The Transit Authority

In a podcast recorded live from the Products and Services Showcase at the 2026 APTA Rail Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Amtrak leaders describe a series of notable advances.   The conversation covered record ridership, the new fleet of equipment being introduced across the country, Amtrak's role in World Cup transportation, access initiatives, and generational infrastructure upgrades on t...

Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) extraordinary rise as one of the most innovative, responsive, and impactful public transportation systems in the United States helped secure the 2034 Winter Olympic Games, and recognition in 2025 with an APTA Public Transportation System Achievement Award.  UTA Executive Director Jay Fox will describe specific ways UTA has met the challenge of fiscal constraints...

APTA is celebrating National Mentoring Month. Tune in to this episode to hear from Doran Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at Foothill Transit, and Derik Calhoun, Chief Transportation Officer at Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and celebrate National Mentoring Month with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Doran and Derik will share practical steps that you can take to successfully s...

Joshua Schank provides case studies on effectuating change and about his new book "New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies:  Improving Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector.”

Through bold leadership, regional collaboration, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has rebuilt public trust, modernized, and redefined what excellence in public transportation looks like. Metro General Manager / CEO Randy Clarke will describe the accomplishments and innovations that resulted in peer recognition as an Outst...

Accessible mobility for all is a core value of APTA and its members. This episode is a celebration of accessible mobility and a commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law July 26, 1995. Guests Ron Brooks, author of  “All Aboard: Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit" and Anna Zivarts, author of “When Driving is not an...

In honor of National Apprenticeship Day, APTA is spotlighting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Elevators & Escalators Apprenticeship Program at New York City Transit (NYCT). With a dedicated team of 400 employees maintaining over 600 pieces of equipment, MTA’s program is an outstanding example of how to grow and sustain a skilled workforce. This episode of The Transit Authorit...

APTA is celebrating National Internship Awareness Month by featuring HNTB’s successful program. If you are ready to learn more about a strategic approach to organically recruit the next generation of talent, while engaging your staff in fulfilling work, tune into this episode of APTA’s official podcast, The Transit Authority! HNTB interns are assigned to real projects with tasks to develop their t...

In this episode of APTA’s National Mentoring Month podcast series, we are featuring four CEOs who will tap you into the business case for mentoring. This episode of The Transit Authority shares why CEOs invest in mentorship as an effective strategy to build a culture of organizational excellence and develop employees. To learn more about mentorship programs and determine if this is a smart investm...

During National Mentoring Month we are sharing more about how mentors encourage mentees to develop leadership competencies and build upon their current strengths to flourish in their career and in life. APTA’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) provides public transportation professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed for advancement. Tune into this episode to hear the stories of men...

APTA’s National Mentoring Month podcast series features leaders, mentors, and mentees across the nation and in Canada. This episode’s podcast guests all agree that mentors help to open doors and assist mentees in navigating the changing expectations and skills required to succeed in the industry. Organizations can retain staff by investing in workforce programs like mentoring. If your organization...

In providing multimodal services throughout America's most densely-populated state, NJ TRANSIT has made it a mission to address vital economic, social, and environmental goals through the public transportation it operates.  In this episode of APTA's THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY podcast, NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin Corbett offers insight into evolving travel patterns, the large and nati...

Join our guests to Learn about workforce funding opportunities. Experts from the U.S. Department of Transportation share how to obtain funding for workforce initiatives.    Speakers: Mark Patterson , Associate Administrator for Research, Data, and Innovation, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation John Bodnar , Director, Office of Transit Programs, Federal Transit Admin...

This podcast explores the transformative influence of women in executive leadership. Hear about the multifaceted ways in which female leaders are shaping the landscape of transit and fostering positive change within their organizations and communities. Host: Dawn Distler, Chief Executive Officer, METRO Regional Transit Authority Guests: Nadine Lee, President & CEO, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Er...

APTA interviews Christof Spieler on his book “Trains / Buses / People:   An Opinionated Atlas of US and Canadian Transit – Second Edition.”    The discussion goes into depth on the attributes of good public transportation, taking a close look at systems across North America.  Factors such as frequency, reliability, access, and legibility are considered, identifying ways transit service is doing we...

The Transit Authority is proud to present part-two of series with tools to help you retain and engage staff. In this episode you’ll hear from Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority General Manager and CEO, India Birdsong-Terry and her team about their peer-to-peer mentoring program. Tune in to learn more about how their team partners with ATU to build and manage the program.  Part II – Great...

The Transit Authority is proud to present a 2-part series with tools to help you retain and engage staff. You’ll hear from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority COO, Derik Calhoun and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority General Manager and CEO, India Birdsong-Terry. Tune in to learn more about how their team’s partner with ATU to build and manage successful mentoring programs.  Part...

APTA's Transit Authority is proud to present a special 2023 year-end podcast with host Paul Comfort and our friends at Transit Unplugged, with guests Paul P. Skoutelas, President & CEO of APTA, and Petra Mollet, VP of Strategic International Programs. The lively conversation focused on the year that was and what we should be looking forward to in 2024. The boost in infrastructure funding...

The Vancouver, Canada region stands out as a model for transit supportive land use, transit ridership per-capita, and in its exemplary commitment to sustainability practices.  TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn outlines the ways public transportation is the backbone of mobility in the Vancouver region, and how transit has a central role in fulfilling broader region goals and priorities. 

Recorded on the trade show floor at APTA’s EXPO 2023 in Orlando, Florida, our special guest Stephen Gardener, CEO of Amtrak, discusses a wide range of topics including Amtrak’s role in linking cities, regions and rural America, how intercity passenger rail travel options can be made more attractive, recent and upcoming Amtrak system improvements, career advice for students, and more.

Have you struggled with how to build community at the same time you are planning, designing, building a project? Understanding of the role and import of transportation in peoples’ lives has evolved, and transportation professionals need a new frame and methodology to help them successfully meet and balance multiple vague and conflicting goals.  Transportation projects we plan and deliver must be i...

In this episode, we discuss shifting trends in mobility and how a transit organization can and must adjust to serve the public with guest Rolando Cruz, Chief Transportation Officer at Culver CityBus in California.

This podcast highlights Sound Transit’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion and anti-racism. Hear from Sound Transit CEO, Peter Rogoff and their Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Jonté Robinson.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we sat down with Alva Carrasco, President of Latinos in Transit and Cindy Chavez, Board Member at Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to discuss their pathways to leadership, how to foster inclusion and equity, and advancing Latinos in the public transit industry, and a whole lot more.

As we celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month, we sat down with Dawn Distler, Chief Executive Officer at METRO RTA in Akron, Ohio, to discuss equity, inclusion, and diversity in the public transit industry.