Public Transportation Leaders Converge in Washington

Participants to Discuss Critical Legislative Issues in 2010

More than 600 public transportation leaders will convene in Washington, DC at the 2010 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Legislative Conference, March 15-17 to discuss a variety of topics, including: legislative issues facing the transit industry’s long-term authorization, jobs, rail transit safety, and climate change, as well as the Obama administration’s transportation priorities. The 600+ public transit leaders will spend Tuesday and Wednesday visiting their congressional representatives, lobbying their transit initiatives on Capitol Hill.

The 2010 Legislative Conference will feature a lineup of esteemed transportation leaders including: Ray LaHood, secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; Joseph C. Szabo, administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; Peter Rogoff, administrator, Federal Transit Administration; U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN) chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), ranking member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives; U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) chairman, Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) member, Committee on Ways and Means; U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) chairman, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) member, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and Committee on Appropriations.

What:	2010 APTA Legislative Conference
Where:	JW Marriott Hotel 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC
When:	Monday, March 15- Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Events:	Some conference events are highlighted below

Monday, March 15
9-10:15 a.m. Salons III & IV Ballroom Level	Opening General Session: What's Ahead for Transit- New Opportunities in 2010 After welcoming remarks for APTA leadership, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray Ballroom Level LaHood will deliver a special keynote address that will provide insight into the Administrations transportation priorities. Presiding: J. Barry Barker, vice chair-government affairs, APTA, and executive director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY Washington Welcome: Peter Benjamin, chair, Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority, Washington, DC President’s Welcome: William Millar, president, APTA Remarks from APTA Chair: Mattie P. “M.P.” Carter, chair, APTA, and commissioner, Memphis Area Transit Authority, Memphis, TN Featured Speaker: The Honorable Ray LaHood, secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC
10:30-11:15 a.m. Salons III & IV Ballroom Level	General Session: Expanding the Transit Coalition: Partners in the Authorization Debate APTA is partnering with a broad spectrum of interest and membership groups in order to advance Ballroom Level transit’s message. Hear from key APTA partners about their legislative and advocacy efforts for the next surface transportation authorization. Presiding: William L. Volk, chair, APTA Legislative Committee, and managing director, Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, Urbana, IL Featured Speaker: The Honorable James L. Oberstar (D-MN), chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Panelists: Peter J. “Jack” Basso, director of program, finance, and management, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, DC T. Peter Ruane, president and chief executive officer, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, Washington, DC Edward Wytkind, president, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC Mariia V. Zimmerman, co-chair, APTA Land Use and Economic Development Subcommittee, and policy director, Reconnecting America, Washington, DC
1:45-2:45 p.m. Salons III & IV Ballroom Level	General Session: Update from U.S. DOT A discussion with key modal administrators from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Ballroom Level Important program updates and initiatives will be discussed, along with discussion of a long-term authorization bill. Presiding: William Millar, president, APTA Featured Speakers: The Honorable Joseph C. Szabo, administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Washington, DC The Honorable Peter M. Rogoff, administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC
3:00-4:15 p.m. Salons III & IV Ballroom Level	General Session: View from the Hill Hear directly from key congressional staff on how the U.S. Senators and Representatives they Ballroom Level work for are addressing transit issues. Issues to be discussed include authorization, jobs, rail transit safety, and climate change. Moderator: J. Barry Barker, vice chair-government affairs, APTA, and executive director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY Panelists: Amy Scarton, majority counsel, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Joyce Rose, minority staff director, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Mitch Warren, senior policy adviser, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC Shannon Hines, minority senior professional staff member, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC Kate Hallahan, clerk, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Dena Baron, minority staff assistant, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Alex Keenan, clerk, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
4:30 – 5:30 p.m Salons III & IV Balroom Level	Session A: High Speed and Commuter Rail Learn about recent events impacting the development of high-speed intercity passenger and Ballroom Level commuter rail systems. Join staff from key Congressional offices for an informative discussion and hear what is next for passenger rail. Moderator: Stanley G. Feinsod, chair, APTA, High-Speed & Intercity Rail Legislative Subcommittee; co-chair, APTA, Commuter and Intercity Rail Subcommittee; and principal, Stan Feinsod – passenger rail consultant, San Francisco, CA Panelists: Melissa Porter, transportation counsel, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC Jennifer Esposito, majority staff director, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Mike Meenan, minority counsel, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Salon G Balroom Level	Session B: Sustainability and Livability in Transportation: Opportunities for Public Transportation The terms “sustainability” and “livability” have become far more than general policy goals for federal transportation programs in the past year. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) incorporated environmental outcomes and improving the quality of living and working environments as key selection criteria for awarding grants under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Moderator: Marlene B. Connor, chair, APTA Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, vice chair, APTA Systems Management and Operations Planning Subcommittee; and director of public transportation, Wilbur Smith Associates, Holyoke, MA Panelists: Beth Osborne, deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC Shelley Poticha, director, Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC Paul Schmid, legislative assistant, Office of Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), U.S. Senate, Washington, DC
Tuesday, March 16
7:30-10:30 a.m. Salons III & IV Balroom Level	General Session: Get Started With Members of Congress Breakfast Hear about the latest developments from Members of Congress who serve on key committees as Ballroom Level you prepare to head to Capitol Hill to make the case for increased investment in public transportation. Presiding: J. Barry Barker, vice chair-government affairs, APTA, and executive director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY Featured Speakers: The Honorable Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), member, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC The Honorable Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chairman, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC The Honorable Steve LaTourette (R-OH), member, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC The Honorable Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman, Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC The Honorable John Mica (R-FL), ranking member, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC

*** Registration for the media is FREE! Bring your media credentials to register. The APTA Media Center will be located in the Treasury Room at the JW Marriott. ***

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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,400 public and private member organizations, engaged in the areas of bus, paratransit, light rail, commuter rail, subways, waterborne passenger services, and high-speed rail. This includes: transit systems; planning, design, construction, and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; transit associations and state departments of transportation. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA member systems.

Public Transportation Leaders Converge in Washington

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