The Transit Authority

In a podcast recorded live from the Products and Services Showcase at the 2026 APTA Rail Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Amtrak leaders describe a series of notable advances.   The conversation covered record ridership, the new fleet of equipment being introduced across the country, Amtrak's role in World Cup transportation, access initiatives, and generational infrastructure upgrades on the Northeast Corridor.   Leaders describe how these current efforts are improving the customer experience across the entire network.

Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) extraordinary rise as one of the most innovative, responsive, and impactful public transportation systems in the United States helped secure the 2034 Winter Olympic Games, and recognition in 2025 with an APTA Public Transportation System Achievement Award.  UTA Executive Director Jay Fox will describe specific ways UTA has met the challenge of fiscal constraints, improved service for its riders, and enabled economic growth in its region. 

APTA is celebrating National Mentoring Month.

Tune in to this episode to hear from Doran Barnes, Chief Executive Officer at Foothill Transit, and Derik Calhoun, Chief Transportation Officer at Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and celebrate National Mentoring Month with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Doran and Derik will share practical steps that you can take to successfully support a “mentoring culture” in your organization. You will also hear real stories that explain how mentoring can have a positive impact for individuals, organizations, and in our industry. 

Cherise Myers, APTA’s Senior Director of Workforce Development, asks these experienced executives the questions that help us all to see the benefits mentors bring not only in our career development but also in our lives - tune in NOW to learn more! If your organization has a mentoring success story, email [email protected] to reach the APTA Workforce Team and share the journey.  

Joshua Schank provides case studies on effectuating change and about his new book "New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies:  Improving Policy Outcomes in the Public Sector.”

Through bold leadership, regional collaboration, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has rebuilt public trust, modernized, and redefined what excellence in public transportation looks like. Metro General Manager / CEO Randy Clarke will describe the accomplishments and innovations that resulted in peer recognition as an Outstanding Transit Agency.

Accessible mobility for all is a core value of APTA and its members. This episode is a celebration of accessible mobility and a commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law July 26, 1995. Guests Ron Brooks, author of  “All Aboard: Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit" and Anna Zivarts, author of “When Driving is not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency" bring insight to the history of transportation for persons with disabilities pre-ADA and share opportunities for transit agencies to bolster accessibility today and into the future.

In honor of National Apprenticeship Day, APTA is spotlighting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Elevators & Escalators Apprenticeship Program at New York City Transit (NYCT). With a dedicated team of 400 employees maintaining over 600 pieces of equipment, MTA’s program is an outstanding example of how to grow and sustain a skilled workforce.

This episode of The Transit Authority podcast to features:

• Assistant Chief, Damion Thomas, who began his career as an elevator and escalator apprentice and shares his journey;
• Supervisor (Lisette), maintainer (Robert), and an apprentice (Singh) to share their career journey ;
• Chief, Stephen Carson, who outlines the steps to launch an apprenticeship program, which include:
  • Conducting a needs assessment to identify the skills your organization requires.
  • Building relationships with local and state government officials to align with labor laws and codes.
  • Embedding mentorship into the program by pairing apprentices with maintainers, supervisors, and other seasoned professionals.

APTA is celebrating National Internship Awareness Month by featuring HNTB’s successful program. If you are ready to learn more about a strategic approach to organically recruit the next generation of talent, while engaging your staff in fulfilling work, tune into this episode of APTA’s official podcast, The Transit Authority!

HNTB interns are assigned to real projects with tasks to develop their technical skills, while expanding their industry knowledge and growing their professional network. The projects provide interns with the experience they need to get hired. Taking this approach has allowed HNTB to grow the program to include 569 interns to work, learn, and grow at the firm. Dive into the framework of innovative solutions and best practices with Yvonne Lopez-Diaz, Amanda Bergmann, Lauren Le Pere, Steve Flormann, and former intern Giovanna Angiolini who is now an HNTB newly hired employee. The team shares from each of their perspectives to tap us into the secrets of a best-in-class internship program

If you have a workforce success story to share, email our team at [email protected] today!

In this episode of APTA’s National Mentoring Month podcast series, we are featuring four CEOs who will tap you into the business case for mentoring. This episode of The Transit Authority shares why CEOs invest in mentorship as an effective strategy to build a culture of organizational excellence and develop employees. To learn more about mentorship programs and determine if this is a smart investment for your organization, tune in to hear from:

• India L. Birdsong Terry, General Manager & CEO, Greater Cleveland RTA
• Laura Hendricks, CEO, Transdev USA
• Theo Richards, CEO, Capital Area Transit System (CATS)
• Kristin Warsinski, CEO, Riverside Transit Agency 

During National Mentoring Month we are sharing more about how mentors encourage mentees to develop leadership competencies and build upon their current strengths to flourish in their career and in life.

APTA’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) provides public transportation professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed for advancement. Tune into this episode to hear the stories of mentorship as a proven benefit for ELP mentees and mentors.