Welcome to My Hometown!

LEANNE REDDEN
Outgoing Chair, APTA
Outgoing Executive Director, Regional Transportation Authority
Chicago, IL

I am thrilled to welcome you to Chicago. Having the opportunity to host the 2026 TRANSform Conference & EXPO makes the end of my tenure as APTA Chair feel that much more special and complete.

When I assumed the role of Chair in September 2025, I knew there would be challenging work ahead.

Our industry was being asked to meet increasing expectations, safety issues were attracting greater attention, some transit agencies were facing financial pressures, the final year of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was beginning, and we were preparing for the FIFA World Cup Games in an uncertain funding environment.

At APTA, much like my responsibility at Chicago’s RTA, my focus was on maintaining the trust of our members and customers; advocating for full funding and critical policies; and addressing new needs while anticipating future trends.

Bringing together capable people, especially those with opposing ideas, and building consensus toward a common mission has been an important leadership principle throughout my career. I’ve always believed in the power of coalitions.

I sought to bring that same approach to my work as APTA Chair, listening openly to our diverse membership, forging beneficial partnerships, and faithfully pursuing outcomes with broad support.

Thanks to the hard work of many, we delivered:

• Board approval of APTA’s extensive recommendations for a new Surface Transportation Authorization
• Valuable results from the Bus Manufacturing, SECURE, and Mega-Events task forces
• Creation of two new task forces—one on paratransit issues and another on railcar manufacturing—as well as a committee on autonomous vehicles
• Effective advocacy that produced strong funding for FY 2026 and the first steps toward a new five-year authorization
• A study mission to Singapore, Seoul, and Tokyo that introduced APTA to new practices with relevance for public transit in North America
• Fresh stories, advertising, and social media posts that highlighted public transportation’s essential role in creating jobs, growing business, and driving the U.S. economy

All of this—and much more—was possible because of the support of Paul Skoutelas, the Board and Executive Committee, our members, and the APTA staff.

Thank you for making my tenure as Chair such a productive, gratifying, once-in-a-lifetime experience. It has been an honor, a pleasure, and a privilege to serve the APTA community and the public transportation industry.