Two officials with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) have been elected to serve in key leadership positions for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). RTD General Manager and CEO Phillip A. Washington was elected as the APTA chair and RTD Board Director Angie Rivera-Malpiede (District C) was elected as a member-at-large for the APTA Board of Directors at the APTA Annual Meeting and Expo in Houston, Texas.
Washington says during his chairmanship he hopes to rally the transit industry around a unified advocacy effort focused on increased transportation funding and putting people to work.
“We need to come together in common purpose to stress the importance of investing in our infrastructure,” said Washington. “That infrastructure investment will lead to job creation, transit-oriented and livable communities and tremendous economic benefit with regard to dollars being injected into local communities. We need collective action by our federally elected leaders.”
APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 public and private sector organizations that engages in advocating the advancement of transportation initiatives and programs. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products.
The APTA Executive Committee is comprised of individuals elected by APTA members to act on behalf of the full APTA board. Washington has been involved with APTA since 2000 and previously served as the APTA vice-chair.
The APTA Board of Directors is the governing body of the association and consists of public and private sector representatives as well as the board’s executive committee, at-large directors, APTA president, and chairs of APTA committees.
“It is an honor to join the APTA Board of Directors,” said Director Rivera-Malpiede. “I believe strongly in the role of public transportation in the community and I look forward to the opportunity to help this cause on a national level.”