SUN 2024: Alexandria, Virginia

August 14-16

Note: The SUN Conference will be held from 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14 through Noon on Friday, Aug. 16. Formal agenda and other details will be shared shortly.

CTAA’s annual Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference – now heading into its tenth year – allows chief executives and leaders at small-urban transit agencies a chance to gather with their peers to network, share ideas and solutions and shape CTAA policy strategy impacting small urban systems in a collegial, retreat-like setting. Past SUN Conference attendees have noted they enjoy this event in particular due to its focused agenda and because nearly all its participants are their fellow transit managers and executives. After our past SUN Conferences in Denver, Asheville, Flagstaff, Athens, Missoula, Manchester, Gulfport and now Alexandria continues our trend of bringing this event to small cities, where attendees can experience the examples and ideas of their peers in action.

Due to the limited capacity for this event, registration is currently reserved for SUN operational members. Corporate Partner Members are invited to discuss exhibit and sponsorship opportunities with Vicki Cummins at vcummins@showmgmt.com.

REGISTER
HOTEL

The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection

480 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Hotel Summary:

Start Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2024
End Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
Last Day to Book: Monday, July 15, 2024

Note: If you need to arrive earlier than the below dates or stay later than the event dates, please book your room and contact the hotel via the Event Manager for this group or sales@thealexandrian.com.

Price includes a $25 destination fee which icludes:

  • Daily $25 Food and Beverage Credit
  • Daily Water taxi passes for two guests allowing you to travel the Potomac and visit other river neighborhoods such as Georgetown the Wharf and National Harbor.
  • Every night enjoy a Specialty Cocktail or Mocktail celebrating the beverage story of Alexandria for two Guests
  • Daily two hour Bike Rentals for two Guests to explore the charming neighborhoods of Alexandria and the Potomac River Region
  • Daily access to all Historic Museums in Alexandria including the Alexandria History Museum the Freedom House Gadsby’s Tavern and more
  • Daily Enhanced Wi-Fi
Book ONline
SUN 2024: Alexandria, Virginia

The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria

480 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Book ONline

Sponsor and Exhibitor Prospectus

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EXTRA Tickets for Tours

Note: this is for the purchase of EXTRA tickets.
Register for Tours

Tour of the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)

Wednesday, August 14
2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Free for SUN participants; registration required.

Join DASH’s bus maintenance and operations staff to tour their transit facility located in Alexandria, Va. This tour will include in-depth discussions around DASH’s daily bus operations and maintenance routines. Participants should wear comfortable clothing.

Evening Ghost Tour

Wednesday, August 14
8:45 – 9:45 p.m.
Free for SUN participants; extra tickets are $15. Registration required. 

Are you ready to take a trip through downtown Alexandria’s most haunted hotspots? Join us for an uncompromising look at the city’s history, as well as tales of the very genuine hauntings witnessed by its citizens, from the indigenous peoples who lived here thousands of years ago through John Smith and the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. This walking tour is roughly 1 mile and will visit 8-12 prominent haunted hotspots!

Evening Boat Cruise

Thursday, August 15
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Free for SUN participants; extra tickets are $40.00. Registration required. 

The Cherry Blossom is an authentic re-creation of a 19th Century Riverboat, as well as one of only 6 coast guard certified working sternwheelers in the country. Join us for an evening on the Potomac River while we sail past historic monuments and all that Washington D.C. and Alexandria, Va. have to offer!

Schedule

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Attendee's Guide

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Workshops

Thursday, August 10

Operator and Passenger Safety

9:15 - 10:15 a.m.
Speakers: Brian Litchfield (Chapel Hill), Scott Bogren (CTAA)

Legislative and Funding Update

10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Speakers: Ed Redfern (Bus Coalition), Scott Bogren (CTAA)

An Open Dialogue with FTA on Today's Bus Market

11:15 a.m. - Noon
Speaker: Scott Bogren (CTAA)

Lunch with FTA Region Administrator Dr. Yvette Taylor

Noon - 1 p.m.

Clear the Air: Reducing Costs and Emissions with Propane Autogas

1 - 2:15 p.m.
This session will provide insight into how fleet managers can easily transition to propane autogas vehicles to solve their clean fleet needs. Presenters will go over the basics of getting started with the ultra-low emissions fuel and why it’s an ideal choice for fleet operators—regardless of where they’re located or the size of the fleet. It will also cover how businesses can significantly reduce their emissions while saving on operation and energy costs and without compromising on reliability, range, or performance. Additionally, the presentation will cover how recent legislation, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, prioritizes funding for propane autogas adoptions. Leaving this presentation, fleet owners will have a more realistic idea of how to get started with propane autogas to achieve environmental sustainability without risking their financial sustainability.

Traveling Workshop with COAST on Restoration and Historic Properties, Disaster Preparedness & Recovery, and Economic Development

4 - 5:30 p.m.
Kevin Coggin (COAST), Rusty Walker (Futurespec Consulting, President of the City Council), David Hardy (Eley Guild Hardy Architects, PA)

Friday, August 11

Return to Ridership

9 - 10 a.m.
Speakers: Tyffany Neal (FAST, Fayetteville, N.C.), Tristan Cunningham (DASH, Alexandria, Va.), Dale Bergman (Grand Forks Transit, Grand Forks, N.D.), Dinero Washington (SportTran, Shreveport, La.)

Roundtable Discussions

10 - 11 a.m.
Topics: TBA

SPONSORs

Alliance AutoGAS

Create Your Own Workshop, Table Top Sponsor and Vehicle Display

BYD

Table Top Sponsor, Thursday Afternoon Refreshment Break

Jericho Palm

Friday To-Go Snack, Table Top Sponsor

Lightning E Motors

Shrimp Boat Tour Transportation Sponsorship and Vehicle Display

Model 1 Commercial Vehicles

Vehicle Display

Propane Council

Create Your Own Workshop, Table Top Sponsor and Vehicle Display

TripSpark

Closing Reception Drinks/Bars, Table Top Sponsor

Coast Transit Authority

Wednesday and Thursday Dinner

SIGN UP FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND VEHICLE SPACE

Vicki Cummins
vcummins@showmgmt.com
Show Management Solutions (SMS)

The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and its members believe that mobility is a basic human right. From work and education to life-sustaining health care and human services programs to shopping and visiting with family and friends, mobility directly impacts quality of life.

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