APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy, left, and APTA Vice President-Government Affairs Robert Healy with Rep. Corinne Brown (D-FL) at the Capitol Hill Reception.

Hundreds of public transportation professionals were entertained during the Sunday “Welcome to Washington” session featuring John Feehery and A.B. Stoddard.

Members of the Leadership APTA class participate in educational discussion sessions during the conference.

Photo by Mitch Wood

The five co-chairs of the Authorization Task Force met during the Legislative Conference. From left: Carl Sedoryk, Monterey-Salinas Transit; Nuria Fernandez, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Randall Chrisman, Dallas Area Rapid Transit board; Sharon Greene, Sharon Greene and Associates; and Carolyn Flowers, Charlotte Area Transit System.

Castillo, left, and Melaniphy, right, join the presenters at the March 10 General Session, from second from left: pundits John Feehery and A.B. Stoddard; Tom Downs, chair, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and Susannah Kerr Adler of session sponsor URS Corporation.

Retiring DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, second from right, accepts an APTA proclamation following his remarks. Presenters include, from left, Tom Lucek, general manager, CityLink, Peoria, IL; McBride, CityLink board treasurer; Castillo; and Melaniphy.

APTA Vice Chair Peter Varga, left, and Secretary-Treasurer Doran Barnes were among the members of the APTA Executive Committee who participated in a March 11 event at the White House.

Photo by Mitch Wood

The conference provided many opportunities for public transit professionals to network and share ideas.

A Legislative Conference tradition, the Capitol Steps present musical political satire during the March 11 luncheon session.

During the March 12 reception, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), left, shakes hands with Paul E. Davis, general manager and CEO, Tri-State Transit Authority, Huntington, WV.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), left, and David Garten of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority chat during the reception in the Rayburn House Office Building cafeteria.

Former Rep. Steve LaTourette, left, spoke at the March 11 breakfast sponsored by APTA’s business members. Joining him are, from second from left, BMBG Chair Angela Iannuzziello, Castillo, and Melaniphy.

Members gathered at a packed breakfast session before hearing from Reps. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tom Petri (R-WI).

Photo by Mitch Wood

APTA Chair Flora Castillo addresses the March 9 meeting of the APTA Board of Directors. Seated from left: Melaniphy, Vice Chair Peter Varga, and Secretary-Treasurer Doran Barnes.

Staffers from key congressional committees discuss the status of passenger rail legislation, specifically the Passenger Rail Infrastructure and Investment Act and the Rail Safety Improvement Act, at the “Rail Policy and Legislation in the 113th Congress” panel. Speakers, from left: Joseph Giulietti, executive director, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail, Pompano Beach, FL, and member, APTA Executive Committee; Ian Jefferies, majority staff member, and Dan Neumann, minority staff member, Senate Commerce Committee; and Mike Friedberg, majority staff director, and Jennifer Homendy, minority staff director, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Congress is likely to address key policy aspects of MAP-21 in the reauthorization process, examining the sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund, and improvements to the Buy America bill, according to key congressional staffers at the “View from the Hill” panel discussion. From left: moderator Peter Varga, CEO, Interurban Transit Partnership, Grand Rapids, MI, and panelists Dena Brown, majority clerk, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Homer Carlisle, majority staff member, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Jim Tymon, majority staff director, and Helena Zyblikewycz, minority staff member, both with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.