Lindsey Robertson of the Eno Transportation Foundation, left, and LaShawn Gillespie of Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA, networked between sessions at the conference.

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy displayed a new brochure during his address to the Mobility Management Workshop held in Long Beach following the Bus & Paratransit Conference. The Partnership for Mobility Management, of which APTA is a founding partner, hosted the workshop.

 More than 100 students from area universities attended the conference. Two sessions focused specifically on their needs: “Showcasing Careers in Public Transportation” and “University Research Projects,” where three college students presented their transportation research projects.

Contestants in the International Bus Roadeo walked across the atrium of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center following the competition.

Speakers in the May 6 Opening General Session included, from left: seated, APTA Vice Chair Flora M. Castillo; FTA Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan; and Long Beach Transit Board Chair Barbara Sullivan George; standing, APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy; California state Sen. Alan Lowenthal; Frank Alejandro, chief operating officer, Los Angeles Metro; and LBT President & CEO Laurence W. Jackson.

A “pirate” threatened Chicago Transit Authority operator Carl Haymore in one scenario during the seventh annual Customer Service Challenge. Seven bus operators competed in the May 7 event.