Workshops
REGISTER FoR EXPO

Delivering Essential Information

The best takeaway from the Community Transportation EXPO is acquiring new knowledge, learning new techniques, and exchanging ideas with your peers. This year we will design our workshops to offer you the best learning experience possible as move to the “next normal” in community transportation.

  • CCAM-TAC and Mobility Management Workshop Series is indicated with “CCAM-TAC Workshop” in title. 
  • N-CATT Transit Technology Workshop Series is indicated with “N-CATT Workshop” in title. 
Monday, June 2
10:15—11:15 a.m. (60 minutes)

N-CATT Workshop Series: State of the Industry: Automated Vehicles

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Bryce Gibson, North Central Regional Transit District; John Sanderson, County Connection; Jordan Howard N-CATT
Transit agencies have been interested in adopting AVs as either a complement or supplement to their service fleets. However, is this technology ready to be deployed at scale, what issues remain? Through previous work, N-CATT and a representative will discuss lessons learned and what the future holds for AVs in transit.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Transportation and Health Research Outcomes

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Bethany Bonilla; Dr. Na'amah Razon, UC Davis
This session will showcase ongoing research and initiatives addressing individuals' mobility needs. Learn from projects at the intersection of transportation and health, focusing on mobility wallets—how they were designed, findings, and key takeaways (e.g., measures used, lessons learned, and gaps identified). Engage in a discussion about the need to explore shared, meaningful outcome measures across the health and transportation sectors. Goals: 1. Sharing ongoing research and completed projects insights. 2. Align efforts across stakeholders and identify standardized outcome measures. 3. Establish priorities and next steps for future projects.

A Pragmatic Approach to Cyber Resilience - Sponsored by Cybrbase

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Andy Souders, Cybrbase; Richie Ward, Cybrbase, Scott Belcher, Co-Founder of Cybrbase
Recent MTI research reveals that 95 percent of small to mid-sized transit agencies are unprepared for a cyber-attack – leaving their operations, staff, and riders vulnerable. Cybersecurity is a team effort that requires collaboration and shared accountability - it's not just a tech issue. Join our interactive roundtable session to explore how transit agencies can empower their teams, foster cross-agency cooperation, and build practical response plans to maintain business continuity. Learn from peers, share real-world challenges, and walk away with an actionable strategy to strengthen your cyber resiliency – no technical expertise required!

Developing A Successful Federal Grant Application

Room: Pacific D
Speakers: Amy Changchien and Mary Nguyen, Federal Transit Administration
This session will provide an overview of the newly available FTA Recipient Award Toolkit. The toolkit provides a framework and a bundle of information to help recipients gain a better understanding of FTA grant program requirements and the required information for inclusion in a grant application.

All Aboard - Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit

Room: Pacific E
Speakers: Kristen Joyner, Georgia Transit Association and KJ Backpack and Ron Brooks, UZURV
Ensuring that public transit is truly inclusive begins with accessible community involvement. This session will equip transit agencies and professionals with the tools and strategies needed to create engagement processes that are inclusive of all individuals, especially those with disabilities. Whether your focus is in-person or online, this session offers practical tips and innovative approaches to ensure that everyone in your community has a voice in shaping public transit.

The State DOT's Involvement in Intercity Bus - How to Bolster Coordination and Create Success

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Hart Evans, NCDOT
NCDOT has drastically become more involved with the state's intercity bus program. The increased coordination with the providers, municipalities, and other stakeholders has allowed the program to relocate bus stops to more centralized locations, prevent the shuddering of stops in locations where intercity bus had a stigma, and has provided more streamlined and increased service in parts of the state where intercity bus is needed. NCDOT has also coordinated with DRPT to connect the Virginia Breeze to the NCDOT network in Danville VA. This coordination continues in 2025 with the creation of a new DRPT route on the coast of VA. While there is still a lot more work to do, the coordination between the providers, neighboring states, and municipalities has increased tremendously and conversations are being had throughout the state. Intercity buses in North Carolina are seeing a comeback.

11:30 a.m.—12:15 p.m. (45 minutes)

N-CATT Workshop Series: Planning How to Deploy a Customer-Facing App

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Grayson Lee, CTAA
Apps are everywhere including in the transit space. Join Grayson Lee from CTAA to walk through N-CATT’s Customer-Facing App Worksheet to think through if an app is right for you and how to deploy it.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Creating Meaningful, Measurable and Fundable Health Related Outcomes for Your Transit System

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Bethany Bonilla, UC Davis; Dr. Na'amah Razon, UC Davis
Building on Transportation and Health Outcomes Workshop, this interactive workshop will explore potential health outcomes for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to consider when evaluating transportation initiatives. Through a panel discussion and group engagement, we will begin developing a recommended outcomes/survey document that can guide future evaluations and studies at the intersection of transportation and health. Goals: 1. Co-develop a working document outlining meaningful shared outcome measures. 2. Identify key evaluation domains and validated measures. 3. Discuss funder expectations and future research directions.

Successful Adoption of Autogas in Transit Fleets, Sponsored by Propane Education & Research Council

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Maria Smith, Mountain Line Transit Authority and Whitney Ehresman, Allegan County Transportation
Transit agencies across the country have successfully adopted autogas as their fuel of choice. Session attendees will come away with a better understanding of how to adopt autogas into their fleets and how it can provide transit systems with operational, financial, and environmental benefits.

Enabling Payments in Transit, Sponsored by Cubic Transportation Systems

Room: Pacific D
Speakers: Fernando Hernandez, Cubic Transportation Systems
Transportation agencies of all sizes need to collect fares for their services. Moving from tokens and paper tickets to smart cards, mobile, and open payment – the fare payment technology landscape is always evolving in the digital era. Advancements in real-time wireless communications, cloud computing, mobile technology, and data analytic tools have enabled shared services platforms and highly flexible account-based architectures. Now agencies not just at a regional level but a national one can share common processing infrastructure and leverage a variety of secure credentials. Agencies have to navigate the ever-changing technology landscape while ensuring the patrons are not excluded. In this workshop, attendees will learn what Transit Payment options are available in the industry for their organization, services, and benefits from each option, and how to ensure equity among the different payment options.

ADA Hot Topics: Service Animals, Denial of Service & Reasonable Modification of Policy

Room: Pacific E
Speakers: Jess Segovia, ADA Guru
The ADA Guru, will lead participants in the review of these key ADA Compliance requirements. Aren't sure how many Service Animals a passenger can have? Want to know when an Operator can deny services to a passenger with a disability? And when should we modify our policy to accommodate a passenger with a disability? These questions and many others will be addressed during this highly interactive session.

How to Get the Most Out of Your CTAA Membership

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Loreal Lance, CTAA; Meredith Bay-Tyack, CTAA
Description: From discounts on training, certifications and background checks to ensuring that your agency’s needs find their way into CTAA legislative priorities, learn how to make the most of your membership from Association staff.

2:00—3:15 p.m. (75 minutes)

N-CATT Workshop: Determining Your Technology Resilience and Planning to Improve It

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Kevin Chambers, Full Path Transit Technology
So much effort goes into getting a new technology system installed and running that we don’t want to think about losing that system down the road. It is important to plan ahead and understand how you will adapt to technology failures and to understand the type of technology that makes sense for your agency. In this session, Kevin Chambers of Full Path Technology will use one of N-CATT’s tools to help agencies evaluate their technology readiness and resilience to make sure they can handle whatever curve balls their tech has to throw at them.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: You Get What You Measure, Performance Measures That Show Your Impact in Your Community

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Shanna Ratner, Yellow Wood Associates; Melissa Levy, Community Roots
Show your impact in your community using an interactive systems-based strategic planning/measurement process developed by Yellow Wood Associates called You Get What You Measure. This methodology is focused on identifying shared goals and indicators of progress in a systems context. It is a powerful and highly participatory process that integrates evaluation (measurement) and a focus on outcomes into the process of project design from the start. You Get What You Measure involves bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders, in this case, those with an interest in, concern about, and instrumental to the success of local and regional transportation systems to serve people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income and their partners.

Lessons from Cherriots: A Practical Guide to Modernizing Paratransit, Sponsored by Via

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Ben Sawyer, Cherriots and Garrett Brinker, Via
What does it take to modernize paratransit without disrupting service? Cherriots took a thoughtful, phased approach to modernizing its operations—boosting fleet productivity by 15 percent, easing dispatcher workloads, and improving on-time performance. Join Contracted Services Manager Ben Sawyer and Via to hear how they navigated change, built trust in automation, and set the stage for future innovations like same-day bookings. Walk away with actionable strategies to enhance efficiency and rider experience in your own paratransit service.

Implementing a Mentorship Program at Your Transit Agency

Room: Pacific D
Speakers: Christina Villarreal, LIT
This presentation aims to provide transit agencies with actionable insights, proven frameworks, and practical tools for implementing effective mentorship programs. It will showcase the benefits of mentorship, highlight success stories, and introduce the LIT Mentorship Guide Book as a valuable resource. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive understanding of mentorship program implementation, access to a free mentorship guidebook, and inspiration from real-world success stories.

Implementing On-Demand Accessible transportation in San Diego County

Room: Pacific E
Speakers: Arun Prem, FACT
This session will highlight innovative on demand transportation services in San Diego County. Speakers will discuss the need, challenges, benefits, and lessons learned from implementing on-demand accessible service from RideFACTNOW in San Diego County. RideFACTNOW is implemented in partnership with SANDAG and is funded with Access for All Funding (State, CPUC funds).

FTA Safety Hot Topics: Assaults on Transit Workers Analysis, Safety Data Trends, and More

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Teona Edwards and Ivey Glendon, FTA Office of System Safety
FTA will review the latest data on assaults on transit workers and bus-to-person collisions, discuss FTA’s initial analysis following FTA’s General Directive re: required actions to reduce assaults, issued in September 2024 and begin a dialogue with bus agencies on best practices in safety data management and safety management system implementation.

3:30 p.m. — 4:45 p.m. (75 minutes)

N-CATT Workshop Series: Harnessing data for future mobility innovation

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Tammy Meehan Russell, The Plum Catalyst and Justin Johnson, The Plum Catalyst
Description: Data and mobility are innovations that are intertwined so agencies can get the most out of their investments. What is the best way for agencies to go about collecting and analyzing this data? Plum Catalyst, a leader in mobility data, will discuss trends and emerging ideas.

Real-World AV Deployments and the Road to Scalable Shared Autonomy, Sponsored by BEEP

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Toby McGraw, Beep; Alex Hansen, HOLON; Paula Bejarano, Benteler Mobility, Joe Iacobucci, Sam Schwartz
Join Beep, HOLON and Benteler Mobility for an interactive workshop focused on deploying autonomous vehicles (AVs) in real-world transit settings—and scaling them for the future. This session will begin with insights from past AV deployments and the evolution of shared mobility, followed by an introduction to the HOLON mover and its U.S. manufacturing roadmap. Participants will then engage in guided breakout discussions to explore local use cases and tackle common barriers to AV adoption—including policy, labor, community readiness, accessibility, funding and infrastructure. Experts from Beep, HOLON and Benteler will share practical strategies for overcoming these challenges and preparing for scalable, shared AV operations. Whether you're early in the exploration phase or preparing for deployment, this session offers valuable perspectives and peer collaboration to help shape the future of your community’s mobility network.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Cost Allocation Tool

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Robbie Sarles, RLS & Associates
In the passage of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L. No. 114-94) in 2015, Congress stipulated that the USDOT and CCAM develop a cost allocation technology to account for disparate Federal reporting requirements and maintain separation of funding sources by trip for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services (NEMT). On behalf of CCAM, FTA contracted with RLS & Associates, Inc. through a Small Business Innovation Research project to develop a cost allocation method/technology that enables improved coordination across multiple Federal agency programs that provide funding to access human services transportation including NEMT. As part of the set up and operationalization of the CCAM Technical Assistance Center, the model will be transitioned to the new website. RLS will host the model with sufficient redundancies, provide ongoing maintenance, secure necessary software licenses, and maintain cybersecurity insurance. RLS will also promote its use and provide technical assistance on the model’s capabilities and how it can best be used to further coordination at the local level. Come see the demo of this Cost Allocation Tool to learn more about this tool, and learn how to utilize it in your agency.

Preventing Driver Assaults through Effective Policies and Prevention Programs

Room: Pacific D
Speakers: Bill Churchill, County Connections & CALACT Board member; Kristen Joyner, Georgia Transit Association and KJ Backpack
Driver assaults are on the rise and agencies are looking for resources, including Safety4Transit.org to help protect transit drivers. This session will cover policies that will protect transit operators and the transit agencies. Speakers will also discuss preventive measures and resources to help agencies diminish operator assaults during service delivery.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Transit and Low Income Housing

Room: Pacific E
Speakers: Melissa Harris, American Association of Service Coordinators
Description: Making Connections: Successful Housing and Transportation Provider Partnerships. Once low-income Americans' affordable housing needs are met, the next barrier that must be addressed to support self-sufficiency and stability is most often transportation. During this workshop, panelists will share how their housing organizations have partnered with transportation providers during the development and ongoing operations of affordable apartment buildings to bring much-needed resources to tenants. Panelists will highlight the importance of transportation partnerships, especially for older adult tenants who can easily become isolated and unwell without reliable access to social activities, grocery stores and doctor visits. Attendees will also learn how to find affordable housing sites in their communities and begin building connections with them.

State Association Executive Director Meeting

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Scott Bogren, CTAA; Loreal Lance, CTAA
Invitation only gathering for state and regional transit association executives.

Tuesday, June 3
9:00—10:15 a.m. (75 minutes)

Transit CEO Roundtable

Room: Town and Country B
Speakers: Scott Bogren, CTAA
All CTAA transit CEOs/managers are invited to attend this roundtable discussion with CTAA staff leadership. Be prepared to discuss key transit topics and, ideally, to highlight how CTAA can best help its members.

AI in Transit Marketing: Friend or Foe?

Room: Town and Country C
Speakers: Chris Ackerman, Victor Valley Transit Authority
Are you thrilled, skeptical, or stuck in an AI-free zone at work? No matter where you stand, this exclusive AI session is designed just for marketing pros in the transit industry! Join us for a fun, interactive, and eye-opening deep dive into the power of AI. We'll explore game-changing tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Photoshop, Illustrator, and more! Get ready to learn, be amazed, and laugh out loud as we uncover how AI can boost creativity, streamline workflows, and make your job easier (and way more fun). Don’t miss out—this is your ticket to the future of transit marketing!

N-CATT Workshop Series: Cybersecurity: A Tabletop Exercise to Evaluate How You'd React to an Incident

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Nicole Brown, Carter Enterprise Solutions
With the threat of cyber incidents looming ever larger, the idea of protecting ourselves from attacks can feel overwhelming. This workshop will help you gain practice in responding to cyber incidents without having to actually go through one. Attendees should bring any cybersecurity plans they have, if any, and be prepared to write down steps to improve their readiness at the end. Most importantly, come ready to participate - this will be a simulation that requires action!

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Volunteer Transportation Programs in Rural and Low Density Areas

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Will Rodman, TTI; Carrie Diamond, NADTC
Volunteer Drivers Programs (VDPs) can be an important resource for mobility in rural and low-density areas. Do you operate or work with VDPs, or are you curious to learn how they can help meet the challenges you may be facing in underserved areas? NCHRP Project 08-183, Volunteer Driver Programs in Rural and Low-Density Areas is underway to create a resource for State DOTs and other entities to plan, implement and sustain VDPs to respond to transportation gaps. In this interactive session, Will Rodman (TTI) and Carrie Diamond (Easterseals) will share the preliminary findings from their work so far, then they want to hear from you! What are your experiences with VDPs? What guidance would you need to implement and manage a VDP? What metrics do you use to gauge performance? What lessons learned do you have to share? Will and Carrie will lead the group in a facilitated discussion to inform the work of the research team moving forward.

Systems Engineering and the Success of Rural Transit Technology

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Brooke Ramsey, HIRTA; Santosh Mishra, Flexlynqs
Federally-funded technology projects require a structured approach to system planning, design, deployment and replacement, but this Systems Engineering approach isn't just for engineers. Learn how HIRTA and its partners used SE to guide the successful development of their ITS "Health Connector" project, and how this is shaping up for a service that is both sustainable and replicable.

Smashing the Misconceptions About Open-loop Fare Collection, Sponsored by Kuba

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Kevin Corkery, Kuba, Carley Markovitz, Rebel Group, Gillian Gillett, California Integrated Mobility, Michael Kohlman, Monterey-Salinas Transit, Robin Van Valkenburgh, Nevada County
Kevin Corkery, representing Kuba North America, will be joined by a panel of California transit trailblazers who are leading the rollout of contactless open-loop payments. The panel will give their candid, first-hand experience of procuring and deploying the technology and driving adoption. Hear them debunk misconceptions about open loop fare collection, and join the debate!

10:30—11:45 a.m. (75 minutes)

Regulatory Updates and Heightened Areas of Emphasis with Immediate Implications for All Transit Agencies

Room: Town and Country B
Speakers: Robbie Sarles, RLS & Associates
The transit regulatory environment continues to evolve including regulatory updates and FTA provided guidance and clarifications that have implications for transit agencies. All FTA recipients and subrecipients must be aware of these requirements to ensure their programs are in compliance and to avoid deficiencies and costly corrective actions. This session will highlight four regulations with emphasis placed on "areas of concern" that pose significant risk to agencies.

Foundational Skills Curriculum for Successful Career Pathways – Filling Skills Gaps in Technical Positions

Room: Town and Country C
Speakers: Kristen Ribaudo, International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center
As transit agencies broaden and deepen their recruitment efforts to fill critical frontline positions, and as new technologies develop, new hires and incumbent workers often have knowledge and skills gaps that can affect performance and retention, as well as opportunities for initial success and long-term advancement. While these gaps exist across many occupations, agencies have found them to be particularly challenging in technical positions. Kristen Ribaudo, Senior Instructional Designer for the International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center, joined by a technical subject matter expert, will discuss a Foundational Skills Program that provides strategies and curriculum to bridge the most common skills gaps and helps elevate competencies to meet the standards required for effective and safe performance in the industry. The presentation will feature examples of courseware tools that can be used as learning resources, including templates, “How to” videos, and sample on-the-job activities. Presenters will also seek audience input on the skills gap challenges they have faced with new hires and knowledge areas that may need further development.

N-CATT Workshop Series: Technology Procurement Strategies - Developing Specifications and Performance Requirements

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Lauren Gilbert, Rebel Group
Transit technology evolves so rapidly that the capabilities and limitations of any product can be difficult to pin down during procurement and contracting. This workshop will help transit agencies understand how to use their goals to develop technical requirements and will introduce ideas for performance-based accountability for technology vendors to help transit agencies get the most out of their new tech and maximize their investments.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Sustainability for Regional and State Mobility Management

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Beverly Sidlo-Tolliver, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission; Rachel Fichtenbaum, Massachusetts Department of Transportation
This panel will explore statewide and regional mobility management in two states: Minnesota, which has an established system, and Massachusetts, which is in the early stages of setting up a system. Although the two states are at different stages, partnerships and collaboration play an important role in each. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is supporting mobility management through a network of Regional Transportation Coordinating Councils (RTCC). Regional Development Organizations and Community Action Agencies are involved as fiscal agents for many RTCCs and assist with integrating transportation coordination within other planning areas such as economic development, livability, and public health. Hear an overview of RTCC projects in Minnesota and a deeper look at how the Arrowhead RTCC uses local, state, and national partnerships to improve access, availability, and options for transportation services in northeastern Minnesota. Then we’ll shift east and hear how Massachusetts is promoting mobility management statewide through a partnership-based approach. In partnership with aging and disability service agencies, Regional Transit Authorities, and other stakeholders, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) embarked on a study in 2023 to determine whether a statewide system of regional mobility managers would be beneficial to Massachusetts. Based on the findings, MassDOT applied for and received an FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility grant to pursue next steps and develop a state-level CCAM. In addition, MassDOT has partnered with one of the state’s Regional Transit Authorities – the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority – to maintain and enhance a statewide one-click website with information about public and private transportation options.

Designing public/Private Paratransit Partnerships that Deliver Safety, Simplicity and Savings, Sponsored by UZURV

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Susan Starwalt, UZURV, Taylor Klocke, UZURV
Providing safe transportation has always been, and will always be, the most important duty for transit agencies and providers. And in times like these, when the population is aging, paratransit demand is rising, and funding is uncertain, cost also matters—a lot. And providing service that is simple for agencies to deliver and riders to use just makes sense.Over the past several years, a growing number of transit agencies have entered into public/private partnerships that are resulting in some very innovative paratransit programs, that are delivering on all three of these important characteristics: safety, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity. In this workshop, we will feature three transit agencies, who have established innovative paratransit programs that leverage private companies to provide paratransit services that are safe, easy for riders to use, and that are saving money for the taxpayers who fund them.

1:45—2:45 p.m. (60 minutes)

Building a Game Plan - Developing a One-Call/One-Click Center - ACTIVE Workshop

Room: Town and Country B
Speakers: Kristin Lam Peraza, Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission
This is an active workshop, participants will walk away from this workshop: Understanding the model and benefits of a one-call/one-click center to support community mobility; A framework to address their unique processes/challenges; And a basic game plan for the next year/3 year/or 5 year period.

Unlocking the Power of Microtransit in Smaller Communities

Room: Town and Country C
Speakers: Scott Bogren, CTAA, Maxine Durand, Twin Falls Idaho, and Kade Marquez, City of Idaho Falls & Greater Idaho Falls Transit (GIFT), Stephen Murray, Downtowner
Participants will learn how two small cities in Idaho have deployed on-demand mobility services to best serve their communities. They’ll share: What did they learn along the way? What are the performance metrics that measure their success? How will they continue to evolve the service to meet growing demand?

The WeRIDE Journey: A Four-City Partnership Transforming Mobility, Sponsored by Rideco

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Jacob Fritz, WeRIDE, Will Proctor, RideCo
In low-density, car-centric communities like Avondale, Goodyear, and Surprise in Maricopa County, Arizona, traditional fixed-route transit struggled to meet the needs of growing suburban populations. Through a collaborative pilot program, these cities launched WeRIDE, an innovative microtransit service powered by RideCo and operated by Transdev, to offer residents a flexible, convenient alternative to personal vehicles. This session will explore how on-demand, dynamic route technology enabled these cities to overcome challenges in service coverage, cost efficiency, and ridership engagement. Attendees will hear how WeRIDE achieved a 12% reduction in cost per ride, 64% shared rides, and exceptional rider satisfaction—earning a 4.9/5 average rating—while maintaining consistent on-time performance. Learn how these forward-thinking cities are reshaping suburban transportation, earning industry recognition, and setting a new benchmark for modern, equitable transit solutions.

N-CATT Workshop Series: Making Your GTFS the Best it Can Be

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Marcy Jaffe, National RTAP
Producing (General Transit Feed Specification) GTFS doesn’t have to be a chore; instead it can become a valuable tool for agencies and their passengers. To accomplish that, though, you need to go above and beyond a GTFS that’s simply valid. In this workshop, Marcy Jaffe from National RTAP and the N-CATT team will help attendees understand how they can upgrade their GTFS from passable chores to strong tools where the data can live up to its potential.

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Community Based Micro Mobility/Transit Partnerships

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Tyler Madell, Shared Mobility Inc.
Innovations in micro mobility technology have transformed the landscape of publicly available transportation options and some transit providers are beginning to take notice. This session will focus on how community based micro mobility programs can expand the reach of transit, helping to provide greater flexibility for users and increased access to jobs, education, other services, and recreation.

Accessibility Strategies for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities- Will they work for you?

Room: Pacific G
Speakers: Charles Rutkowski, CTAA
CTAA’s Accessible Transportation Resource Center (ATRC) identifies and promotes strategies to make transportation services more accessible for people with disabilities and older adults. This workshop will highlight several success stories that demonstrate how communities effectively enhanced accessibility of their transportation services.

Wednesday, June 4
2:00—2:45 p.m. (45 minutes)

Maximizing Rider Experience through Collaborative On-Demand Transit Services, Sponsored by Spare

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Rich Frost, Roseville Transit; Greg Bowen, Auburn Transit Services; Kelly McGillis, Spare
In this session, Spare will be joined by Auburn Transit and Roseville Transit to explore the shared on-demand transit services across Auburn, Roseville, and Placer County. They will illustrate how collaborative efforts among these regions significantly enhance the rider experience. By integrating their services into a unified platform, these agencies have been able to offer seamless and reliable microtransit and ADA services, ensuring comprehensive coverage and efficient transit options. Join this session to discover the unique ways these three agencies are working together to provide a better experience for their riders!

Modernizing the Value of Public Transportation

Room: Pacific E
Paul Comfort Presents: Operational & Personal/Professional Excellence: 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Mark Aesch Presents: Nationalizing Outcomes - Moving from Volume to Value: 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Attendees at these two, connected workshops will gain clear insights into the emerging trends shaping public transportation and practical strategies to navigate -- and even benefit from --- these trends. Be ready to be inspired and become a cornerstone of leadership in our evolving industry.

Digital Accessibility for Transportation Providers

Room: Pacific D
Speaker: Jane Mahoney, Easterseals
With the new DOJ rule requiring all organizations who receive Federal, State, or Local funds to have websites and mobile apps that are accessible to everyone, including those using screen readers, this workshop is more important than ever. Attendees will learn about the laws around digital accessibility and understand its importance for transportation providers of all sizes. The workshop will highlight real-world examples of how inaccessible platforms can lead to discrimination. To help participants get started, the session will cover basic accessibility principles and provide instructions, along with links to tools for testing and further training in digital accessibility.

Changing Perceptions: The Power of Demand-Response Transit

Room: Town and Country C
Speakers: Travis Bortnem, Brookings Area Transit Authority, Rebecca Pinnick, Vincennes VanGo, Heidi Wenzel, Ionia Dial-a-Ride, Marty Blake, Indiana Department of Transportation
Moderator: Heidi Ganum, Transpo Group
Serving the public’s transit needs through demand-response transit can often be the best fit for a community, despite contrary opinions. In this session, we’ll highlight innovative and high-performing systems that are redefining mobility. Hear from transit leaders who have successfully fostered broad public adoption, ensuring that demand-response services are seen as a vital, valued part of the transportation network. Discover the strategies that keep ridership strong and perceptions positive.

N-CATT Workshop Series: GTFS Office Hours - Open Technical Assistance

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Marcy Jaffe, National RTAP
Marcy Jaffe, National RTAP’s GTFS Builder expert, will be available for one-on-one technical support for agencies who are interested in improving their GTFS datasets. Sign up ahead of time so Marcy can prep and help you dive right in! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k12o7_rzQJTvGcZoz-4cKI5PPYDLiKH03WXqadTT_AQ/edit?usp=sharing

CCAM-TAC Workshop Series: Increasing Accessibility in Public Spaces

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Barry Whaley, Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University
Nearly six percent of Americans with disabilities have difficulty with daily travel. People with travel limiting disabilities are less likely to own a vehicle, take fewer trips and live in lower income households. They are more likely to rely on public transportation, paratransit services, rides from friends and family to get to and from their job. Many rely on pedestrian rights-of-way that exclude some people with disabilities to get to work or access public transportation resources.This session will focus on the problems caused by the inaccessibility of public spaces and how federal, state and local law and policy address these barriers to make public spaces more accessible. We will discuss the need to have inclusive public rights-of-way as an important part of the Americans with Disabilities Act goal to promote economic self-sufficiency. The session will focus on the work of the Inclusive Public Space Project, a five-year research project that examines the causes of street exclusion in five countries, including the United States. Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about the emerging United States findings of the Inclusive Public Space Project as they apply to: Infrastructure Street interactions with other users Reporting and enforcement.

Maximizing Rider Experience through Collaborative On-Demand Transit Services, Sponsored by Spare

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Rich Frost, Roseville Transit, Greg Bown, Auburn Transit Services, Chad Ballentine, Spare
In this session, Spare will be joined by Auburn Transit and Roseville Transit to explore the shared on-demand transit services across Auburn, Roseville, and Placer County. They will illustrate how collaborative efforts among these regions significantly enhance the rider experience. By integrating their services into a unified platform, these agencies have been able to offer seamless and reliable microtransit and ADA services, ensuring comprehensive coverage and efficient transit options. Join this session to discover the unique ways these three agencies are working together to provide a better experience for their riders!

Leadership Academy Conclave - Part 1

Room: Palm Room 1 and 2
Speakers: Dioane Gates, Cornerman Consulting; Amanda Barlow, Cardinal HR Solutions
The workshop is reserved for Leadership Academy Alumni. As the conference day winds down, prepare to immerse yourself in an atmosphere brimming with nostalgia and an introduction to new ways to exercise leadership on adaptive challenges. Join us for an exhilarating session at Expo 2025, where past meets present in a vibrant confluence of ideas and memories. Our exclusive Leadership Academy conclave is more than just a gathering; it’s a chance to reignite the spirit of camaraderie and collaboration that marked your time in the Leadership Academy. Reconnect with your peers, share your journeys, and discover the diverse paths taken by your cohort since graduation. This is your moment to refresh old bonds and forge new ones, to collaborate on future ventures, and to celebrate the shared legacy that ties us all together. Whether you’re looking to reminisce about the good old days, seek advice for your latest endeavor, or simply enjoy the company of fellow alumni, the Leadership Academy Conclave is the perfect setting. With a blend of informal chats, structured experiential learning sessions, and a touch of fun, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of connection to each other and the ideas taught during the Leadership Academy.

This session will cover these three objectives and give you an opportunity to share a cocktail with fellow cohorts: Understand that acknowledging and articulating loss can generate productive engagement; Consider ways to create space to talk about loss, and other things groups and individuals normally struggle to talk about; Understand leading with loss is intended to increase trust by acknowledging what an individual or group stands to lose by engaging in difficult work.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your professional network and rekindle friendships. Let’s come together to make Expo 2025 an unforgettable experience!

3:00—3:45 p.m. (45 minutes)

Empowering Public Transportation with AI-Driven Solutions

Room: Pacific C
Speakers: Mital Parikh, QRyde and Himanshu Bhatnagar, HBSS Connect Corp/QRyde
Public transportation is a vital lifeline for millions of people commuting to work, school, and essential services—often serving as their only mode of travel. However, many public transit agencies are currently facing budget constraints, pushing them to seek innovative ways to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction while keeping services affordable and accessible.

Modernizing the Value of Public Transportation

Room: Pacific E
Paul Comfort Presents: Operational & Personal/Professional Excellence: 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Mark Aesch Presents: Nationalizing Outcomes - Moving from Volume to Value: 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Attendees at these two, connected workshops will gain clear insights into the emerging trends shaping public transportation and practical strategies to navigate -- and even benefit from --- these trends. Be ready to be inspired and become a cornerstone of leadership in our evolving industry.

Leading with impact: The Top 7 Traits Every Transit Manager Needs

Room: Pacific D
Speakers: Peter Johnson, University of the Pacific
Leadership is the cornerstone of success in the transit industry, where managers must navigate the complexities of ever-changing environments, tight budgets, and diverse teams. For transit managers, the ability to inspire teams, foster innovation, and adapt to challenges is critical to meeting organizational goals and delivering exceptional public service. This training is designed to equip transit leaders with the skills and insights needed to thrive in these demanding roles, ensuring they can effectively support their teams while driving operational excellence and community impact.

In this session, participants will learn essential tools to enhance their leadership effectiveness, focusing on the top 7 traits that define impactful leaders. These include building trust, effective communication, time management, delegation, accountability, empathy, and creating a compelling shared vision. Each trait will be accompanied by practical strategies that can be immediately applied in the workplace empowering them to lead with confidence in both routine operations and during periods of disruption or change.

Peter Johnson, Director of the Westgate Center for Leadership Development at the University of the Pacific, brings 30 years of experience working with government agencies, including transit organizations.

How to Keep Local Officials on Your Side

Room: Town and Country C
Speakers: Julie Brown, Rogue Valley Transit District; Karen Taylor, Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission
Moderator: Heidi Ganum, Transpo Group, Portland, Ore.
The goodwill of your local officials, the political capital they bring to your table, and the financial capital they can help direct to your budget, are among the most important assets of your transit organization. Building solid relationships with the officials in your community, and nurturing these relationships through both good times and challenging times, are critical to your transit system's continuing survival. Let's hear how some of your peers have tackled this mission with gracefulness and success.

N-CATT Workshop Series: Getting the Most from Your Data - Techniques for Searching Your Data and Working with Vendors to Get the Information You Need

Room: Town and Country D
Speakers: Josh Baker, DASH
Transit agencies need to garner the greatest benefits from their data. Vendors can assist agencies with these and get the most pertinent information. This workshop will discuss the agency and vendor interactions to get the most out of data.

FTA CCAM Listening Session

Room: Pacific A
Speakers: Bill Wagner, CTAA and FTA Leadership
The Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) wants to hear from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grantees, small urban and rural transit providers, and anyone else at the CTAA Expo interested in sharing input into the next CCAM Strategic Plan. The feedback received will be critical to better understanding the federal policies and practices that Impede state and local transportation coordination. Input received will be incorporated into the next CCAM Strategic Plan, with FTA leading work to address the identified barriers and promote identified promising practices. The goals of the session: Understand the current state of transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income; Identify transportation coordination success stories and promising practices; and Identify barriers to transportation coordination.

Leadership Academy Conclave - Part 2

Room: Palm Room 1 and 2
Speakers: Dioane Gates, Cornerman Consulting; Amanda Barlow, Cardinal HR Solutions
The workshop is reserved for Leadership Academy Alumni. As the conference day winds down, prepare to immerse yourself in an atmosphere brimming with nostalgia and an introduction to new ways to exercise leadership on adaptive challenges. Join us for an exhilarating session at Expo 2025, where past meets present in a vibrant confluence of ideas and memories. Our exclusive Leadership Academy conclave is more than just a gathering; it’s a chance to reignite the spirit of camaraderie and collaboration that marked your time in the Leadership Academy. Reconnect with your peers, share your journeys, and discover the diverse paths taken by your cohort since graduation. This is your moment to refresh old bonds and forge new ones, to collaborate on future ventures, and to celebrate the shared legacy that ties us all together. Whether you’re looking to reminisce about the good old days, seek advice for your latest endeavor, or simply enjoy the company of fellow alumni, the Leadership Academy Conclave is the perfect setting. With a blend of informal chats, structured experiential learning sessions, and a touch of fun, you’ll leave with a renewed sense of connection to each other and the ideas taught during the Leadership Academy.

This session will cover these three objectives and give you an opportunity to share a cocktail with fellow cohorts: Understand that acknowledging and articulating loss can generate productive engagement; Consider ways to create space to talk about loss, and other things groups and individuals normally struggle to talk about; Understand leading with loss is intended to increase trust by acknowledging what an individual or group stands to lose by engaging in difficult work.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to enhance your professional network and rekindle friendships. Let’s come together to make Expo 2025 an unforgettable experience!

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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