Continuing a tradition of exploring and learning from public transportation systems around the globe, APTA conducted a study mission to Hong Kong, Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo, Japan in June 2008. Both public and private sector APTA members embarked on the ten-day trip focused on fare collection with an emphasis on electronic payment systems and innovations.

Two study missions are conducted each year—one in the spring, and one in the fall. Each mission focuses on a theme that is of great interest to public transport agencies in the United States.The cities to be visited are selected on the basis of their experience with the challenges posed by the mission theme and their ability to demonstrate new ideas or approaches to meeting those challenges.