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Forward Motion
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APTA IS SEIZING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THE PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY ACHIEVE ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF
PERFORMANCE IN THE YEARS AHEAD. |
> FORWARD
Sound transportation policy is all about providing access,
freedom, and choice that allows people to accomplish what is
important to them. To meet that goal, the American Public
Transportation Association (APTA) continues to move forward
and carry the message of the importance of public
transportation and the need for increased investment in public
transportation to federal, state, and local elected officials,
the Administration, other industry groups, and the general
public. With "Public Transportation: Wherever Life Takes
You" as the theme, we are moving forward!
Safety and security moved to the forefront as the world
changed on September 11, 2001. On that fateful day, transit
systems in the U.S. and Canada, led by those in the New York
City and Washington, D.C., areas, stepped up to meet the
challenge. Public transportation proved it is in a unique
position to respond quickly and fill a critical public service
role to keep communities moving.
The aftermath of the terrorist attacks reminded us that
safety and security in our transportation systems are more
important now than ever. The industry’s commitment to safety
and security predates the attacks, but our efforts have grown
since September 11. Immediately following the tragic events,
APTA members and staff played a vital role in addressing
security needs in transportation through strategic
partnerships and educational efforts.
At the same time, APTA made steady progress on many
ambitious initiatives devoted to improving the way the
industry does business. These activities achieved major
milestones due to the dedicated service of APTA members.
APTA’s e-commerce site, called TransportMAX, opened for
business. Long-standing issues, such as workforce development
and improving procurement practices, made great strides as
well. Each of these initiatives are being pursued to the
fullest.
Momentum on the legislative and advocacy fronts intensified
this year. A high level of activity focused on the launch of
the Public Transportation Partnership for Tomorrow (PT)2 and
next year’s reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA 21).
Throughout the year, APTA developed and published the best
and most up-to-date information released in its history,
creating a number of important reports, studies, and
brochures. These resources, many of them supported by the
(PT)2 initiative, have received praise from APTA members, key
decision-makers, as well as others not familiar with the
benefits of public transportation.
These activities have helped APTA achieve a strong working
relationship with the new administration at the U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
In the U.S., the renaissance in public transportation
continued. For 6 years running, public transportation usage
increased. Since 1995, ridership has grown by 22 percent. In
2001, despite a sluggish economy and the 9/11 tragedies, more
than 9.5 billion trips were taken on public transportation in
the U.S. In fact, public transportation experienced the
sharpest growth of any form of transportation in the past
decade, outpacing the growth in highway use for the fifth year
in a row. The unfavorable economic conditions experienced
across the U.S. did take a toll on ridership in early 2002.
Public transportation showed a decline in ridership for the
first quarter in 2002, the first drop since 1995. But as the
demand for improved and expanded public transportation service
continues to grow, APTA is seeking new ways to assist our
members in meeting that demand.
Through (PT)2, advocacy efforts, educational conferences
and workshops, top-notch publications, and on-line resources,
APTA is working to move the industry forward and make the case
for even more investment. The past year has been critical to
the future of the industry and its mission to make public
transportation high on the list of national priorities.
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FOR SIX YEARS RUNNING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION USAGE
INCREASED. SINCE 1995, RIDERSHIP HAS GROWN BY 22
PERCENT. |
Delivering Security
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APTA HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH FTA AND FRA SINCE
SEPTEMBER 11 TO MAKE SAFE SYSTEMS EVEN SAFER.
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In the post–September 11 climate, APTA continued to focus a
high level of activity on public transportation security.
Immediately following the events of September 11, APTA and its
leadership played a significant role in addressing security
needs for the industry. APTA Chair Peter M. Cipolla created an
executive committee – level security task force, chaired by
APTA Secretary/Treasurer Richard A. White, who is also
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority chief executive
officer and general manager, to provide comprehensive and
strategic direction to security issues.
APTA has worked closely with FTA and FRA since September 11
in developing and coordinating activities. As a first step,
APTA leadership met with both Federal Transit Administrator
Jennifer L. Dorn and Federal Railroad Administrator Allan
Rutter, and outlined specific industry needs and issues. APTA
also partnered with the Mineta Transportation Institute to
hold a National Transportation Security Summit in Washington,
D.C. More than 200 top industry officials participated in the
late October 2001 summit. APTA also sponsored a successful
joint conference on safety and security issues with the
Amalgamated Transit Union and the National Transit Institute,
held in early summer 2002.
Through a special security-focused allocation of $2 million
under the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), the
APTA Security Task Force provided oversight for the creation
and delivery of four regional security forums. Funding also
permitted an industry panel to research needs in the areas of
prevention and mitigation and preparedness and response.
Numerous TCRP security projects were initiated to cover topics
including system security program planning, security-related
training, and customer communications.
To assist members in their individual security assessments,
APTA developed and distributed a checklist for emergency
response planning and security.
In December 2001, every APTA member received a report,
"America Under Threat: Transit Responds to Terrorism,"
published by Passenger Transport. The report illustrates the
many ways transit systems throughout North America responded
to the events on and after September 11.
Making public transportation as safe as possible is a
fundamental industry responsibility. Voluntary participation
in APTA’s safety management audit programs continued to grow
last year. More than 60 transit systems now participate in the
voluntary safety-management audit program. In 2002, APTA
modified the audit programs to include an even greater
emphasis on emergency response planning, training, and
security planning.
Broadening Support
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APTA MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN MANY HIGH-PROFILE
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY INITIATIVES.
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Thriving communities invest in public transportation. To
carry the message of the benefits of public transportation and
the need for increased investment, APTA made significant
progress in many high-profile education and advocacy
initiatives. Many of these efforts are the results of existing
APTA programs. Others are due to enhanced efforts undertaken
with the launch of (PT)2.
One of APTA’s most important priorities is the
reauthorization of the landmark TEA 21. Fiscal Year 2002
represented the fifth year of the 6-year TEA 21 program, and a
critical point in time as the public transportation industry
worked together to place itself in the best position possible
for increased investment in the next federal transportation
bill.
During the annual appropriations process, APTA worked
steadily to protect the proposed Fiscal Year 2003 budget at
the guaranteed level of $7.2 billion. Unexpectedly, the
federal highway program faced a challenge to reduce its budget
below the authorized level. APTA successfully partnered with
highway groups to advocate on behalf of restoring the $8.6
billion funding gap to avoid a negative situation that would
ultimately affect the entire transportation community.
With the expiration of TEA 21 only a year away, the APTA
Reauthorization Task Force, composed of more than 100 APTA
members from across the U.S., moved forward in its mission to
develop industry recommendations for a proposal on TEA 21
reauthorization.
At the APTA Legislative Conference held in March, APTA’s
Board of Directors approved recommendations made by the
Reauthorization Task Force. These recommendations focus on
three central themes: 1) continued growth in the federal
transit program; 2) a steady hold on funding guarantees; and
3) an expedited process of program delivery. Additional
recommendations will be made to the APTA Board of Directors in
September 2002 at the Annual Meeting and EXPO.
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THE SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF MANY APTA
MEMBERS MADE POSSIBLE THE LAUNCH OF (PT)2 IN JANUARY
2002. |
Also in March, APTA Chair Peter M. Cipolla appointed Peter
A. Cannito, president of the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority’s Metro-North Railroad and APTA’s vice chair for
commuter and intercity rail, as head of a task force to
develop principles to guide APTA actions with regard to rail
passenger service. The task force developed and built
consensus around ten policy principles, which were later
approved by the APTA Executive Committee.
APTA members recognize that one of their most important
tasks is to help the American public appreciate the full value
and advantages of increasing the nation’s investment in public
transportation. The program designed to broaden this support
is the Public Transportation Partnership for Tomorrow or
(PT)2.
By making public transportation’s benefits known, the first
year of (PT)2 laid the groundwork for the most immediate
priority, the reauthorization of TEA 21. Building upon
existing communications and government affairs efforts, (PT)2
is an aggressive 5-year program, consisting of seven areas set
to leverage all the resources of the public transportation
industry so we may effectively tell our story to the public.
These seven areas are: policy research, advocacy and
coalitions, toolkits, enhanced education to Congress and the
Administration, communications/public affairs, advertising,
and implementation of legislation.
The support and financial commitment of many APTA members
made possible the launch of (PT)2 in the fall of 2001. The
hard work of the (PT)2 fundraising cabinet reaped great
rewards.
Co-chairing the fundraising effort were APTA
Secretary/Treasurer Richard A. White, chief executive officer
and general manager of the Washington Area Metropolitan
Transit Authority; John M. Dionisio, president of DMJM+Harris,
an AECOM company; and Gary E. Griggs, president of Parsons
Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas. Their strong leadership is
responsible for (PT)2 financial success. (PT)2 ended the year
with pledges of $31 million over the 5 years of the program,
surpassing the $30 million goal set for the program.
The most visible component is the national advertising
campaign. National television ads can now be seen on CNN, Fox
News Channel, and MSNBC. Prints ads are also in national
magazines: Newsweek, Time, U.S. News and World Report, Money,
National Geographic, and Smithsonian. The national advertising
campaign is showing early results. Based on polling data
compiled after the first 3 months, the public’s awareness of
public transportation has grown by 9 percent!
A new web site, http://www.publictransportation.org
has also been launched. This easy-to-navigate site is a great
resource for the general public to learn more about public
transportation.
(PT)2 is much more than advertising. (PT)2 is about good
information. A number of important reports, studies, and
brochures have been created. These include TEA 21: Money at
Work; Public Transportation Means Business; The Benefits of
Public Transportation: An Overview; 10 Ways to Enhance Your
Community; America Rides the Bus; Bring Back the Streetcars;
and Conserving Energy and Preserving the Environment: The Role
of Public Transportation.
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APTA HAS BEGUN A COALITION KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL
ALLIANCE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
ADVOCATES. |
In the past year, APTA sent toolkits to (PT)2 partners.
These toolkits give an overview of the entire program, and
"tools" to implement (PT)2 locally. Included in the toolkits
are the national advertisements and a local coalition
workbook, samples of news releases, talking points, sample
op-eds, and other useful information. Workshops have also been
held at several state transit associations on how to implement
(PT)2 at the community level.
As a part of (PT)2, APTA has joined various coalitions
including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Americans for
Transportation Mobility.
APTA generated a heightened level of grassroots advocacy
this year in support of public transportation through (PT)2.
For the first time ever, APTA awarded grants to 38 coalitions.
Boosting APTA’s strategic efforts in advocacy is the formation
of the National Alliance of Public Transportation Advocates, a
new national coalition of public transportation supporters and
riders from around the U.S. who actively support increasing
federal investment for public transportation. Through the new
coalition, APTA will provide timely information to the
grassroots levels as key decisions on transportation policy
are debated by the Administration and Congress.
APTA also launched the Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Congressional Initiative project as another advocacy tool at
the 2002 Legislative Conference. In its first few months, this
(PT)2 funded project produced nearly 500 maps that illustrate
the presence of public transportation systems and related
businesses in each congressional district and state.
APTA provided assistance to educate and train advocates as
part of (PT)2. To create a skilled base of citizen advocates
for public transportation, APTA hired Odyssey to conduct the
necessary grassroots training. During the spring and summer of
2002, APTA offered training programs in Washington, D.C.;
Visalia, California; and Columbus, Ohio.
APTA continued to educate congressional staff on the
benefits of public transportation through congressional
participation at the Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, the
Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., and the Commuter
Rail/Rail Transit Conference in Baltimore. As a co-sponsor of
the exhibit "On Track: Transit and the American City," APTA
hosted a special congressional tour and breakfast briefing
that featured U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works
Chairman Jim Jeffords (I-VT) and House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee Member Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) at the
National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., in April. The
exhibit has proven to be one of the museum’s most popular and
important, attracting more than 40,000 people in the first 6
months alone.
The President’s Letter and the Washington
Report kept members informed of the changing political
landscape and relevant up-to-the-minute legislative news.
APTA’s Legislative Alerts mobilize members to action when
urgent issues arise. Our efforts to keep our members informed
gained praise from outside groups. APTA received top
recognition in publications this year. For the second
consecutive year, Passenger Transport won national awards for
excellence by Association Trends and in the APEX 2002
competition. Last year’s APTA Annual Report also won an award
of excellence from Association Trends for creativity, content,
and design.
> OLYMPIC-SIZED MEDIA COVERAGE
Eleven hundred public transportation personnel—operators,
mechanics, and others—helped move 1.7 million people to 2002
Winter Olympic events in and around Salt Lake City, Utah. APTA
worked with journalists from across the country to tell
transit’s gold-medal story. To get our message out to the news
media, APTA developed a video news release and photographs
posted on the www.publictransportation.org web site that
showed in detail how APTA members from Buffalo to Honolulu
played a vital role in these Olympic Games. APTA estimated
that the video news release aired on more than 220 television
stations in all 50 states. Print coverage also noted public
transportation’s on-time and efficient performance in
newspapers from coast to coast.
In July 2002, APTA released a new independent study,
"Conserving Energy and Preserving the Environment: The Role
of Public Transportation," by three distinguished
economists at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. To
raise awareness of the report’s findings, APTA staff conducted
media outreach in selected cities. Extensive outreach also
included production of an audio news release featuring the
main author of the study. These efforts were successful.
The Washington Post, Associated Press, the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and many other newspapers
covered the report. The report also received good coverage on
radio and television. The audio news release has been heard in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and Puerto Rico.
As we strengthen our industry through (PT)2, the most
difficult challenge is to come. To move forward, the
reauthorization of TEA 21 will be the priority in the second
year.
Conducting Business
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TRANSPORTMAX BRINGS TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND SUPPLIERS
TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUYING AND SELLING GOODS AND
SERVICES. |
APTA has been busy working to improve the industry’s
procurement practices. A task force has examined the need to
make fundamental changes in the way the public transportation
industry conducts business. Stabilizing the business climate
for the industry is also an important issue.
Led by APTA Vice Chair–Management and Finance Paul P.
Skoutelas, chief executive officer of the Port Authority of
Allegheny County, and Robert I. Brownstein, principal
consultant, pbConsult, the task force identified almost 50
issues to address dealing with industry buyer and seller
relationships; the terms and conditions used in purchasing,
technical, and process issues in purchasing; and regulatory
and legislative impediments.
Early results are in. The work of the task force has
spurred FTA’s recent waiver of the 5-year rule on industry
contracts. In addition, FTA is also developing a series of
recommended practices for the industry and working to enhance
industry training on procurement based on the findings of the
task force.
The work of the procurement task force is not over. A
primer is under development that will explain how the process
works and how collaborative relationships can to lead to a
more efficient and sustainable industry marketplace.
E-commerce is alive and well in the public transportation
industry. APTA launched TransportMAX, an Internet-based
marketplace designed to give APTA members neutral on-line
access to a growing number of services and products, on April
1, 2002. Developed in conjunction with Booz Allen Hamilton,
TransportMAX brings transit systems and suppliers together for
the purpose of buying and selling goods and services.
Discovering what TransportMAX has to offer, many systems
and suppliers have joined the marketplace. The Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority became the first system to
fully integrate TransportMAX into its purchasing and financial
systems, thus gaining full advantage of the lightning speed of
e-commerce.
Embracing Workforce
Needs
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MORE RESOURCES HAVE BEEN DEDICATED WITHIN THE APTA
ORGANIZATION TO CONCENTRATE ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
ISSUES. |
As the public transportation industry has long recognized,
building and sustaining a strong and capable workforce is
always an issue. The primary idea behind APTA’s workforce
development initiative is to make public transportation "an
employer of choice." The workforce development task force,
under the leadership of Vice Chair–Human Resources Beverly A.
Scott, Ph.D, general manager of the Rhode Island Public
Transit Authority, completed its comprehensive review of the
human resources challenges facing the public transportation
industry, and developed an action plan for addressing this
most fundamental issue.
The task force presented an action plan incorporating
research findings of the critical workforce development issues
to the APTA Executive Committee and Board of Directors at the
2001 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.
To better support workforce development needs, APTA took
several actions. The workforce development task force itself
has been strengthened to include representation from the FTA
and two major transit labor unions (Amalgamated Transit Union
and the Transport Workers Union).
To address workforce issues, APTA also expanded the Human
Resources Committee to include four new subcommittees: labor
relations; employment; organizational development; and
employee training and development. Inviting more participation
in these efforts, APTA added a forum to our web site for
members to share information on best practices. Also, sessions
on workforce issues were featured at all major APTA
conferences throughout the year. Taking workforce issues to
another level, APTA leadership participated in the National
Transportation Workforce Summit convened by the U.S.
Department of Transportation in May 2002.
More resources have been dedicated within the APTA
organization to concentrate on workforce development issues. A
new Program Management and Educational Services department was
created to encompass a number of new initiatives including
increasing educational services for the industry, managing the
workforce development initiative, developing an Internet-based
distance learning program for member organizations, and
managing the American Public Transportation Foundation.
A fifth "Leadership APTA" class of 22 public transportation
professionals graduated this year. The class participated in
an extensive, year-long series of sessions and meetings to
build leadership skills. The success of the program is
evident. At several transit systems and businesses around the
country, alumni have moved into top management positions.
Building Community
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APTA HELD ITS FIRST TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS MEMBERS
SEMINAR DURING THE 2002 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE.
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> MEMBERSHIP
As we move forward, our membership has never been larger or
stronger. APTA welcomed 195 new members in Fiscal Year 2002!
Five new international member organizations joined APTA’s
ranks from all corners of the globe, including Germany, Korea,
China, and Australia. At the conclusion of the fiscal year,
membership reached an all-time high of 1,459. A new and
increasingly popular mentoring program helps familiarize new
members with the organization. More than 100 new APTA members
and nearly 50 mentors are now participating.
APTA’s conferences continue to provide face-to-face forums
for our members to meet and share information. More than 9,000
people attended APTA’s meetings, workshops, and conferences
during this fiscal year. The (PT)2 theme, "Public
Transportation: Wherever Life Takes You," also set the tone
for all APTA meetings and conferences. Despite taking place
less than 3 weeks after the events of September 11, APTA’s
2001 Annual Meeting went off without a hitch, attracting 2,000
attendees to Philadelphia.
A spring 2002 survey of members gave high marks to APTA’s
services, conferences, and publications! Services to receive
the top grades included APTA’s Washington representation, the
Information Center, and statistical reports. According to the
annual survey, APTA’s conference programs received consistent
praise while conference amenities continued to improve. APTA’s
Membership Directory, Passenger Transport newspaper,
Public Transportation Fact Book, Legislative Alerts, and the
Washington Report all continue to meet a high standard.
> INTERNATIONAL
APTA conducted a 2-week study mission to Australia and New
Zealand, where participants examined public/private
cooperation in both countries. The trip created beneficial
connections and exchanges. Highlights included a look at Bus
Rapid Transit and intermodal initiatives involving rail, air,
and water transportation and sharing information on
competitive contracting. Study mission participants will share
"lessons learned" at the 2002 Annual Meeting.
> BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Two trade missions with the Federal Transit Administration
took transit business members to far-away places. In the first
mission, representatives from nine U.S. transit manufacturers
and suppliers traveled to Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam; Guangzhou, Shenzhen; and Hong Kong, China. The second
trip sent nine APTA member companies to Mexico for a 1-week
mission traveling to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and
Tijuana.
APTA held its first transportation business members seminar
during the 2002 Legislative Conference. Sessions provided an
in-depth discussion of the health and the future of the
industry and a roundtable featuring the heads of major U.S.
transportation companies. A highlight of the seminar was an
appearance by New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial.
Two new supplements to APTA's weekly newspaper,
Passenger Transport introduced the Bus and Paratransit
Buyer's Guide in November 2001 and the Rail Transit Buyer's
Guide in February 2002. These resources indexed products and
services and provided a complete company description and
contact information.
On the regulatory front, APTA submitted formal industry
comments on several federal rulemakings covering a range of
issues including security, clean fuels, and federal
communications policy.
Numerous preparations were made in Fiscal Year 2002 for
APTA's 2002 Annual Meeting and EXPO in Las Vegas. The
exhibition will feature more than 700 suppliers, displaying
the latest and most innovative transportation products and
services in over 260,000 feet of exhibition space.
> TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH
PROGRAM
The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) continues
to serve the needs of the transportation community. A recent
national survey conducted by APTA found that industry users
see TCRP resources as a valuable tool that is useful and
relevant to their agency. Based on survey results, TCRP plans
to explore different formats for presentations to supplement
printed reports.
> SAFETY
To improve safety and increase operating efficiency for
APTA members, APTA's rail transit standards project met a
major milestone this year. Six initial standards or
recommended practices received approval for rail transit
system use. More than 50 additional standards are in various
stages of development with a goal of completion in 2003. These
standards create the groundwork for added uniform safety
oversight of rail transit operations. Reinforcing the safety
message, the APTA Rail Safety Committee formed a partnership
with the FTA to develop Guidelines for Safety
Certification for new capital projects.
Financial Summary
With an operating budget of $16.9 million, APTA effectively
and prudently manages its financial resources. Shown here is a
presentation of APTA’s revenues and expenses for Fiscal Year
2002.
APTA’s revenues are mostly generated from member dues and
registration fees. The majority of expenses result from member
services and major meeting functions. Full audit reports are
available to APTA members on request.
Revenue and expenses for (PT)2 are kept separate from
APTA’s operating budget and are not included in the bar charts
below.
Conclusion
To lead the industry and bolster support for public
transportation, APTA listened carefully to the needs of our
members and the industry. The activities underway in the areas
of (PT)2, TEA 21 Reauthorization, Workforce Development,
Procure-ment, and e-commerce all strengthen our industry in
order to move our agenda ahead.
APTA also plays an important role in safety and security.
While maintaining mobility in the aftermath of the September
11 terrorist attacks, we saw how public transportation is
needed more than ever.
By sharing information with our members, APTA has brought
critical needs and solutions to the forefront. As we move
forward, APTA’s efforts will place an even greater emphasis on
the need for more investment in public transportation and the
reauthorization of TEA 21. The pursuit of APTA’s major
initiatives will continue as our members seek to serve their
customers even better.
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