As uncertainty remains over the status of a federal surface transportation authorization bill and Congress continues to discuss current-year appropriations levels, hundreds of public transportation professionals have come to Washington, DC, to make their voices heard during the 36th Annual APTA Legislative Conference, March 13-15.

Conference activities kicked off at the JW Marriott Hotel during the weekend with numerous committee meetings, the “Welcome to Washington” session featuring political expert and pundit Charlie Cook, and the Welcoming Reception.

LaHood Headlines Monday’s Events
On Monday, March 14, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood will present the keynote address at the Opening General Session, “What’s Ahead for Transit – New Opportunities in 2011.” He will discuss the administration’s transportation initiatives, including its recently released budget request for Fiscal Year 2012 and proposal for a new surface transportation authorization bill that more than doubles public transit investment.

The opening session follows a breakfast briefing on “The Insider Perspective on the Transit Industry” headlined by former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, who is also a former chairman of the Amtrak board. Thompson will offer his views on national political dynamics and how the public transportation industry can best make its case in Washington.

The next session, “Expanding the Transit Coalition: Partners in Transportation Authorization,” brings together representatives of organizations with similar goals for transportation, including the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and Americans for Transportation Mobility.

The first afternoon session—after a lunchtime performance by the satirical group the Capitol Steps—features DOT Deputy Secretary John Porcari, Peter M. Rogoff, administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Joseph C. Szabo, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, sharing the latest news from their agencies.

The day’s schedule concludes with “View from the Hill,” where key congressional staff report on legislative issues of importance to the transit industry, and the first-ever “Capitol Hill Summit Kickoff.” The summit is a new APTA initiative that will feature a series of events to help make the case for public transportation while APTA members are in Washington for the conference.  The kickoff session will bring together advocacy tips and techniques from the “Advocacy Guru,” Stephanie Vance, with remarks from friends of public transportation on Capitol Hill, Reps. Steven LaTourette (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR).

On Tuesday and Wednesday
The schedule for Tuesday, March 15, begins with the “Get Started with Members of Congress Breakfast” featuring House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) and Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL).

APTA will hold a public transportation showcase in the foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building to serve as a gathering place and information center for APTA members as they go from meeting to meeting with their elected officials.

From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., APTA joins with ATU to host a reception in the Rayburn building cafeteria.

Following the conference on Wednesday, March 16, APTA will host a half-day workshop on changes in the FTA’s New and Small Starts programs. Participants are asked to register in advance at the APTA registration desk at the JW Marriott Hotel.