Make plans now to attend the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 in Chicago—only two months from now!

APTA has designed a program that offers numerous informational and networking opportunities for public transportation professionals at all levels. Sessions will cover a broad range of topics, from partnerships and improved productivity to nontraditional revenue sources and service during high-profile events.

APTA committees, including the Board of Directors, will convene during the weekend of Sept. 28-29. The schedule also will include the Mid-Level Managers Welcome and Orientation Breakfast Meeting, This Is APTA, Business Members Board of Governors meeting, and the Sunday evening Welcome to Chicago Reception at the Products & Services Showcase. Exhibitors will display their newest and most innovative products and technologies.

Monday’s Events
The meeting itself kicks off the morning of Sept. 30 with the Opening General Session, “It’s All About the People.” FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff and representatives of the Chicago Transit Authority, host system for the meeting , will join outgoing APTA Chair Flora M. Castillo, incoming Chair Peter Varga, and President & CEO Michael Melaniphy.

The Products & Services Showcase will reopen at 11:30 a.m. The day’s activities also include three series of ­concurrent educational sessions, including the Host Forum, “Leveraging Innovation in Transportation Investments;” a session on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s response to the Boston Marathon bombings; “Towards More Inclusive, Productive Board Meetings and Public Hearings,” featuring Sarah E. Merkle, J.D., certified professional ­parliamentarian; and a joint session on DBEs for APTA members and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

Also on Monday is the 34th Annual AdWheel Awards Ceremony honoring the best in public transit marketing efforts, and a reception in honor of the recipients of this year’s American Public Transportation Foundation scholarships.

Tuesday Schedule
Internationally known livable cities ­consultant Gil Penalosa will headline the morning General Session on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Penalosa is executive director of the Canadian non-profit organization 8-80 Cities and a former commissioner for the city of Bogotá, Colombia. His efforts there included the establishment of the “new Ciclovia,” a program that brings together more than one million people to walk, run, skate, and bicycle along the 121 kilometers of Bogotá’s city roads every Sunday.

More educational sessions will follow, including a presentation by Rogoff on FTA priorities.

APTA will honor “the best of the best” at the Awards Luncheon. Once again, the event will include presentation of awards for APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager, Business Member, and Board Member; Local Distinguished Service Award; Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Awards in three size categories; and the two newest members of the Hall of Fame. (See related story.)

Tuesday afternoon includes more concurrent sessions, including the Mineta Transportation Institute Summit, “Transit Feeder and Distribution Systems for High-Speed and Intercity Rail;” the Leadership APTA Class of 2013’s project presentations and graduation ceremony; and technical tours organized by CTA, Chicago DOT, Amtrak, and Metra commuter rail.

APTA is conducting its second jobs fair for veterans that afternoon in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Hire a Hero” campaign. This event will give Chicago-area veterans an opportunity to meet and interview with local transportation-focused organizations. APTA conducted its first jobs fair for veterans at its recent Rail Conference in Philadelphia, attracting more than 30 employers and 110 veterans and resulting in an on-site hire.

What’s on Wednesday
On Wednesday morning, Oct. 2, participants in the APTA/WTS Breakfast will hear from a business leader on the theme “Inspiring Leadership—Getting Extraordinary Things Done.”

The final series of concurrent sessions will follow, examining such topics as working with the media, strategic workforce development partnerships, and industry standards and best practices.

The famed Second City Communications will present a customized comedy revue, “Riffing on Life in Transit,” at the Closing General Session. This program will feature original scenes on taking public transit and offering services, plus “best of” Second City sketches and improvisation.

For additional details and to register, click here.