APTA has released details and numbers related to the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump on March 23. The information is in a Legislative Alert that includes a chart comparing funding levels for various public transit programs at FY 2017 enacted, FY 2018 FAST Act, FY 2018 Administration Budget and FY 2018 Omnibus levels. The legislation boosts funding for FTA programs to $13.5 billion, compared with the authorized level of $12.3 billion. Funding for all FRA commuter and intercity rail programs increased to $3.1 billion.

COMTO Celebrates 'Women Who Move the Nation'

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) recognized 15 women representing a broad cross-section of transportation in both the public and private sectors—many of them APTA members—at the seventh annual Women Who Move the Nation awards ceremony March 22. The honorees include, from left: standing, FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams; Ryland McClendon, assistant general manager of communications and external affairs, MARTA; Diana Mendes, Mid-Atlantic Division president, HNTB; Diane Woodend Jones, chair, WTS International, and chairman of the board and principal, Lea+Elliott Inc.; and Heather Barry, vice president, strategic partnerships, SSP America; seated, Kim Day, CEO, Denver International Airport; Jill Chen-Stober, manager, service performance and analysis, TriMet, Portland, OR; Leslie Richards, secretary, PennDOT; Lisa Winston Hicks, chairman of the board, MV Transportation; Michelle Pourciau, director, Baltimore City DOT; and Stephanie Wiggins, deputy CEO, Los Angeles Metro. Not pictured are Donna McNamee, Laketran Board of Trustees, Painesville, OH; Barbara Arens, senior vice president, central region business manager, WSP USA; Rosa Beckett, chief administrative officer, Jacksonville (FL) Aviation Authority; and Christy Hall, secretary, South Carolina DOT.

More from the Legislative Conference

If you missed APTA's successful Legislative Conference held recently in Washington, DC, you can now view video coverage of the major General Sessions:

Opening General Session: What's Ahead for Transit — Update from DOT

Monday Breakfast: The National Perspective on Infrastructure Investment

General Session: Update from FRA

General Session: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI)

General Session: Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

General Session: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

General Session: Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

General Session: Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)

SAVE THE DATE

There's still time to register for the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, May 6-9 in Tampa, FL. Topics for this technical, educational program include operations and maintenance, accessibility and paratransit, integrated mobility and transformative technology, safety and security, planning and sustainability, capital programs, procurement and workforce development. Other highlights include the International Bus Roadeo, the Bus Display and the Bus Products & Services Showcase.

The APTA Rail Conference is coming soon: June 10-13 in Denver. The program includes technical sessions for all rail modes — urban, commuter, high-speed and intercity — along with the Rail Rodeo and the Products & Services Showcase.

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline to submit applications for the 2018 APTA Rail Safety and Security Awards is April 15. To apply, click here, then click the “Nomination Form” link. Winners will be announced at the APTA Rail Conference. Questions? Contact Brian Alberts (Safety Awards) or Polly Hanson (Security and Emergency Management Awards).

IN THE MEDIA

Think you can design a better subway system than the pros? A new online game, "Brand New Subway," allows users to add lines, create new stops and improve accessibility. Try the Washington, DC, system; try the New York City system.

VIA Announces Winners for Art in Transit Contest—The 46 winning entries will be fabricated into laser-cut metal bus shelter windscreen panels to promote local culture and influence transit use.

LA Metro Program for Small, Disadvantaged, Veteran-Owned Firms—The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's pilot program will assist Metro-certified firms secure bonding for construction projects.