This session will spotlight collaborative efforts in developing comprehensive sustainability guidelines that are integral to regional climate equity plans and sustainable transportation policies. Discussions will delve into the pivotal role of public transit in achieving regional sustainability goals and promoting equitable.

• Collaborative Sustainability Guidelines: A Partnership Approach
• People-Centric, Future-Focused Planning
• Daylighting Transit as Climate Solution: Communicating Transit’s Criticality to Regional Sustainability Goals

CEU Credits:
PLANNERS 1.0

This session will focus on decarbonization of transit facilities and cities, and transit's role in decarbonization of the built environment. Panelist will share best their journey towards reducing operational carbon emissions, as well as explore current federal programs driving decarbonization efforts. Additionally, various sustainability rating and certification frameworks will be discussed providing practical approaches to carbon reduction, strategies for maximizing co-benefits to disadvantaged communities, and the collaborative opportunities these federal programs offer to transit agencies and their partners.

Join us for an insightful session on navigating the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to zero-emission fleets and facilities. Panelists will discuss how they are integrating zero emission plans with robust climate targets, sharing strategic insights into fleet and facilities planning. They also will delve into the unique hurdles faced by smaller agencies, emphasizing the financial constraints, technical demands, and infrastructure limitations in procuring and operating ZEBs.
 

• Collaborating for Change: Planning for Zero-Emissions Transformation
• ZEB Range Modelling for Small Agencies
• Delivering TriMet's Bus Fleet Expansion and ZEB Transition Goals

Climate vulnerability assessment is the first step in developing a comprehensive plan to adapt to the effects of climate change. Panelists will share their approaches and lessons learned from conducting vulnerability assessments while underscoring the importance of data-driven approaches in prioritizing resilience. Their initiatives not only assess current vulnerabilities but also anticipated future climate impacts on transit infrastructure. Attendees will gain insights into the methodologies, challenges, and outcomes of climate vulnerability assessments.

CEU Credits:
PLANNERS 1.0

Join us for a session featuring three transit agencies sharing their strategic approaches to decarbonization and renewable energy procurement. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of best practices in developing energy procurement strategies, building strong partnerships with utilities, and aligning with regional sustainability goals.

• BART's Path to Zero
• From the Rooftops to the Fields
• Advancing Clean Energy: from Purchase to Plugs

CEU Credits:
PLANNERS 1.0

In this session, panelists from WMATA, SARTA, MDOT MTA, and SEPTA will share their organizations' journeys and lessons learned in transitioning to zero-emission bus (ZEB) fleets.
 

• WMATA has a commitment to achieve 100% zero-emission bus fleet by 2042. Attendees will gain insights into lessons from initial battery electric bus (BEB) deployments, facility design approaches, workforce training successes, and the collaborative strategies driving WMATA's shift towards zero-emission technology.
• SARTA has invested in hydrogen fuel cell technology since 2016 with on-site fueling at their Canton, Ohio facility with plans to expanding its hydrogen fleet and pursuing funding for on-site hydrogen production.
• The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has launched a Zero-Emission Bus Pilot Program adding seven new zero-emissions buses. The pilot program aligns with state goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2031 and achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. Plus, MDOT MTA collaborated with the Department of Labor to create apprenticeship programs for bus maintenance, demonstrating strong partnerships for Maryland's safety and competitiveness.
• Lessons learned from SFTMA's Battery Electric Bus pilot program, as well as other topics including Operational Staffing and Planning Yard Management Solutions and, Facilities and Charging Infrastructure Strategy will be discussed.

Join your industry peers as we kick-off the annual Sustainability/Operations Planning & Scheduling Workshop in Washington, DC. Hear from APTA leadership and our host, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), as they share all the exciting and relevant information you will learn and see over the next three days. WMATA leaders will highlight key initiatives in transit operations planning and sustainability strategy, providing insights for the future of transit in the Washington Metropolitan area.

• Driving Ridership: WMATA's Holistic Approach and Key Initiatives – Jordan Holt
• Transforming Regional Transit: WMATA's Data-Driven Approach to a Better Bus Network– Melissa Kim and William Jones
• Enhancing Bus Speed, Safety, & Reliability: WMATA’s Bus Priority Program – Raka Choudhury
• Fostering a Green Region: WMATA's Sustainability Initiatives – Rachel Healy

Explore how transit agencies process data and harness data-driven insights to optimize operations, plan for future needs, and ensure equitable service delivery. Attendees will learn about the following projects: Learn how Cincinnati, OH’s SORTA integrated rich datasets to update their Short Range Transit Plan and close service gaps affecting their service area. Austin’s CapMetro conducted peer-review of Title VI methodology and updated the agency’s practice. New York City Transit will share two approaches to modeling rail transit operations and their findings from working with advanced subway modeling software and their home-grown spreadsheet method.

• Near Term Network Redesigns Using Advanced Spatial Analysis
• Clear as Mud: Analyzing Service Changes for Equity and Title VI Compliance
• Modeling for rail operations analysis at the MTA

This session focuses on the methods, challenges, and solutions involved in implementing a significant network change. This session will feature in-depth presentations on network redesign efforts from Oakland AC Transit, Miami’s DTPW's, Long Island’s Suffolk County Transit, and San Diego’s NCTD. Attendees will gain valuable insights into public engagement strategies, coordination across diverse teams, and the application of analytical methodologies to improve both fixed route and microtransit accessibility, efficiency, and equity. This session is essential for professionals seeking to understand the complexities and best practices in transforming transit networks to meet contemporary needs.

• Realigning Expectations: Network Redesign Lessons Learned from AC Transit
• Revving up the Bus Network: Implementing the Miami-Dade Better Bus Network
• Revamping Suburban Bus Systems: The Suffolk County Transit Experience
• Zoning In: The Art and Science of Microtransit Service Area Selection

Allocating limited transit resources is a core responsibility in service planning. This session will feature a range of presentations exploring the factors influencing the service plan. Explore Sacramento Regional Transit’s experience providing contracted service and the industry implications of this type of service. Houston METRO will share their practices and lessons learned with inter-local agreements to serve neighboring areas. Lastly, Albany’s CDTA and Creighton-Manning will share analytical strategies for planning and implementing Albany’s new and high priority Purple Line BRT. This session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted approaches transit agencies use to determine who gets what service and why.

• Money Talks - Who Gets New Transit Service
• Funding Agreements and Partnerships: Friends With Benefits?: Operating Services Through Inter Local Agreements
• Integrating Transit Priority in Planning for BRT

Great transit service develops in response to feedback from critical stakeholders. In this session, we hear four narratives that focus on listening and working together. Explore NICE Bus's customer-centric pyramid framework, prioritizing rider satisfaction through foundational values, data, and reframing the concept of a “customer.” Learn from MDOT MTA's Inreach program, which employs dedicated staff to engage frontline employees, planners, and executive level staff to enhance service delivery and maintain quality relationships. Discover insights from experts who have worked on both the agency and the consultant sides regarding how to optimize the RFP/Q processes to foster clear communication and build productive client-consultant relationships. Lastly, delve into WMATA’s effort to implement headway-based service management in their rail network and the decision to fallback to conventional service management with responsibilities distributed across the organization.

• The Customer Pyramid
• Inreach, Operator Engagement, Service Delivery & Operator Retention Strategies
• Better RFQs for better projects: a consultant’s perspective
• The Best Rail Headway Management is a Schedule

Service planning requires continuous reassessment of local ridership trends to ensure service meets the needs of the community it serves. This session will feature presentations on four topics: The recovery of weekend ridership at several agencies and the results of their decisions to increase weekend service, Maryland MTA’s strategic adjustments in commuter bus services amid budget constraints, TransLink's rebalance of service in Metro Vancouver, and Denton, TX’s shift to microtransit and development of their methodology for Title VI assessment of microtransit service. Attendees will gain insights into the methodologies, challenges, and successes of these agencies in responding to changing travel patterns to enhance mobility and equity.

• Improving weekend service? How much bang for the buck should you expect?
• Major Budgetary Network Reduction while Maintaining a Long-Term View on MDOT MTA Commuter Bus
• The virtuous circle of increasing bus ridership and increasing service in the Southeast sub-region of TransLink’s service area
• Title VI & Microtransit: Developing an Equity Assessment Methodology

This session explores innovative strategies related to bus stops, stations, and wayfinding to enhance the overall experience for riders. SEPTA showcases their effective use of map-based detour communication tools, while Jacksonville Transportation Authority emphasizes comprehensive bus stop planning to improve network satisfaction. SFMTA introduces their new lighting policy aimed at enhancing safety and creating welcoming transit spaces, and JR-East shares insights from implementing a successful BRT system after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused extensive damage to the rail system, highlighting operational stability, universal design at stations, and enhanced service delivery. Together, these presentations offer a comprehensive view of how transit agencies are improving passenger experience through thoughtful planning and strategic initiative where customers pick up service.

• JTA's Collaborative Approach to Bus Stop Placement
• SFMTA Transit Stop Lighting Program
• Give the People What They Want (A Map): Visualizing Major Bus Detour Events
• JR-East’s Initiatives in the Restoration of Public Transportation after the Earthquake

This session provides in depth looks at Transit Scheduling topics. Houston METRO will discuss strategies to address holiday traffic congestion and on-time performance through a targeted pilot program. The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) will share their journey of integrating on-time performance dashboards into their scheduling practice and how they continue to collaborate with Operations in the scheduling process. A rookie scheduler will offer fresh insights into the human aspects of scheduling, emphasizing the importance of engaging with staff, passengers, and community stakeholders. In addition, WMATA will present their accelerated conversion to a new scheduling software system amid significant network changes and scheduling practice updates.

• Speed and Reliability Improvements: Improving the Holiday Spirit With a New Wrinkle
• On Time Performance -- A Tug of War
• The Power of Inquiry: A Rookie Perspective on Transit Scheduling
• Sprinting and juggling at the same time: Accelerating a scheduling software conversion while planning for major network and runcutting changes