APTA Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Working Group Meets in Seattle

The APTA Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Working Group (VIM WG) plays a vital role in developing and updating standards that guide rail transit agencies in keeping their fleets in safe, reliable operating condition.

Led by Chair Mike Kunkle of PRT, Vice Chair Claire Patrigeon of TTC, and Secretary Austin Scioli of WSP, the VIM WG brings together industry experts to ensure APTA’s vehicle maintenance documents reflect current best practices and address emerging challenges. The group meets regularly in person and virtually to advance this work.

In April 2026, the VIM WG held its in-person meeting in Seattle, WA, hosted by Sound Transit. Over the course of the three-day meeting, working group members advanced updates to three existing standards: Rail Transit Vehicle Pre-Departure Inspection, Coupler System Periodic Inspection and Maintenance, and Vehicle Communication Systems Periodic Inspection and Maintenance. In addition, the group opened discussions on the development of new standards addressing Obsolescence Management, Collision Avoidance Systems for Light Rail Vehicles, and Predictive Maintenance.

On the final day, working group members had the opportunity to tour Sound Transit’s Operations and Maintenance Facility East and the newly opened Crosslake Connection featuring the world’s first and only floating rail bridge. These tours provided a firsthand look at how the vehicle inspection and maintenance standards the VIM WG develops are applied in practice at a major transit agency.

The VIM WG will continue advancing its work as it looks ahead to its next in-person meeting, which will be held in Fall 2026. Participation in VIM WG meetings is supported through the APTA Standards Program, which helps ensure broad agency participation. To encourage participation across the industry, APTA reimburses travel-related expenses, including airfare, lodging, and per diem, for public transit agency participants.

Agencies and stakeholders interested in participating in future in-person or virtual sessions are encouraged to contact Bryan Sooter, senior director‑standards and rail engineering, at bsooter@apta.com and Tytus Suchotinunt, program manager-standards, at tsuchotinunt@apta.com.