The Association’s 61st Annual Fall Conference & Expo in Monterey will be here before you know it. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your conference experience.
By Arianna Smith
Managing Editor
Transit California
Preparations are underway for the Association’s flagship event – the 61st Annual Fall Conference & Expo!
Join us in Monterey, California, from October 28–30, 2026, for the California Transit Association’s 61st Annual Fall Conference & Expo, hosted by the Monterey-Salinas Transit District (MST) and presented by Accenture.
“We are proud and excited to host the 61st Annual CTA Fall Conference and Expo in beautiful Monterey,” said Carl Sedoryk, General Manager and CEO of MST. “We look forward to welcoming transit professionals and industry partners from across California to share best practices, exchange insights, and strengthen the relationships that move our industry forward. While innovation and progress are essential to improving the service and experience, our work is ultimately centered on the people we serve - our passengers and communities. Together, we can continue improving transit for all Californians and beyond. We look forward to seeing you in Monterey!”
Monterey-Salinas Transit’s 250 employees serve nearly 440,000 people in communities on the Monterey Peninsula, around the Monterey Bay, and in northern Salinas Valley. Providing nearly 3 million passenger rides annually, MST was honored in 2025 with the prestigious American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Public Transit System of the Year. MST is committed to its brand vision of “Connecting communities. Creating opportunity. Being kind to our planet.”
While the Association is hard at work to bring you the best conference possible, check out the agenda-at-a-glance and read ahead to learn about this year’s highlights.
Sessions you won’t want to miss
The opening keynote session will feature a dynamic speaker with local roots and a national profile: Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will host a conversation on leadership and public service. Known for his bipartisan approach and commitment to public service, Panetta served across the highest levels of federal government: as the 23rd U.S. Secretary of Defense, the 3rd CIA Director, a White House Chief of Staff, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and as Congressmember representing California’s Central Coast. He is Co-founder of the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, located at the nearby California State University Monterey Bay campus (formerly Fort Ord, where Secretary Panetta was stationed as a U.S. Army Officer), and he continues to direct the Institute’s many programs and study opportunities.
Be sure to watch for updates to the conference agenda: Additional speakers will soon be announced for the Wednesday Small Operators Award Luncheon, the Thursday General Session, and the Friday Closing Session.
The popular concurrent session panels will follow last year’s format, with four blocks of interactive breakout sessions scheduled on Thursday and Friday. The conference will offer twenty concurrent session panels grouped into five familiar topical tracks: Community Outreach and Community Benefits; Management & Leadership; Maintenance; Policy, Innovation, and Customer Experience; and Operations.
Do you have an idea for a panel? The Association is now inviting members, institutional partners, and allied stakeholders to submit panel proposals that include topics, moderators, and individual panelists. The Association is committed to offering panels with speakers and moderators that reflect the diversity of our state, our industry, and our Association membership including a diversity of race, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, disability, age, sexuality, life experience, industry experience, operator size, geographic location, communities and individuals served, and more.
What is new this year is the way panels are being developed and approved: All submissions will be reviewed by the Program & Conference Committee and staff for alignment with the broader program. Additionally, Standing Committees will assist in the development and consideration of panel proposals as part of the Association’s work to ensure alignment between members’ priorities and our educational programming. Submit panel proposals here by July 30!
The extraordinary Expo
Last year’s efforts to provide a more interactive, more trade show-style environment paid off with high survey marks and sustained foot traffic. The Association will continue to build on that success this year with an easily accessible expo hall where attendees will enjoy prizes, raffles, and games, and where vendors will have new options for customizable booths, audio-visual capabilities, 3D simulator technology, and high-impact signage.
This year, the Welcome Reception will take place in the Expo Hall on Wednesday evening, combining two attendee-favorite events and ensuring sustained attendee exploration and engagement.
There are a wide range of opportunities for vendors to showcase organizations at the Expo! For sponsorship opportunities, please see the sponsorship registration pricing or contact Rob Finley, Business Development Director (rob@caltransit.org). For more information on exhibiting, please contact Erin Meyer, Events & Education Director (erin@caltransit.org).
New to the Expo this year is a special student research presentation opportunity! The Association is inviting undergraduate and graduate students to submit proposals for a Student Poster Session, and selected posters will be featured during the Welcome Reception & Expo on Wednesday, October 28, providing students with a unique opportunity to share their work with transit agency leaders, transportation professionals, and industry partners from across California. Students are encouraged to submit research and projects related to public transportation and mobility. For more information or to submit your proposal, see the proposal page.
Exciting add-ons
The conference offers several fun and meaningful additional events to enjoy with separate registration.
The 15th Annual Jim Ditch Classic Golf Tournament will take place on Tuesday, October 27, the day before the conference begins at one of the Monterey Peninsula’s many world-renowned courses. Individuals and groups will soon be able to register here. The tournament recognizes and remembers Jim Ditch, a passionate leader in transit education and a founding father of the California Transit Training Consortium. The tournament raises money for an Education Fund to provide scholarships for students who want a career in public transit.
The Small Operators Awards Lunch, sponsored by GMV, will be held this year before the official conference opening, on Wednesday, October 28 at 11:30 AM. The awards recognize excellence, leadership, and innovation among California’s small transit operators in the categories of Transit Professional of the Year, which honors an individual who has demonstrated strong leadership and vision; Transit Agency of the Year, which recognizes an agency program or service that reflects innovation, effective problem-solving, or a positive community impact; the Transit Innovation Award, which celebrates forward-thinking approaches and creative solutions in transit; and the Distinguished Service Award, which acknowledges long-standing contributions and commitment to the industry. Tickets can be purchased for $100 as an add-on to the main registration.
More programming still to come!
In the coming months, watch for announcements on the Association’s social media and email about exciting additions! Here’s what attendees can look forward to:
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Technical “tech” tours: Each year, the host agency offers limited, special tours in their service area featuring demonstrations of fleets, infrastructure, equipment, and more. Past tech tours have included ferry routes, battery electric bus demos, and more.
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More networking opportunities: A special Evening Event for Thursday, October 29 will be announced soon, adding yet another valuable networking opportunity in a dynamic space to explore innovative solutions, engage with peers, and gain insights into the issues shaping the future of public transportation.
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More content: Session speakers, reception entertainment, and concurrent session topics, panelists, and moderators will be announced as they are confirmed!
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Volunteer opportunities: A limited number of student volunteer roles and professional volunteer opportunities will be available through Monterey-Salinas Transit. Volunteer positions support various conference activities and provide a behind-the-scenes view of conference operations. For additional information on volunteering, contact erin@caltransit.org.
Registration and Hotel Information
Early Bird registration is now open, with a deadline of September 1, 2026. Don’t delay - register today! Association members can purchase Full Conference passes for $625, or Single-day passes for $500. Non-members can take advantage of early bird savings as well, with the full pass costing $875 and single-day passes costing $700.
After September 1, prices will rise. Full-day conference passes will be $725 for members/$975 for non-members, and single-day passes will be $600 for members/$800 for non-members. Same-day onsite registrants will pay $825 as members/$1,075 for non-members for full conference passes, and $700 as members/$900 for non-members for single-day passes.
Attendees can register for full price up to the day of the event; there will be onsite registration!
The Association reserved a block of discounted rooms at the Portola Hotel & Spa and the Monterey Marriott at a rate of $305 per night, plus tax. Reservations can be made via this link through Monday, October 5.
Keep watching your email and the Association’s social media accounts (X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky) for more details to be announced.
For general information on this event, please contact: Maria Barajas, maria@caltransit.org (916) 446-4656.