2008 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo

Sunday, May 4

Opening General Session:  Public Transportation:  Wherever Life Takes You
President’s Welcome: 

• William W. Millar, president, APTA

Presiding:

• Michael S. Townes, chair, APTA and president/CEO, Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton, VA

Greetings:

• Betty Dunkerley, mayor pro tem, City of Austin, Austin, TX
• Margaret Gomez, Travis County commissioner, and vice chair, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX
• Fred M. Gilliam, co-chair, APTA Quality Service Task Force, and president/chief executive officer, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX

2008 APTA Bus Safety Awards Ceremony:

• Joyce Olson Eleanor, vice chair-bus & paratransit operations, APTA, and chief executive officer, Community Transit, Snohomish County, WA

Address:

• Sherry Little, deputy administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

Monday, May 5

General Forum:  “Branding” Your Transit Services: Maximizing Quality Service One Customer at a Time

The featured speaker for this forum will discuss the directions a public or private sector organization or industry can pursue in order to develop a systematic growth process through strategic branding and understanding of its customers.  Following the presentation, an industry panel representing transit agencies, private sector organizations and governmental partners will discuss how to apply these winning strategies to the transit industry.

Vitamins for Your Agency

The APTA Standards Development Program wants you to hear what standards are being finalized, what is being proposed and how this program can assist your agency to achieve safe, secure, accessible and efficient operation.

Bus Display

Twenty-three transit buses will be on display, showcasing the latest in bus innovation.  Manufacturers’ representatives will be on hand to discuss their products and answer your questions.  To highlight this event, a special lunch for all conference registrants will be hosted during the display from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Customer Service Challenge

Join us as the industry’s very best bus operator’s face-off in a contest to test their customer service skills at this lively and entertaining event.

Revving Up to Serve Seniors

Come hear the results of the APTA-Beverly Foundation survey of 88 transportation systems regarding services and programs for seniors.  Learn more from case study presentations and from representatives of AARP and the National Center on Senior Transportation about services and outreach programs that attract older adults to public transportation.

Tuesday, May 6

HOST FORUM - Capital Metro’s Journey to Healthy Lifestyles

Join Fred M. Gilliam, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, president/   CEO, and other special guests for information showcasing Capital Metro’s journey in developing the award-winning wellness and fitness programs and the on-site Child Care and Learning Center, which offers employees the resources to meet life’s challenges while making a career in public transit.  This host session will showcase Capital Metro’s journey in developing these programs and share the positive results for both employees and the organization.

Bus Products & Services Showcase

Expert personnel will be on hand to answer your questions as you inspect what’s new and innovative in the world of bus equipment and services.  

Capital Metro Technical Tours           (Registration needed in advance)

• Take a special conference shuttle to visit the agency’s brand new multi-modal North Operations Maintenance facility and get a sneak peek of the sleek new commuter train.
• Get a custom tour of the Combined Transportation, Emergency Communications Center to see how multiple governmental organizations work together to support critical emergency communications and transportation management for the region.
• Visit Capital Metro’s innovative on-site fitness and childcare facilities that are helping reduce healthcare costs and improve attendance.

APTA International Bus Roadeo Awards Banquet

Join the Bus Roadeo participants and their friends and guests at the 2008 International Bus Roadeo Awards Banquet to recognize the “best of the best” bus operators and bus maintenance teams.

Wednesday, May 7

Advanced Technology Applications

Introduction of advanced technology and innovative practices are essential to improvements in transit system operations.  A wide range of technology deployments are finding favor in bus applications designed to streamline operations and improve customer service.

Bus Rapid Transit – Not One Size Fits All

The presenters in this session will present a variety of BRT applications and some guidance on making BRT successful.  Attendees will also hear an update on the BRT standards development and what resources they can use for building their own project.