Miami the Epicenter of Transit Technology and Innovation for APTAtech
8/7/2025
Public transportation innovation leaders and technologists converged for the 2025 APTAtech, APTA’s premier transit technology conference, Aug. 3-6 in Miami, FL. Presented by Genfare and hosted by Miami-Dade Transit, the event served as a showcase of progress, a laboratory for ideas, and a rallying point for those committed to building the transit systems of tomorrow.
The gathering began with a full day of APTA committee meetings. Across seven focused groups—from artificial intelligence and information technology to emerging technologies and fare collection—transportation professionals explored some of the most critical issues facing the industry of today and the future. A special Chief Innovation Officer peer exchange gave innovation leaders an opportunity to trade lessons from the field and align visions for what is next.
The official kickoff on day two saw Michael Veltri, vice president, transit and rail engineering, WSP, chair of APTA’s Fare Collection Systems Committee, and head of this year’s APTAtech Program Committee, welcome attendees with an inspiring and urgent message: technology is not only shaping how transit systems operate but redefining the very nature of public service. A video greeting from APTA President & CEO Paul P. Skoutelas followed, reaffirming the association’s commitment to driving innovation; and FTA Deputy Administrator Tariq Bokhari added a federal perspective on policy, funding, and forward momentum. Local Miami officials helped paint a picture of a city leaning into the future; and Stacy Miller, CEO of Miami-Dade Transit, closed the session with a heartfelt welcome to the city.
Event educational sessions on day two focused on mobility technology, fare systems, and policy innovation. The product showcase floor displayed the latest transit technologies from open-loop fare systems to AI-powered analytics platforms.
Day three turned the spotlight on artificial intelligence, data analytics, fare-evasion solutions, and workforce transformation. Panels and presentations examined how agencies are using predictive analytics to make smarter decisions, how they are combatting fare evasion with tech-forward strategies, and how to build the next generation of transit talent in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Executive roundtables enabled candid, high-level conversations between chief innovation officers, chief information officers, and transit agency CEOs. The take-away was clear: technology is not just about tools, it is about people, leadership, and culture.
The final half-day of the conference featured the Innovation Challenge. Framed around real-world scenarios such as Olympic Games, major music festivals, and global sporting events, the challenge invited participants to brainstorm scalable tech solutions for handling the complex spikes in demand these mega-events bring. Ideas put forth were rooted in practical experience—exactly the kind of thinking the conference was designed to ignite.