New Surface Transportation Authorization Tops APTA’s 2026 Legislative Conference
4/16/2026
From opening remarks to the multiple panel discussions, the primary focus of APTA’s 2026 Legislative Conference was on securing a new Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act that builds upon the historic funding levels of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Calling it “a most consequential meeting in a most consequential year,” APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas told a record 600-plus public transportation professionals and allies that, despite the challenges ahead, he was optimistic about Congress passing pro-transit legislation.
He assured APTA members that with a unified voice, the industry can address critically important issues, notably the lack of advanced appropriations in the President’s proposed FY 2027 budget. “The IIJA was the commencement, not the completion, of our nation’s long overdue investment in safe, accessible, and modern transit,” he said.
APTA Chair Leanne Redden, executive director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, emphasized the importance of strong, persistent advocacy in the coming months. “Congress must do something by October 1 (when the IIJA expires) or the program will end; it is essential—but ‘essential’ is not the same as ‘easy.’” A new authorization or an extension has the potential to shape public transportation’s future for many years.
Noting that APTA has crafted more than 80 pages of recommendations for a new authorization, she told attendees, “We need to tell our stories to elected officials about the positive impact transit investments are having on people’s lives and local economies; it’s about turning data into pictures and citizens into advocates.”
Representing the host-city transit agency, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke touted his system’s lowest crime rate in history and highest customer service rating over the last year as examples of a trend in clean, safe transit for the nation’s capital. Skoutelas and Redden both congratulated Metro on its 50th anniversary, which coincides with APTA’s 50th Legislative Conference this year.
FTA Acting Executive Director Jamie Pfister moderated an FTA panel, which included Associate Administrator Connor Torossian, Chief Counsel Matthew Cahill, Office of Planning and Environment Deputy Associate Administrator Megan Blum, and Deputy Administrator for Transit Safety and Oversight Teona Edwards.
The panel repeated the Trump Administration’s stated priorities for public transportation: improved safety for riders and transit workers; a focus on fare evasion and crime; family-friendly accessibility; and greater efficiency and deregulation, including shifting oversight to state DOTs (as is being done in Utah and Alaska) to reduce federal bureaucracy.
Also discussed was FTA’s repurposing of unallocated funding for World Cup transit and other projects. Notice of funding opportunities will be forthcoming for projects related to railcar replacements, buses, TOD programs, and other initiatives. FTA is also working to simplify reviews, applications, and other processes, including for NEPA readiness.
Questions for the panel focused on safety and funding. One attendee remarked that safety extends beyond transit, reflecting the external environment, while another raised the need for funding to combat human trafficking, since public transportation can play a critical role in awareness and prevention.
FRA Deputy Administrator Drew Feeley reiterated the Administration’s focus on safety, efficiency, and development. He specifically mentioned efforts to hire more safety inspectors in the field (see their open positions).
During the afternoon session, attendees heard from White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Katherine Scarlett, who discussed the need to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to address such issues as categorical exclusions, levels of review, and permitting technology.
TSA Assistant Administer for Surface Operations Sonya Proctor discussed the agency’s recent focus on upcoming mega events (World Cup, America 250, and the LA Olympics), cybersecurity, and a realignment of resources. She announced that her agency would soon release a new TSA operational map, with three regional groupings, compared to the previous five. Procter also said it was important for her agency to hear from the public transportation industry when developing regulations and legislation, adding, “APTA is one of our best partners and has been for many years.”
Closing out the first day of the conference, John Dickerson, CBS Evening News co-anchor, Face the Nation moderator, CBS This Morning co-host, 60 Minutes contributor, and author, discussed the current political climate, media landscape, and 2026 elections.