APTA Chair Addresses COMTO Conference

APTA Chair Michele Wong Krause spoke at the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) 53^rd National Meeting & Training Conference this week in Houston, TX.

At the Opening Plenary Session, Krause thanked COMTO Board Chair Tanya Adams and President and CEO April Rai for inviting her. She spoke about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, noting the public transit industry now has more resources than ever to connect people to opportunities and to break down barriers, be they physical, racial or economic.

Krause added that APTA’s unwavering commitment to COMTO’s mission—and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion—will continue to grow stronger. She noted APTA’s Racial Equity Commitment Pilot Program, launched in May 2022, which aims to help public transit agencies and businesses find measurable ways to advance racial equity within their organizations. She said that APTA will establish a permanent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment program soon and will also release a Transit Equity Report, highlighting transit agencies that have adopted new planning, services, and operations to advance equity in their communities.