Build your network and take advantage of the experts, colleagues, and business partners gathering in Sacramento this fall.
By Stephanie Jordan
Managing Editor
Transit California
The surreal days of the past 18 months have required relentless change and creative thinking, as well as provided proof that public transit is essential. The pandemic and the ensuing mitigation practices washed over everything “normal” awakening a discussion on personal freedoms in the aftermath of health mandates, the rally against racial injustice, and a call for inclusion, kindness, and social equity. The hardships, the loss of life, and the priority shifts during COVID-19 has led to transformations that will likely have lasting impacts beyond the pandemic. It is with all this in mind that the California Transit Association’s 56th Annual Fall Conference & Expo, presented by Proterra, has a theme of Embracing Change. New Era. New Vision.
As we begin moving toward post-pandemic times, what have we learned and experienced that will change how we transform public transit in the future? What is the path toward recovery? Many agencies are facing similar business decisions, but don’t know where to turn to find the best solutions. Uniting California public transit agencies is a distinguishing feature of the California Transit Association. For more than 55 years the Association has brought together business members and agencies of all sizes and helped to explore opportunities and advocate for the best possible outcomes for its members.
This November signals the return to an in-person conference where individuals can come to share ideas, brainstorm solutions, and get immediate feedback on what others are doing in their organizations. A key benefit of attending is the opportunity to engage with leaders of the California transit industry and have conversations that might not otherwise take place. Active attendee engagement is highly recommended and the opportunities to have those conversations are purposefully created. Join local host Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and the California Transit Association November 2-4 for the 56th Annual Fall Conference & Expo where transit experts and knowledgeable peers will broaden the dialog around public transit post-pandemic and learn what solutions are being implemented to address today’s challenges.
Health & Wellness
For its first conference post-shelter-in-place, the California Transit Association is committed to delivering as safe and productive an environment as possible. All participants including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and staff, will be required to abide by a series of risk mitigation protocols, including providing proof of COVID-19 vaccination, masks to be worn indoors at all times, as well as full compliance with all applicable state and local government public health mandates.
For more details about the COVID-19 risk mitigation protocols being implemented, please see the On Board With… article in this issue of Transit California.
Here’s a sample of what’s in store for attendees this November.
Education
The goal of every session is to be educational and to appeal to a wide range of transit agencies from rural to urban. This means that conference planners work to make panels as balanced as possible with representation from all agency sizes. There are 20 hot-topic concurrent sessions to choose from in tracks including Policy, Innovation, and Customer Experience; Maintenance; Management and Leadership; Marketing and Communications; and Operations. A few of the planned sessions are:
- Building Back Better
- Innovations in Equitable Service: Beyond the Pandemic
- The Next-Gen Mechanic
- Free Fares: Just How Free Are They?
- Digital Storytelling in 30-Seconds
- Cyber Security: Transit Readiness and Innovations
- Working Remotely: Is It Working?
- Keeping Our Best and Brightest Motivated
- Rebuilding Trust to Bring Back Riders
- Inclusive Transit: Advancing Equity Through Improved Access and Opportunity
- And many more
For a complete list of sessions and descriptions, view the registration brochure.
SacRT is pleased to host two tours on Tuesday, November 2 for attendees to choose from. The first is the manufacturing tour of Siemens Mobility, where attendees can experience an in-depth behind the scenes look at the inspiring production of passenger coaches for Caltrans, Illinois Department of Transportation or VIA Rail Canada. Also included will be bogie fabrication; state-of-the-art locomotive and light rail vehicle car-shell assembly; the invigorating test track; finishing booth; and final assembly – almost every stage of manufacturing from start to finish. There might even be a sneak peek at SacRT’s new modern low-floor trains now in production as part of the agency’s $600 million Light Rail Modernization project.
The second is SacRT's zero emission vehicle (ZEV) and charging infrastructure tour, an immersive experience with engineers and maintenance experts who will share how SacRT's entire fleet purchases will be 100 percent zero emission by 2029, and answer questions regarding easement, permitting, and power.
The Small Operators Program and Awards Breakfast, held on Wednesday November 3, is open to all registered attendees, regardless of the size of their organization. In this post-pandemic time, there is a unique opportunity to reshape workplace culture. This year, the small operators program will explore how to build a collaborative, kind, and supportive workplace environment that improves teamwork, raises morale, increases productivity and efficiency, and enhances retention of the workforce. In addition, Rachel Ede, Deputy Director, City of Santa Rosa Transportation and Public Works (Santa Rosa CityBus), and Chair of the California Transit Association Small Operators Committee will present the Transit Professional and Transit Agency of the Year Awards, as well as awards for Transit Innovation and Distinguished Service. 
As in other years, the Small Operators Program and Awards Breakfast requires a separate registration fee of $40 for members and $50 for non-members to attend.
Featured Keynote
Conference attendees can look forward to hearing from keynote speaker, Calvin Gladney, LEED AP, President and CEO of Smart Growth America (SGA), the only national organization dedicated to researching, advocating for and leading coalitions to bring better development strategies to more communities nationwide. Gladney has a wealth of practical, hands-on experience in helping residents and leaders of towns and cities across the country sustainably revitalize neighborhoods, while ensuring that historically underserved communities aren’t left behind along the way. Immediately prior to joining SGA, he spent more than 10 years at the helm of Mosaic Urban Partners, a firm he founded that delivered redevelopment strategies, addressed persistent blight, and catalyzed inclusive development in dozens of cities of all sizes around the country. During that time he also served as a Senior Visiting Fellow for Equity at the Urban Land Institute and an adjunct professor in the Real Estate Program at Georgetown University.
Over the past 10 years, Gladney has worked on community revitalization projects in more than 25 cities and has served as a strategic advisor on projects with estimated development costs of over $1B and totaling more than 5M square feet of planned development.
In addition to the sessions, attendees can also discover the newest products and services. For its size, the conference offers one of the richest expos featuring the latest in transit technology, products, and services.
Additional keynote speakers to be announced soon!
One Day or Full Conference
Taking time away from the office now may seem challenging, but many of our past attendees say they find it more than worth the time away, stating that coming back with new ideas, approaches, and contacts to brainstorm with and learn from make attending exceptionally valuable. But what if you can’t make the whole conference? The organizers of the conference understand that, and offer a flexible approach to attend for a single day of the attendees choosing. A Tuesday or Wednesday pass includes meals and all that day’s activities for $250 for members and $350 for non-members.
The best value, however, remains the full-conference pass, which includes all general sessions, keynotes, your choice of sessions in five educational tracks, two breakfasts, two lunches, and a reception for $425 for members and $525 for non-members.
Virtual Option
This year, to accommodate participants that might have travel restrictions, a virtual component is also being offered. This option includes the livestreaming of all general sessions from November 2-4 and then, after November 15, access to 10 pre-set sessions on-demand. The virtual package costs $250 for both members and non-members. The 10 on-demand sessions are:
- New ZEB Start-Ups
- Adopting New Technologies
- Digital Storytelling in 30-Seconds
- Analytics: The Unsung but Essential Component of Ad Campaigns
- Free Fares: Just How Free Are They?
- Reimagining Transit from the Rider Perspective: Faster and Better Transit
- Rebuilding Trust to Bring Back Riders
- Innovations in Equitable Service: Beyond the Pandemic
- Building Back Better
- Inclusive Transit: Advancing Equity Through Improved Access and Opportunity
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With the exception of a few tours, all conference meetings, general sessions, concurrent sessions, and the Expo will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. Attendees of the 56th Annual Fall Conference & Expo will be among the first to experience the new $180 million renovation and expanded exhibit hall, new ballroom, additional meeting rooms, new outdoor plaza, and additional state-of-the-art features. It’s been two and a half years since the expansion and renovations started at the center in downtown Sacramento. The Convention Center is a Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR-accredited facility, which means there is an established comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention practices followed by their staff and for their building. GBAC’s comprehensive training teaches the proper protocols, correct disinfection techniques, and cleaning best practices for biohazard situations, such as the novel coronavirus.
Where to Stay
Conveniently located across the street from the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, is the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel where conference participants will receive a special room rate of $195 per night, plus tax, which will be honored for two days before and after the conference dates. Reservations must be made by Friday, October 8, although the group rate is subject to availability and may sell out. Attendees can reserve a room online, or call (800) 325-3535 and be sure to mention California Transit Association.
Get Inspired
Take advantage of the experts, colleagues and business partners gathering this fall in Sacramento. This is your opportunity to ask questions, interact with key transit players from around the state, and make new contacts.
For a full preliminary schedule of events click here and for more information, hotel accommodations and to register for the conference click here.
Come to Sacramento November 2-4 and take home new approaches and resources from top thought leaders and public transit peers as they share their insights, experience, and vision for public transit’s future.