The Association’s 57th Annual Fall Conference & Expo is November 16-18, in Ontario, CA.
By Jacob Herson
Managing Editor
Transit California
The California Transit Association’s 57thAnnual Fall Conference & Expo, hosted by Omnitrans, will occur November 16-18 at the Ontario Convention Center. This year’s theme – Adaptable. Sustainable. Equitable. – focuses on the critical forces that must be in place to ensure a successful future for our industry. To that end, we've built an unparalleled program buzzing with solution-driven conversation, dynamic education, and top-notch networking. Toss a content-rich Expo into the mix and you’ve got the makings of one of the most powerful conferences we’ve ever presented.
It all kicks off on November 16 with an opening keynote presentation by top climate policy expert and strategist Vien Truong. As the Senior Director of Global Engagement & Sustainability with the Nike Corporation and former President & CEO of Dream Corps, she is one of the country’s leading authorities on building an equitable green economy. We have more special announcements coming, too, about our General Sessions.
In the meantime, we're thrilled to provide you with a deep dive on this year's breakout session tracks focused on delivering an interactive, immersive and solution-driven dialogue on the greatest challenges and opportunities facing our industry.
Policy, Innovation, and Customer Experience
Pam O’Connor, Executive Committee Member, leads the Policy, Innovation, and Customer Experience track. Pam commented, “Public transit is at a unique convergence as the industry’s emergence from COVID coincides with a transformational infusion of transportation funding from the state and federal governments. Our sessions will focus on new federal funding sources such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and state funding with its focus on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI). We’ll learn how recent CEQA streamlining has been successfully used for public transit projects, about expanding dedicated lanes — and automated enforcement — as well as what’s being done to improve service and increase ridership, and importantly, improving our users’ experience.”
The Association is pleased to present the following sessions in the Policy, Innovation, and Customer Experience track.
Saving Time and Making Cents: Blueprint for Building Better Transit
Building infrastructure projects is an ever-increasing challenge due to rising costs for land, materials, and labor; the expense of environmental reviews; and the high price tag that comes with increased scrutiny. This session addresses a recent comprehensive study on project delivery, reviews actionable policy changes at all levels of government, and presents best practices for improved project delivery.
Improving Transit by Expanding Dedicated Lanes and Automated Enforcement
The concept is simple — dedicated lanes for transit improve travel time — but implementation is challenging. In this presentation, agencies share the lessons they learned in their efforts to get dedicated lanes operational and how automated enforcement helps to deliver the promise of faster trips.
The Future is Now: New Federal Programs and CEQA Transportation Exemptions
This presentation explains how to tap into the alphabet soup of new federal programs — the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) — as well as historic state budget funds with their focus on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI). Additional topics include how transit agencies have used new tools like the CEQA exemption for transportation projects to expedite their projects.
Mobility Hubs: Forming Public and Private Partnerships to Evaluate the User Experience
Transit users want more than just a clean bus and fast travel times. What some refer to as amenities are actually essentials for a quality experience. This presentation provides prototypes and examples of effective solutions — from the simplicity of shade and seating at bus stops to the creation of mobility hubs with a convergence of multi-modal transportation options.
Maintenance
Alva Carrasco, VP of the Transit & Rail National Business Line at WSP, and President of the Board of Directors of Latinos In Transit, leads the Maintenance track. She is particularly excited about the session “Improving Gender Diversity and Pay Equality in the Workplace.” Alva commented, “This topic is well overdue. I am looking forward to having a candid conversation with our industry leaders.”
The Association is pleased to present the following sessions in the Maintenance track.
Improving Gender Diversity and Pay Equality in the Workplace
Recent data reveals that female leaders are more likely than their male counterparts to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Despite substantial progress toward pay equity, women in 2022 still earn an average of 17% less than men. This presentation takes a hard look at what can be done to attract and retain women to maintenance careers and expand their much-needed presence in the workforce.
Preparing the Next Generation of Mechanics to Transition to ZEB Technicians
What resources are needed to train mechanics in the skills necessary to become ZEB technicians? Is it a natural jump, or are a new set of skills required to make the transition? This session reveals what the experts have to say about what must be done today to prepare for tomorrow.
Above and Beyond the Warranty
A warranty ensures that purchased equipment is of good quality and does not contain any manufacturing defects. New ZEB technologies have ushered in innovative ways to handle warranty support. This session outlines how OEMs and agencies are collaborating in the maintenance of ZEBs that are in and out of warranty.
How to Implement the ZEB Transition Plan
The content of this sessions comes from agencies of all sizes that are actively implementing plans to transition their fleets to 100 percent ZEBs by 2040. Is everything going according to plan? Is funding in place, or has the aftermath of the pandemic thrown a wrench into it? Learn what agencies are doing to ensure that they meet their ZEB goals and promises to their communities.
Marketing & Communications
Linda Apodaca, Manager of Community Engagement at Foothill Transit, leads the Marketing & Communications track. Linda commented: “Marketing and communications outreach traditionally was a one-way push of a message into the ether hoping the right people would see it and act upon it. With advancements in technology, the outreach (one-way) is now engagement (two-way) communication with a multi-pronged approach, a targeted message, and the opportunity for an exchange of information and ideas. These topics will explore new opportunities and motivate industry professionals to understand and incorporate data to inform and direct all we do; to carefully plan and strategically reach markets we have never reached before. I am looking forward to hearing from my colleagues to learn and better understand the opportunities at our finger tips.”
The Association is pleased to present the following sessions within the Marketing & Communications track.
Demystifying the Algorithm: Maximizing Posts for Maximum Reach
This session focuses on the effectiveness of trial-and-error marketing versus paid ads, as well as the success rate of organic posts versus paid posts. It explains how to tailor follow-up posts to target demographics and outlines the strategies of the most productive social media campaigns. This is also the place to discover what's on the horizon with Web 3.0.
Foolproof Social Media and the Connection with Email Marketing Strategies
Social media creativity can be challenged by new platforms with increased reach and the constraints of working within the bounds of a traditional board. This session discusses the right mix of digital marketing versus traditional media, and explains how to leverage email marketing strategies to inform a social media platform and vice versa.
Schedule Books/Pamphlets: To Print or Not to Print
This presentation reviews how agencies are balancing the need to communicate critical information and implement the latest technology while still serving customers who are not tech savvy or do not have access to necessary equipment. Issues addressed include whether or not the printed schedule is obsolete, and if so, how Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 comes into play.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: What It Means and How It Coincides with Safety
Historically, racism has shaped public transportation. Today, transit planning explicitly considers impacts on minority neighborhoods, and every service change includes a Title VI analysis. To help bridge the cultural gap, many agencies have launched ambassador programs that utilize a matrix filter through which they view every decision. This session provides information on such programs and outreach agendas, sharing how they address the needs of people in disadvantaged communities and those experiencing homelessness while considering the safety of all riders.
Management & Leadership
Denton Shuey, West Coast Regional Sales Manager for Nova Bus, leads the Management & Leadership track. Denton commented: “Employees from all companies need to be resilient, even more so now after COVID, and well-being and health are critical to remain a long-term workforce and an impactful one. Understanding what shapes a culture within an organization is a must-know in today’s economy — transit operators are no different. Recruitment and retention remains a huge priority — for all in an organization, and ideas shared pertaining to transit particularly are relevant now more than ever. Human trafficking affects every way of life, and from a leadership and management perspective, understanding how to recognize and be educated on what human trafficking is, you as a manager and/or leader can then respond and refer.”
The Association is pleased to present the following sessions within the Management & Leadership track.
Impacting Employee Resilience, Well-Being, and Health: A Leader’s Dilemma
Burned-out employees are unhappy employees, and that leads to low morale. Studies shown that when workers focus on managing stress, improving resilience, and concentrating on health, organizations see improved retention and productivity. This interactive workshop shows how to adopt a culture that supports well-being and resilience. Best practices will be shared on topics that include post-COVID impacts, current industry solutions, and effective strategies to improve a team’s emotional welfare.
The Top Five Aspects that Shape an Organization’s Culture
A strong and healthy culture is vital to the success of any organization. Without it, organizations face disengaged employees, high turnover, poor customer service, and a negative impact on the bottom line. In this session, a panel of CEOs and GMs provide tips to mobilize and activate a culture shift through an organizational framework that has proven successful.
Best Practices in Recruitment and Retention
Managing transit’s workforce in 2022 has been extremely arduous as a result of the COVID epidemic. This session, created specifically for transit leaders, discusses best practices on recruiting and retention from a California perspective. Although an abundance of literature already exists in the transit industry, it often does not address the nuances of this particular market. The speaker and panel will dive into what works in our state and focus on retaining the employees we have and present ideas on how to recruit smarter.
Human Trafficking: How to Recognize, Respond, and Refer
Although victims of sex trafficking often go unnoticed, education on the subject can go a long way toward helping solve the problem. This presentation describes the behaviors to be aware of so you can be part of the solution to stopping the sexual exploitation of vulnerable victims. Learn about the scope of the issue, patterns of criminal behavior, how to recognize the signs of exploitation, and how individuals and communities can respond to victims.
Operations
Lee Burner, President at Transit Consultants and Construction Management, Inc., leads the Operations track for the fall conference. The Association is pleased to present the following sessions within the Operations track.
Effective Strategies for Protecting Vulnerable Transit Riders
In the past year, there has been a marked increase in anti-Asian attacks across the country. While words alone cannot prevent or heal the damage, narratives about equality, justice, dignity, and respect can be effective in shifting attitudes over time. Although the process is a long-term one, this session sheds light on how to get started and take the necessary steps to help create a more just and equitable world.
Rebuilding Ridership and Enhancing the Customer Experience
The customer is firmly in the driver’s seat, requiring a change in how transit systems build and nurture relationships with potential and existing riders. To be successful, public transit must take a customer-first approach. This session focuses on the customer experience and explores solutions and implementations to keep ridership high and patrons happy.
Key Considerations for Electrifying Bus Depots
The California Air Resource Board has mandated the transition to 100 percent zero-emission bus fleets by 2040. Electrifying a bus garage or depot is a complex task, involving a multitude of stakeholders. Providing the necessary infrastructure to support a fleet’s charging requirements can be a technically confusing process, with many unanswered questions and implications. This session serves as a guide through the key milestones, providing clarity and removing complexities.
Telling Transit’s New Story with Nationalized Data
Public transit systems are rapidly evolving and delivering a variety of original and unexpected services to their communities. This session explores new ways to redefine success by using innovative outcomes and key performance indicators, as well as deploying proactive marketing strategies that leverage the measurable value transit agencies bring to their customers and communities.
See You in November!
The Association looks forward to seeing everyone in November for an exciting exchange of ideas in these sessions and a revamped Expo Hall. The Association extends its deepest thanks to our Program & Conference Committee for their leadership, as well as our generous sponsors and exhibitors. Register to attend here.