APTA Leaders Brief Trump Administration USDOT Landing Team

On Jan. 10, several key APTA members, led by APTA Chair MJ Maynard, CEO, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; and APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas, met with Howard “Skip” Elliott and other members of the incoming Trump Administration’s USDOT Landing Team to discuss the economic impact of public transportation investment and growing American manufacturing; advancing innovative solutions to industry challenges; and opportunities to streamline regulatory and administrative requirements.

APTA outlined the critical importance of federal investment; the need to fully fund the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act through FY25 and FY26 Transportation Appropriations bills; and APTA’s development of Surface Transportation Authorization Recommendations. APTA members highlighted innovative solutions to ridership recovery and workforce challenges. Finally, APTA provided the Landing Team with key opportunities to streamline regulatory and administrative requirements, including:

• Revising FTA Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Requirements and other Safety Regulations.
• Streamlining FTA and FRA Real Property Acquisition.
• Eliminating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Commercial Driver’s License “Under-the-Hood” Testing Requirement.
• Requiring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to certify two laboratories to conduct oral fluid drug testing (enabling implementation of USDOT oral fluid drug testing option).

APTA participants included Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Raymond Melleady, president, Ster Seating; and Ward McCarragher, APTA vice president, government affairs and advocacy.