APTA 2026 Rail Conference Kicks Off in Baltimore, MD

Rail industry leaders gather in Maryland to explore the future of passenger rail

Baltimore, MD (June 29, 2026) – Public transportation leaders from across the U.S. including international have gathered in Baltimore, MD for the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 2026 Rail Conference, running through July 1. The conference addresses the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing passenger rail, with sessions spanning artificial intelligence, safety and security, workforce development, infrastructure investment, and federal policy.

The opening general session will feature remarks by Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Katie Thomas; Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Administrator Holly Arnold; APTA Board Chair and Executive Director of the Regional Transportation Authority Leanne Redden; APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas; and Joanna Lohman, former pro soccer player and author of “Raising Tomorrow’s Champions.”

The conference includes technical sessions, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and a Products & Services Showcase featuring the latest rail technologies and innovations. Attendees can also take part in facility tours of the region’s passenger rail infrastructure, including the MTA’s Metro Rail and Light Rail operations facilities; the MARC Camden Station and Riverside Facility; the nearly complete Purple Line Light Rail project; the Amtrak B&P Tunnel Replacement Program; and the Baltimore Streetcar Museum.

“We want to thank the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) for hosting this important annual event at a critical time for passenger rail,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “Baltimore’s place in the story of American passenger rail goes back nearly 200 years, to the founding of the B&O Railroad. There’s no better backdrop for an industry conversation about where passenger rail is headed next than in a city that helped define where it began.”

The conference comes as public transit and passenger rail systems across the country navigate capital project costs, workforce needs, and infrastructure modernization. It also comes at a pivotal moment for federal surface transportation reauthorization, as Congress weighs the next long-term bill that will shape funding for passenger rail and public transit projects nationwide for years to come.

For more information, please visit apta.com.

Media Contact: Amy Thompson, athompson@apta.com, 202-285-2997

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