Get Involved

Joining an APTA committee is a powerful way to shape the future of public transit while expanding your professional network. These groups unite diverse voices—operators, planners, and suppliers—to share best practices and address challenges. As a committee member, you gain direct access to policy updates and collaboration with industry leaders, while sharpening your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Active participation ensures your organization helps set our collective agenda. Committee work transforms expertise into influence and turns membership into meaningful growth.

Joining an APTA Standards Working Group lets you shape the technical foundation of public transit across North America. Through 27 active working groups, members from transit systems, manufacturers, and government agencies develop consensus-based standards for safe, sustainable operations. Covering everything from rail and bus to safety and procurement, these groups ensure best practices reflect real-world expertise. Participation offers a direct path to influence industry trends and expand your technical network. By joining, you help improve service reliability and advance the mission of strengthening transit for every community.

Show how public transportation powers jobs, opportunity, and community growth. APTA is collecting stories that highlight how transit drives local economies and connects residents to essential services. Whether you are part of a transit agency, a business benefiting from mobility, or a community leader investing in infrastructure, your story helps inform policymakers and strengthens the case for federal investment. Take a few minutes to share how public transportation is helping your community move forward. Help us demonstrate the real-world impact of transit on the people and places that matter most.

APTA members drive the conversations that shape policy, funding, and the future of transit. Representing over 90 percent of North American riders, APTA is the industry’s leading advocate in Washington. Members take part by connecting with policymakers, sharing success stories, and contributing to policy recommendations. Every voice strengthens our case for investment, innovation, and access. By joining our advocacy efforts, you help ensure that public transportation continues to connect people, grow economies, and build stronger communities across the country.[

APTA invites members to present at our conferences and meetings throughout the year. Each event offers a dynamic mix of education, technical training, and high-level networking for professionals across every level of public transportation. Presenting your work is a premier chance to showcase innovation, exchange ideas with peers, and connect with industry leaders and potential partners. Share your expertise to help drive the industry forward while building your professional profile, gaining national visibility, and expanding your reach within the transit community.

The Leadership APTA Program prepares the next generation of visionary senior and executive leaders for the public transportation industry. Each year, up to 35 professionals from APTA member organizations are selected to take part in an intensive year-long experience that combines executive roundtables, workshops, conferences, and team-driven projects. Participants learn directly from industry innovators, strengthen leadership and communication skills, and build lasting connections with peers across the country. Graduates emerge as confident, informed change-makers who are ready to lead their organizations, contribute to APTA’s mission, and shape the future of public transportation.