FTA’s Office of Capital Project Development is offering one-on-one meetings to discuss current and potential projects in the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. Attendees must sign-up in advance to hold 30 minute sessions with FTA staff.

The CIG program is the federal government’s largest discretionary grant program to fund transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit.

These office hours are available in 30-minute increments Monday June 3rd from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and then from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. You can arrange a time here: https://calendly.com/fta-tpe-cig-meeting

FTA’s Office of Capital Project Development is offering one-on-one meetings to discuss current and potential projects in the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. Attendees must sign-up in advance to hold 30 minute sessions with FTA staff.

The CIG program is the federal government’s largest discretionary grant program to fund transit capital investments, including heavy rail, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars, and bus rapid transit.

These office hours are available in 30-minute increments Tuesday June 4th from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and then from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. You can arrange a time here: https://calendly.com/fta-tpe-cig-meeting

As America pursues and fulfills it own visions for high-performance intercity passenger rail, a wealth of international experiences can serve as a guiding light.  This international panel will highlight best practices and new achievements in high-speed and high-performance intercity rail,  including themes such as safety, security, ticketing structures, and providing the optimum customer experience. 

USDOT, FTA, HUD, transit agencies, and private developers share visions of joint development and the ability to providing community benefits such as affordable housing through public-private partnerships. Yet while new financing tools from the USDOT’s Build America Bureau TIFIA and RRIF programs have been well intentioned to accelerate these opportunities, synchronizing funding cycles and addressing imposing BABAA and other regulatory impacts on private partners raises the question: ‘With Federal agencies now focused on a more aligned ‘whole of government’ approach, how can Federal partners collaborate to develop guidance that will ensure a path to joint development success?’
Join us for this Listening Circle for an engaging discussion with Build America Bureau, transit agency, and private development representatives, as we look for a solution to the problem. opportunities and solutions for better funding cycle alignment.

Employee networks or resource groups can form a bridge between corporate goals and objectives and the well-being and quality of the employment experience of staff. Learn how to make meaningful step-changes in corporate DEI capability and activity while engaging employees and gaining insights into real company culture.

GCRTA faced workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, prompting a strategic overhaul in attracting, training, and retaining talent, especially in critical roles like operators and mechanics. Initiatives included revising wage progressions through labor union-management partnerships, expanding recruitment outreach with various stakeholders, and improving training programs and apprenticeships with educational institutions. Technology upgrades streamlined HR processes, while employee referral programs and social media campaigns broadened the candidate pool. Emphasizing a unified culture under "OneRTA" fostered teamwork and morale. These efforts led to a record-setting 462 hires in 2023 across all work segments, notably in operator positions. By prioritizing workforce development and collaboration, GCRTA positioned itself as a premier employer in Northeast Ohio, addressing workforce shortages and ensuring continued service excellence. 

Get ready to kick-start the rail conference in Cleveland! Join industry peers for two and a half days packed with learning and networking. The opening session will feature APTA leadership and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), setting the stage for the exciting content ahead.

Plus, don't miss Grammy Award-winning Hip Hop artist Speech Thomas, a fearless leader who defied odds to achieve transformative success. From overcoming challenges to pioneering hits like "Tennessee" with Arrested Development, Speech shares his journey of Brave Leadership. Learn how to amplify your voice, defy expectations, and carve your own path to success.

There is a story that accompanies every infrastructure project.   While every project stage requires attention to budgets, schedules and funding, ultimately projects are a story about how they how they enhance the quality of life in a community, how they enable economic growth, and how they provide access to jobs and opportunity. 
A new and highly acclaimed podcast by Boston’s GBH public radio station has taken a look at what was at one time the nation’s largest and most scrutinized megaproject – Boston’s Big Dig – to reflect on its story and impact twenty years following its opening.   That story today is about a project that delivered on its promise to transform the city and improve its transit and highway operations. 
In this session, Big Dig podcast producer Ian Coss will speak about the public narrative associated with big infrastructure projects, the engineering and community challenges that inevitably arise and need to be overcome, and the ultimate judgement that comes from the longer-term outcomes and benefits.  Following the presentation, a panel of practitioners will share their experiences and perspectives in a facilitated conversation.  

Transit capital projects address community and regional needs in a variety of ways.   Over the past year, transit agencies across the country have opened new lines, extended service to new parts of their regions, and

upgraded operational and environmental performance through improvements such as electrification and double tracking.  Sponsors of transformational capital projects will describe how their projects were envisioned,

designed, funded, built, and poised to provide public benefits.  Each project is a reflection of ways the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is being utilized to make big things happen.

The GCRTA has embraced a commitment to performance-based management to ensure the agency measurably brings value to its customers, community, and employees. The nuanced demands of a diverse Greater Cleveland community naturally make service and operations require enhanced flexibility, responsiveness, and innovation, far beyond the comfort of traditional approach to public service. Understanding this revised expectation of service, GCRTA toes the line between traditional service delivery and innovative mobility solutions, catered to a growing community. The agency's role in delivering on workforce, capital, and operations improvement is highlighted by in-depth and honest conversation regarding their leadership journey from a volume activity mindset to one on measurable value.
CEU Credits:
PLANNERS 1.0