Changes in the industry, developments in the Trump Administration, budget cuts and transit-oriented development. Change and development were at the core of the opening session for APTA’s 2017 Rail Conference in Baltimore. The opening speakers stressed that there needs to be a strong partnership with the federal government and providing funding to continue transit.
Acting APTA President Richard White discussed how communities are becoming more invested in transit-heavy areas — especially adding more access to rail. He highlighted how large companies are relocating to those areas to provide their employees easier access. "Clearly rail is delivering more than passengers. Unfortunately some in Washington are not embracing this. We faced a threat in the fiscal year of 2017, we are able to give a great thumbs up that we were able to get funding for that… We prevailed in that regard because we asked you to mobilize and you went out and saw your members of congress. There is no more powerful advocacy than you … Quite frankly some (representatives) don't represent transit rich areas."
White said that while the Trump Administration has said that it will honor current funding for projects already in process — the future of transit projects are still "up in the air."
"This a very alarming situation, it's a break in a 35-year partnership. It goes back to President Reagan. They imply that state and local communities have the means to go it alone. It actually points out some of you as examples like Seattle and Los Angeles who went to local voters to get the funding," said White. "You can't transfer this to local government, we're going to dispel this myth. You have to take this seriously, we need you again to answer this bell … Guess what? This is a controversial issue and it defies logic. We are going to push that very hard, please continue what you are doing. Our mission is more important than ever. When you help I feel that this rail renaissance will go on and this partnership with the government will continue to go on."
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh followed White and addressed his speech. "I hope that everybody is hearing your conversation to us today. It's important that the federal government invests in public transportation because local governments cannot. I say this as the mayor of this city because I know that we are very limited to public transportation. If you were traveling from our great city to some our suburbs, where jobs are being created, it takes two hours to get there and two hours to get back, no one can sustain a job like that for a long time … Rapid transit, we can do that in this country but we need the partnership with the federal government."
Baltimore Develops
Baltimore is a city that itself is currently undergoing a transportation 'renaissance'. The Maryland Transit Administration is launching it's Baltimore Link line soon, and faced the recent change in administration with the departure of Paul Comfort, Kevin Quinn has taken the reins as acting CEO and administrator. White congratulated Quinn on taking over the position at such a busy time for the organization.
"I know the MTA is in great hands and congratulations to you Kevin," said White.
"The great thing about MTA is we have a fantastic group and a fantastic leadership team," Quinn said. He said until now Maryland transit wasn't very connected, and that that's why they are launching BaltimoreLink, making it easier to connect between transit systems. Quinn said that the launch utilized four cornerstones: safety, reliability, efficiency and world-class service. “The common theme across all of these is the customer. When transit is done right, it can really make someone's day.”
R. Earl Lewis, Jr., deputy secretary for policy, planning, & enterprise services at the Maryland Department of Transportation, said, "Rest assured the Hogan administration and the DOT are committed to making the transportation systems stronger. Maryland depends on us for safe and reliable transit systems and we are not going to let them down. Hopefully we'll see move movement on the Purple Line project, the largest public-private public transportation project in the country.”
Quinn explained that while making changes to a transit system can seem like an easy feat, it isn't that simple. “We've embarked on a mission to improve our customer experience. I want to issue a challenge to you all during this conference, I really want you to think of that customer experience … What idea or technology can you take back to transform your rider experience?”
While the country continues to develop, Baltimore is also looking toward the future.
"We are looking ahead for future transit opportunities. We're excited for the future of transit in Maryland," said Lewis.
The Future of Transit
Doran Barns, APTA chair and executive director of Foothill Transit, said, "It has been a great ride to serve as chair for this great organization for the past few months. My first goal was to focus on safety and security … Safety is at the bedrock to what we're all about. My second goal was to focus on what was happening in Washington, D.C. We didn't know what was going to happen, and boy it's been an interesting time. We're making sure that we're getting the word out and working with the Trump Administration. I've urged you over and over that your voice is loud and you make yourself hear. My third goal was to make APTA more connected as an association. My fourth goal was to focus on selecting the next CEO for APTA. Earlier this weekend the board approved several factors to move forward with that mission. My fifth goal was to be sure that we continue to promote diversity and inclusion … We take all that diversity and it makes us that much stronger."
"It's so great to see and understand the power and greatness of our industry and its all because of you," said White.
Tom Walden of HDR said, "if you have gained transit a seat and the table and as we all know if we don't have a seat at the table we’re probably on the menu. The Trump Administration and Brexit are just a tip of a melting iceberg." Walden pointed out that there are important factors that are making transportation a different world and that there needs to be an investment in change for the infrastructure of the transportation world. “Most of what you saw in some way impacts what we all do and how we do, but I ask you don't despair. Our next century will be out there embracing change."
Excellence in Safety and Security
Barnes and White announced the APTA Rail Safety and Security Awards at the conclusion of the opening session. Certificate of Merit and Gold Award recipients were:
- Certificate of Merit for Safety, Light Rail/Streetcar: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, San Diego, California
- Certificate of Merit for Security, Light Rail/Streetcar: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, California
- Certificate of Merit for Safety, Heavy Rail: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Cleveland, Ohio
- Gold Award for Safety, Light Rail/Streetcar: Metro Transit, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Gold Award for Security, Light Rail/Streetcar: Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, Maryland
- Gold Award for Safety, Heavy Rail: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, Georgia
- Gold Award for Security, Heavy Rail: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, California
