Keynote Presentation: Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg served as Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. During his tenure, he launched more than 60,000 infrastructure projects across the country, improved transportation safety and technology, expanded airline passenger protections, and resolved pandemic-related supply chain disruptions. Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Buttigieg served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Elected at the age of 29, he led the city to its strongest period of economic and population growth in decades. He also served for seven years as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve, taking a leave of absence from his role as mayor in 2014 to deploy to Afghanistan. A candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020, he won the Iowa caucuses and finished second in the New Hampshire primary. 

Keynote Address: Lynda Tran

With over 25 years of experience across politics, policy, and communications, Lynda has helped launch national and international initiatives, shaped the narrative around historic moments, and built and scaled groundbreaking organizations. As Senior Advisor to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Director of Public Engagement for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), she helped activate stakeholders to secure passage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) - also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - and played a critical role in shaping the policies and programs that determine how these historic resources are allocated in communities nationwide. A nationally recognized leader in transportation and infrastructure policy, Lynda is on the Board of Trustees for the Mineta Transportation Institute and serves on the Board of Directors for STV, a leading professional services firm that plans, designs, and manages infrastructure projects across North America. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Main Street America, a network of grassroots leaders working to reenergize and strengthen older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. A CBS News Political Contributor and columnist through the 2020 campaign cycle and frequent commentator, Lynda regularly appears in major national and international broadcast, print, and interactive news media. Lynda has shaped national media coverage and served as the primary spokeswoman on hot-button issues throughout her career. Lynda managed high-profile communications operations across government, politics, and labor - leading teams at the federal and state levels, the Democratic National Committee, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Over four presidential cycles, she worked as both an organizer and a communications lead on political campaigns in key battleground states. During the Obama Administration, Lynda was director of communications for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As one of the five presidential appointees at the helm of the nation's top automotive safety agency, she steered NHTSA through numerous communications crises and helped inform key policy decisions by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, and White House officials.

2025 Status Update on CA Zero-Emission Bus Regulations

Engaging Stakeholders to Keep and Build Public Support for Inclusivity Programs

Inside the Beltway: 2025 Federal Legislative Update

LA Fires: Effective Rider Communications in a Crisis

Transit Worker Assaults: Mental Health, De-Escalation, and Special Event Security

Approaching the Off-Ramp: Preparing for Regulatory Relief (Staff Generated)

Cutting Costs Without Cutting Service

Neurodiversity in Transit Interiors: Strategies to Address Needs of All Riders

The Powerless Brokers: Why California Can't Build Transit

Under the Dome: 2025 State Legislative Update

Charging Ahead with LBT

Join Long Beach Transit (LBT) for an exclusive tour showcasing our sustainability initiatives. The experience will include a behind-the-scenes visit to one of our bus yards, offering a closer look at how LBT is driving electrification in public transit. To reach a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2040, LBT is modernizing its facilities and infrastructure. We’re developing a state-of-the-art overhead solar-powered charging canopy system to meet the needs of our growing electric fleet. Shuttle pick-up from Long Beach Convention Center at 3:45 p.m., return at 5:30 p.m. Capacity 35 people.

Water Taxis Coast Tours

LBT has operated Water Taxi service since 1998. The AquaLink and AquaBus operate daily in the summer season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend each year. We will temporarily bring out our AquaLink service, just for CTA attendees to enjoy! Tour #1: Shuttle pick-up from Long Beach Convention Center at 3:45 p.m., return at 5:30 p.m. Tour #2: Shuttle pick-up from Long Beach Convention Center at 4:00 p.m., return at 5:45 p.m. Capacity: 65 people per tour

Public Art Tour

Discover how LBT champions local artists and the arts. Beyond supporting Long Beach’s vibrant creative community, we showcase it—transforming our transit hubs and spaces across the city into living canvases that celebrate art across the city. Shuttle pick-up will be at Bus Stop #2435 on Pine Ave., right outside the Convention Center, at 4:00 p.m. Return at 5:30 p.m. Please Note: Some walking will take place during this tour, please wear comfortable footwear. Capacity: 35 people.

Rebuilding a Resilient Transit System

Succession Planning and Performance Management 101

Zero Emission Buses: Training Tomorrow's Workforce

Engaging the Next Generation: Pathways to Youth Participation in the Transit Industry

Using AI for Operational Scenario Modeling

Weathering the Future: Resilient Power Strategies for Zero-Emission Transit