Call for Abstracts – Safety and Risk Management Seminar

APTA’s Safety & Risk Management Seminar (December 7-10, 2025 in San Diego, California) provides an opportunity for Safety and Risk professionals in public transportation to discuss pertinent safety and risk management issues as well as learn from Federal and state partners, network, and gain important knowledge on safety and risk management issues. By participating in this event, it is a great opportunity to learn from our Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) partners on recently passed final safety rules and regulations, federal oversight, safety-related technologies, standards and technical assistance programs. This seminar is also specifically developed for practitioners involved in transit risk management who will hear from risk managers, claims specialists, insurance underwriter professionals, insurance brokers and suppliers of products and services relevant to the risk management industry.

As APTA members, you are an integral part of the call for abstracts. This is an opportunity for you to be part of the educational program and share your expertise and skill set with your peers in the industry. Please refer to the submission topics for each track listed below. Once submissions are reviewed by a committee of members and staff; staff will begin extending invitations to those who were selected based on their experience and partnerships that are aligned with the program. We appreciate your interest in participating at our upcoming event.

We appreciate your interest in participating at our upcoming event. If you have more questions about this process, please email abstracts@apta.com

Use the online form to submit your abstract.

Submission Details:

• You MUST be an APTA member in good standing to submit abstracts.
• Submit abstracts separately.
• Do not submit duplicate abstracts under different topics. Select the topic closest to your main ideas.
• Be sure to add ALL proposed speakers (you and a partner, if it’s a joint presentation)
• APTA will communicate with the submitter for all notifications and deadlines, who must then share the information as needed with their speaker(s)
• Submissions should avoid being a sales pitch or overly commercial.
• All proposals must be submitted using the online form to be considered.
• Be concise when submitting your abstract ideas.
• Submissions should reflect innovative, cutting-edge content.
• APTA will confirm if your submission has been accepted as a speaker on a panel or another opportunity.
• Submitters may submit multiple abstracts but will only have one opportunity to speak, if selected
• After a careful review, all submitters will receive an official notification by email.
• Submissions are not automatically accepted and APTA reserves the right to make all final decisions on speaker selections.

NOTE:  Decision notifications will be sent out by mid-October 2025.

SUBMISSION TOPICS

Safety:

• Bus Safety
• Collision Avoidance
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Emergency Management
• Fatigue Management and Hours of Service (HOS) policies/programs
• FRA Rules and Regulations
• FTA Rules and Regulations
• Grade Crossing Safety
• Innovations in Safety
• PTASP Implementation
• Rail Safety
• Roadway Worker Protection (RWP)
• Safety Culture
• Safety Management Systems (SMS)
• Safety-related Technology
• Security
• Training
• Transit Worker and Operator Assaults
• Trespassing and/or Suicide Awareness
• Zero Emission Bus (ZEB)/Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Safety

Risk Management:

• Property and Casualty Market Update
  • Estimating market / premium costs
• Renewal Strategies
  • How long do losses impact premium
  • Submission data
  • ACV / RC
  • Appraisals
• International markets vs Domestic markets
  • Benefits of both (Differences)
  • Fee / Commission Structure
• Procurement 101
  • Understanding the components (ICE, scope, rating criteria)
  • Review sample documents (RFP, evaluation form)
• Benefits of an Actuarial Report
• Enterprise Risk Management at a Transit Agency
• WC / ADA / FMLA
  • Can you terminate if on WC
• Employment Law / Employment Practices Liability
• Fiscal Cliff – options to keep premium level?

TIMELINE:

• Online Submission Opens: August 11, 2025
• Online Submission Closes: September 22, 2025 
• Decision Notifications Sent by: Mid-October 2025