards.
News media are invited to attend the conference at no charge. Some of the speaker highlights include the following:
On Monday, October 8, during the Monday Opening Session, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator James Simpson of the U.S. Department of Transportation will be the guest speaker.
Local and state dignitaries will welcome the conference attendees on Monday, October 8 at the Opening Session including: Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Chair Jennifer Roberts; North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett, and Charlotte Area Transit System CEO Ronald J. Tober.
Managing Director and Chief Economist for the Wachovia Corporation, Dr. John Silvia, will address the General Session on Monday, October 8 from 10:15-11:45 a.m. to discuss “Public Transportation’s Future – an Economic and Political View.”
Get the green by going green at APTA’s “Sustainable Policies, Practices, and Standards for Transit” session on Monday, October 8 from 2-3:30 p.m. The focus will be on incorporating sustainable practices into transit agencies, with a look at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design Program for facilities and neighborhood development.
Find out more about transit oriented development and how it is creating new and revitalized communities in Charlotte and other cities at the “Linking Smart Growth, Transit-Oriented Development, and Placemaking,” session on Monday, October 8 from 3:45-5:15 p.m.
On Tuesday, October 9 from 8:30–9:30 a.m., the Natural Resources Defense Council Executive Director Peter Lehner will discuss how emerging trends, markets, and technology in environmental business issues impacts the decisions we make today.
New this year, a General Forum on APTA’s Visioning Initiative: Energizing Our Future will take place on Tuesday, October 9 from 10-11:30 a.m. The purpose of this initiative is to develop a long-term vision of public transportation’s role in the future of our nation’s surface transportation system. Come hear what our nation’s public transportation leaders are thinking on this very important topic.
The 2007 APTA Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday from 11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. The APTA Awards are given to dedicated and visionary leaders and organizations that have made significant contributions to the public transportation industry.
On Wednesday, October 10 from 9:15-10:45 a.m. take part in the General Forum regarding the latest developments of Google Transit. Hear from Google on how transit systems can benefit from Google Transit, a free service that allows the public to plan and create their own transit trip online.
For more information on additional sessions at the 2007 APTA Annual Meeting, visit www.apta.com. Media can attend for free. To pre-register for media credentials for the annual meeting, please contact Virginia Miller at 202-496-4816 or by emailing to at vmiller@apta.com. On site registration is available at the conference registration desk.
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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.
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