APTA Hosts Successful Winter Legislative Meeting

APTA held its Winter Legislative Meeting at Union Station in Washington, DC, Dec. 4, with hundreds of APTA members, government representatives and elected officials, and transportation stakeholders in attendance.

Beth Holbrook, chair of APTA’s Legislative Committee and member, board of trustees, Utah Transit Authority, called the meeting to order, before introducing Legislative Committee Vice Chair Phillip Eng, general manager and CEO of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, for remarks.

Leanne Redden, APTA chair and executive director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, gave opening remarks, telling attendees, saying: “We are going to show the Trump Administration and Congress that increasing our nation’s investment in public transportation is vital to boosting America’s competitiveness, creating family-wage jobs, growing businesses and the economy, and supporting innovation.”

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas noted how the atmosphere in Washington, DC, is a more optimistic following the end of the shutdown, but that there is still work to do, “and it begins with public transportation investment for THIS fiscal year. The temporary budget agreement expires on January 30—that’s just 57 days from now—and Congress isn’t in session for many of those days over the holidays.”

Skoutelas described APTA’s supporters as critical in the association’s advocacy effectiveness, including “FTA Administrator Marc Molinaro, who has pledged his support for more investment in public transportation. I also want to thank our friends from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the National League of Cities. These groups have always understood how our individual growth and success depends on our mutual, inter-connected growth and success.”

Patrick McKenna, Eno Center for Transportation president and chief executive officer, joined Skoutelas on stage for the signing of a new, expanded, three-year MOU, reflecting the two organizations’ mutual responsibility to workforce development and investing in strong public transportation leaders. “This MOU formalizes our commitment to collaborate; share resources; promote each other’s programs, research, and events; and work together on common goals that build a future-ready public transit workforce,” Skoutelas said.

House T&I Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) delivered a keynote address, followed by FTA Administrator Marcus Molinaro.

Beth Holbrook moderated a Coalition Partners panel discussion with John Drake, vice president for transportation, infrastructure, supply chain policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Dean Franks, senior vice president, congressional relations, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA); Susan Howard, Director of Policy and Government Relations, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); and Brittney Kohler, legislative director of transportation and infrastructure, National League of Cities.

Ward McCarragher, APTA’s vice president, government affairs and advocacy, discussed the 2025 election results and the resulting political, legislative, and regulatory landscape.

TJ Doyle, APTA’s vice president, communications & marketing, gave an Advocacy Communications in Your District presentation; Art Guzzetti, APTA’s vice president, mobility initiatives and public policy, and Catherine Kummer of the Charlotte Area Transit System delivered remarks on 2025 Transit Ballot Initiatives. Randy Clarke, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) general manager and CEO, gave a Bus Manufacturing Task Force Update; Joel Young, APTA vice chair and board member, AC Transit, Oakland, CA, gave a Mega Events Task Force Update.

Following the meeting, attendees enjoyed APTA’s annual Capitol Hill Holiday Reception.

View more images from the Winter Legislative Meeting and Holiday Reception.