The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has canceled is 2020 Legislative Conference that was to be held in Washington, D.C., March 15-17. APTA said the decision was not made lightly and was made following discussions with the association’s executive committee.
“The health, safety and well-being of our members and their families is of paramount importance. We believe it is in the best interest of everyone to cancel the conference and ensure that our members are able to do what they do best–serve their customers and communities,” APTA Chair Nuria Fernandez and APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas said in a letter to conference attendees.
APTA explains that it had been closely monitoring updates of the from several sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local governments. The association also says an increasing number of attendees and scheduled speakers had been placed under travel restrictions.
“This is a unique time for us all, but APTA members and the public transit industry have a long history of rising to meet whatever challenges come our way. Please know that APTA is here for you and we will not waver in our commitment to provide the quality resources and support that you need,” Fernandez and Skoutelas wrote.
The association issued a follow up statement on March 11 that said APTA "is considering alternatives and potential avenues through which to reschedule, relocate or redesign this conference for later in 2020. "
APTA has been helping the public transit industry meet the challenges associated with the spreading novel coronavirus and has established a resource page: https://www.apta.com/public-transit-response-to-coronavirus/.
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This story was updated March 11 to incorporate new statement from APTA.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
