Editor's Notebook: Public transit’s future leaders are persistently curious
The Mass Transit magazine team is thrilled to present our signature program, 40 Under 40. The 2026 class of honorees represent the 18th cohort of young professionals recognized by the magazine for their commitment, innovation, involvement and contribution to the public transit industry. After evaluating nearly 120 unique nominations, we believe this group is a strong representation of the future leaders of public transit.
Without fail, every year, a thread emerges weaving all the honorees together. This year, mentorship was the resounding theme. Several found themselves working in transit thanks to the guidance from teachers and other mentors, citing this as the reason for wanting to give back to the industry. A few even initiated their own independent job shadowing that sparked their interest for transit. Regardless of how they came to transit, it was clear when putting these profiles together: This is a cohort with a deep-seated passion for knowledge-sharing. Or, in other words, there’s no gatekeeping here (unless you’re a fare gate, of course).
Their efforts touch every step of the talent pipeline. We have people who have volunteered or established their own organizations focused on youth engagement to introduce them to STEM and careers in transit. There are a couple of professors who teach at local colleges. Several have developed internal mentorship or job-specific training programs to support entry and mid-level employees. Many mentor junior staff through one-on-one development or group initiatives. A handful are focused on leadership development, conducting intensive programs designed to strengthen the broader industry. Two even started their own national conferences to share best practices with people in similar roles. Almost every single honoree has participated in conferences, authored research papers or contributed to technical reports.
As a class who describe themselves as persistent, curious and resilient, I summarize them as voracious learners. While clearly passionate about knowledge-sharing, they’re equally committed to embracing the unknown. Avid travelers have been to every state while others have visited 40 and 50-plus countries. A couple have taught themselves a new language. Perhaps it’s these experiences that influence their advice for others. Overwhelmingly, our honorees encourage others to ask questions, welcome different ideas and seek out new opportunities.
Congratulations, class of 2026. Here’s to a lifetime of learning.
About the Author
Megan Perrero
Editor in Chief
Megan Perrero is a national award-winning B2B journalist and lover of all things transit. Currently, she is the Editor in Chief of Mass Transit magazine, where she develops and leads a multi-channel editorial strategy while reporting on the North American public transit industry.
Prior to her position with Mass Transit, Perrero was the senior communications and external relations specialist for the Shared-Use Mobility Center, where she was responsible for helping develop internal/external communications, plan the National Shared Mobility Summit and manage brand strategy and marketing campaigns.
Perrero serves as the board vice president for LIT and is a member of the American Public Transportation Association Marketing and Communications Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism with a concentration in magazine writing and a minor in public relations from Columbia College Chicago.