APTA Conducts Informative Executive Study Mission to Asia

A high-level delegation of APTA members visited Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo Nov. 5-15 to explore some of the latest advances in public transportation in Asia. Led by APTA Chair Leanne Redden, executive director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, and APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas, the participants, including transit CEOs, transit board members, and business members, represented the breadth and scope of the U.S. transit industry from the public and private sectors.

Over the course of the ten-day mission, the delegation conducted site visits and participated in roundtable discussions with key senior public transportation officials from the Singapore Land Transportation Authority; Singapore’s main rail and bus operators SMRT and SBST; the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro; the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism; the Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute; and key high-speed, regional, and heavy rail operators JR East, JR Central, and Tokyo Metro.

Redden remarked that “the study mission was a unique opportunity to gain insights into the innovative policies, practices, and technologies that have led to exceptional levels of service, safety, reliability, and efficiency.”

“We witnessed Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo’s singular commitment to continuous improvement in their transit delivery and the customer experience,” said Skoutelas, “leading to high quality of life and economic vitality in all three cities.”