The 2013 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, set for May 5-8 in Indianapolis, features a special conversation on ­Hurricane Sandy led by a panel of public transit executives of agencies that were hardest hit by the devastating superstorm.

Leading the panel discussion—­Hurricane Sandy: Managing the Disaster, Managing Resilience—are Joseph M. Casey, general manager, Southeastern ­Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), ­Philadelphia, and member, APTA board; Darryl Irick, president, MTA Bus Company, New York City; and James ­Weinstein, executive director, New ­Jersey Transit Corp., Newark, and member, APTA board.

Joining the public transit executives for the opening general session is Paul J. Ricciuti, director of the Recovery Division, Region V, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Moderating the discussion is Michael A. Terry, president and chief executive officer, ­Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo), conference host.

The panelists will discuss their emergency preparedness plans, how service was affected in the aftermath of the storm, and how replacements and repairs were funded. This special conversation will also honor the hard work of the employees of the affected systems, in keeping with APTA Chair Flora ­Castillo’s year-long theme, ­“Public Transportation: It’s All About the People.”

The conference also features Maintenance Monday, a first-ever session dedicated to bus maintenance and ­technologies specifically for maintenance managers and related professionals.

Maintenance Monday kicks off with interactive discussions at IndyGo. Other special sessions include networking opportunities, an up-close look at the latest buses at the annual Bus Display, and technical presentations from APTA business members. Maintenance Monday is free to all Bus & Paratransit Conference registrants, but attendees must register in advance.

Dario Franchitti, four-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, is the conference closing session speaker on Wednesday, May 8. His presentation will focus on the dedication, team building, performance, and excellence involved in the sport of motor racing—and lessons for public transit professionals.

The conference also features the Mid-Level Managers Magnification Program, sessions specifically designed to advance the skills of professionals at this level, as part of APTA’s commitment to workforce development for early career professionals and mid-level managers.

The overall conference includes more than 30 sessions, special events, tours, a bus display, and exhibitor showcases.

The International Bus Roadeo competition, scheduled for May 5, is a highly popular event for bus operators and mechanics to showcase their driving and maintenance skills.

For additional details and to register, click here.