Program timeline for the Leadership APTA Class of 2026
Program timeline for the Leadership APTA Class of 2026
- Friday, May 9 2025: Leadership APTA online application deadline.
- Mid July, 2025: The Leadership APTA Committee meets to select the Leadership APTA Class of 2026.
- By early- to- mid August: APTA notifies the applicant’s organization’s CEO/GM or Supervisor or primary point-of-contact of the Committee’s decision.
- By early September: All applicants receive a written letter from APTA.
- Early September: Virtual Meeting with the Leadership APTA Class of 2026, Leadership APTA Committee, and staff.
- September 12, 2025: Tuition payment due.
- September 13 -17, 2025: APTA 2025 TRANSform Conference, Boston, MA . The incoming Class of 2026 will be introduced to APTA Committee leadership, members, and Leadership APTA alumni. (Attendance at this session is optional, though highly encouraged.)
- September 13 (planned): Special joint workshop session with Class of 2025 and the Class of 2026. (Highly recommended)
- September 14-17: Opportunities to attend APTA committee meetings, hear capstone presentations given by members of the graduating class, participate in TRANSform Conference sessions and related Leadership APTA events.
- Early -November 2025 (planned): Virtual Meeting – final prep for the planned in-person early December workshop.
- December 3-5, 2025 (Dates to be confirmed): Required in-person workshop in Washington, DC.
- January – March 2026: Scheduled virtual meetings and workshops in advance of the April 2026 APTA Legislative Conference to discuss and finalize leadership capstone project topics and teams.
- April 11-14-: APTA required Leadership APTA planned workshops ( April 11-12 ) in conjunction with April 12-14, 2026 APTA Legislative Conference, Washington, D.C.
- Mid-April through Summer 2026: Capstone project teamwork includes team planning and discussions, industry interviews, teleconferences, virtual practice sessions in preparation for planned August virtual deliveries of Capstone projects.
- June 25-27, 2026: Capstone Executive Session, Baltimore, MD . Session to include preview presentations of your Capstone projects.
- June 28-July 1, 2026: Optional participation in APTA Rail Conference, Baltimore, MD.
- August 2026: Virtual deliveries of Capstone Projects to Leadership APTA Committee Members and fellow classmates.
- Early-to- Mid-September 2026: Prepare and deliver recordings of Leadership APTA Class of 2026 capstone presentations; submit related written Capstone Executive Summaries.
- October 3-7, 2026: : APTA 2026 TRANSform Conference & EXPO, Chicago, IL. Graduating class honored. Opportunities for graduating class members to deliver leadership project presentations during committee meetings/conference sessions. Planned joint session (October 3 ) with members of the graduating Class of 2026 and incoming Class of 2027 .
