(Washington, D.C., Monday, March 14, 2022) – The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will host its annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. from March 13 to 15. Public transportation leaders, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to successfully advocate for increased investment for public transit and passenger rail, will gather in-person in Washington for the first time in three years. With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, public transportation now has the resources, the opportunity, and the obligation to help transform America’s cities, towns, and rural communities to a new, bold, and exciting future.

The conference features an all-star lineup of Administration officials as well as Congressional leaders, including an opening session keynote address from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Subsequent sessions will focus on current workforce shortages and developing a future-ready workforce, communicating infrastructure successes, and implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Paul P. Skoutelas, APTA president and CEO, discussing key issues for the industry now and in the future:

SOUNDBITE #1:

AMERICA NEEDS THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY TO MAKE AN IMPACT WITH THIS NEW BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT LAW. WITH ALL THAT WE’VE ACHIEVED, OUR INDUSTRY NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR A BOLD, EXCITING FUTURE. WHETHER IT’S BRINGING BACK RIDERS, SUPPORTING ECONOMIC RECOVERY POST PANDEMIC, INVESTING IN NEW WAYS TO DELIVER MOBILITY, OR MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, OR IN FACT ADVANCING GREATER EQUITY – PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ALL OF THESE ISSUES.

SOUNDBITE #2:

THE BI-PARTSIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT IS A HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT OUR COUNTRY SO DESPERATELY NEEDS. TOGETHER WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT AND PASSENGER RAIL, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL ENABLE OUR COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE GREAT ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES, HELP CREATE FAMILY-WAGE JOBS, ADVANCE EQUITY, TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE, AND MEET THE GROWING MOBILITY NEEDS OF OUR CITIES AND COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME.

SOUNDBITE #3:

HISTORICALLY, WHEN GAS PRICES RISE SIGNIFICANTLY AS WE’VE SEEN HERE IN RECENT WEEKS, MORE PEOPLE TURN TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO HIGH GAS PRICES. TRANSPORTATION IS THE SECOND HIGHEST EXPENSE FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES AFTER HOUSING COSTS, AND IT IS THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO LOOK WHEN THEY NEED TO SAVE MONEY. WHEN YOU ADD THESE RISING COSTS TO THE RETURN TO THE OFFICE THAT MANY AMERICANS WILL BE MAKING IN THE COMING MONTHS, PUBLIC TRANSIT SHOULD BE TOP OF MIND AS A GREAT OPTION.

For more information, visit apta.com.