Monday, October 5

Opening General Session Quality Transit - - Now

President’s Welcome:

• William Millar, APTA president

• Buddy Dyer, mayor, city of Orlando, and vice chairman, LYNX – Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando, FL
• Linda Watson, chief executive officer, LYNX – Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando, FL
• Richard T. Crotty, mayor, Orange County, Florida

Remarks:

• Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D., 2008-2009 chair, APTA, and general manager/CEO, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA
• Mattie P. “M.P.” Carter, 2009-2010 chair, APTA, and commissioner, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Memphis, TN

General Forum - Authorization - Post SAFETEA-LU

Key staff members from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives committees with jurisdiction over the federal transit program will discuss program proposals for multi-year authorizing legislation.

Remarks:

• Corrine Brown, U.S. Representative (D)- FL, and John Mica U.S. Representative, (R)-FL
  

Keynote:

• Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
  

Product and Services Showcase

Offering a first-hand look at products and services that are shaping the industry.

Economic Stimulus: American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

This session provides the latest on ARRA funding opportunities, reporting requirements, and more directly from FTA and FRA officials leading the program.

Framework for Rail Safety Standards Development

This session is devoted to a critical look at the rail standards effort and needs for the future. Recent events and NTSB recommendations have focused on both standards development and means for effective implementation within the industry.

Getting Smart on Technology: How to Use It

Increasingly tech-savvy customers are demanding increasingly tech-friendly services, and the transit industry cannot afford to fall behind. Representatives from various agencies discuss how they are keeping up with the trends.

Tuesday, October 6

The Vision and the Blueprint: High Speed Rail in the United States

At this session APTA welcomes the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a discussion on implementing the president’s vision of high speed rail in the United States, and its charge to develop a National Rail Plan. FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae will be joined by the primary rail-advocacy associations in the US describing their work in executing high-speed rail projects in support of ARRA.

• Rod Diridon, chair, APTA High Speed and Intercity Rail Committee and executive director, Mineta Transportation Institute

Panelists:

• Karen Rae, deputy administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC
• Frank Busalacchi, secretary of transportation, Wisconsin DOT, and chair, States for Passenger Rail
• Gene Conti, secretary of transportation, North Carolina DOT, and chair, AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail Transportation (SCORT)

Launching High Speed Rail in the US

While the FRA has spent the summer sorting grant applications, the rail industry has anxiously awaited word of project and planning awards for high-speed and intercity rail programs across the country. Find out how three corridors expect to change the face – and pace -- of travel in the U.S.

Moderator:

• Jolene Molitoris, vice chair, APTA High Speed and Intercity Rail Committee, and secretary of transportation, Ohio

Panelists:

• Nazih K. Haddad, executive director, Florida High Speed Rail Authority, and intercity passenger rail manager, Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, FL
• Richard Harnish, executive director, Midwest High Speed Rail Association, Chicago, IL
• David Dean, consultant Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Corporation, president/CEO Dean International, Dallas, TX (invited)

Doing Business in the New Economy

The fundamentals of doing business have changed significantly in the last year; discover new strategies and ways of doing business and how successful business partnerships between the public and private sectors can be forged.

Transit Mega Projects

Some of the largest transit public works projects and events are highlighted in this forum.

Technical Tour - LYNX Operations Center

This tour includes a look inside the first bio-diesel blending facility in the country built and operated by a transit system. Also see some of the ways LYNX has put their ARRA funding to use.

Wednesday, October 7

The Future of Transit Business in a Green Economy

Find out what a greener economy means for the transit industry, how it does business, communicates with customers, structures itself, and operates.

New Directions in Advancing New and Small Starts

This session focuses on project sponsors’ strategic approaches to delivery, financing, land use and economic development, and intergovernmental partnerships.