Mobility Conference Opened with “Belief” in Optimism

With more than 2,000 attendees, APTA’s 2026 Mobility Conference kicked off on May 18 in Salt Lake City with messages about optimism, the power of teamwork, and gratitude for the people who keep public transportation moving every day.

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas and APTA Chair Leanne Redden, executive director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, both spoke about the importance of all APTA members working together to achieve the industry’s top priority: enacting a new, pro-transit Surface Transportation Authorization to replace the current Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which expires on September 30.

Skoutelas referred to the BUILD America 250 Act, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s proposed five-year bill, as “a great first step,” pledging that APTA will continue to work with Congress on several critical provisions in the months ahead.

He expressed optimism about the still-evolving legislation because “our transit agencies rely on 3,000 private-sector suppliers in more than 1,700 communities across all 50 states,” which he characterized as “not just an impressive economic footprint but as a powerful political footprint.”

Redden expressed a similar positive sentiment, outlining the three major goals for a new five-year law:

1. Building upon IIJA funding by authorizing $138 billion for public transit and $130 billion for passenger rail
2. Accelerating project delivery by eliminating barriers and streamlining grant and procurement processes
3. Strengthening local decision-making by providing more direct funding to public transit agencies

Citing statistics about how investments in public transportation create jobs, grow businesses, and drive the economy, Redden said, “Our strongest messages are our data.”  She encouraged APTA members to add their own compelling, local stories to advocacy efforts and “to show how these kinds of investments change lives.”

Jay Fox, executive director, Utah Transit Authority, the conference’s host agency, described public transit as “the circulatory system of a healthy, functioning community.”

In keeping with the messages from Skoutelas and Redden, Fox said, “We don’t just move bodies from point A to point B, we move lives forward” thanks to thousands of transit workers’ commitment to teamwork and always striving to do better.

Keynote speaker Donnie Campbell, the high school math teacher and basketball coach who influenced the portrayal of Ted Lasso in the HBO series of the same name, expanded upon the session’s theme. He talked about the importance of having a positive attitude and the “MVP”—the mission, values, and plan.

Sponsored by APTA’s Business Members Board of Governors (BMBG) and introduced by BMBG Chair Ray Melleady, Campbell shared life lessons about how communication inspires trust, how leadership builds a team, and how believing brings out the best in people.

The conference’s presenting sponsor was HTNB, represented by Andrew Brennan, vice president for the National Transit and Rail Market Sector.

The Opening General Session introduced some of the Mobility Conference’s major events, such as: the products and services showcase with more than 130 exhibitors; APTA’s awards for excellence in bus safety, security, and emergency management; panel discussions on innovation, demographics, lessons from transport systems in Asia, and the FTA; APTA’s Mobility Summit; and recognition of the record number of 80 drivers and 49 maintenance teams competing in the 2026 International Bus Roadeo.

View more images from the Mobility Conference and International Bus Roadeo.