American Public Transportation Association

Last week, APTA President and CEO Paul Skoutelas and Randy Clarke, general manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and chair of the APTA Bus Manufacturing Task Force, met with Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marcus Molinaro and key U.S. Department of Transportation staff to review the new recommendations of the Bus Manufacturing Task Force 2.0 on Dec. 3. The task force has developed recommendations that would help to standardize bus procurements, which can help to reduce the cost of bus purchases and enhance the competitive environment. The work follows prior task force recommendations in 2023 that have helped to financially stabilize the industry by updating key payment terms in bus procurement contracts. Administrator Molinaro indicated his strong support for changes that can help FTA’s federal funding used for bus buys to go farther and applauded APTA and the industry’s leadership on this issue. The Task Force recommendations will be finalized this month and formalized in the APTA Standard Bus Procurement Guidelines, known as the White Book. https://lnkd.in/eABmDx2a

Of the largest U.S. transit agencies, with more than 50 million annual riders, the five fastest growing systems over the last year are: 1. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), DC ⬆️ 15% 2. Long Island Rail Road, NY ⬆️ 14% 3. MBTA, MA ⬆️ 10% 4. Metropolitan Transportation Authority NYC Transit, NY ⬆️ 10% 5. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey ⬆️ 9% #TransitWrapped2025 is the latest available data from fall 2025 to fall 2024. See our free 2025 Fact Book to learn more about the public #transit industry > https://lnkd.in/eeNsez9Y

The top five fastest growing U.S. transit agencies (with between 15 million and 50 million annual trips) over the last year are: 1. Sound Transit, WA ⬆️ 21% 2. Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX), FL ⬆️ 10% 3. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), NC ⬆️ 9% 4. Metra Commuter Rail, IL ⬆️ 9% 5. Valley Metro RPTA, AZ ⬆️ 8% #TransitWrapped2025 has the latest available data from fall 2025 to fall 2024. See our free 2025 Fact Book to learn more about the public #transit industry > https://lnkd.in/eeNsez9Y

The top five fastest growing U.S. transit agencies (with between 3 million and 15 million annual trips) over the last year are: 1. Caltrain, CA ⬆️ 56% 2. GoRaleigh, NC ⬆️ 42% 3. Blacksburg Transit, VA ⬆️ 26% 4. AirTrain JFK (The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey) ⬆️ 23% 5. Golden Empire Transit District, CA ⬆️ 20% #TransitWrapped2025 has the latest available data from fall 2025 to fall 2024. See our free 2025 Fact Book to learn more about the public #transit industry > https://lnkd.in/eeNsez9Y

Yesterday, FRA Senior Policy Advisor Rusty Roberts participated in a panel discussion with the CEO Subcommittee at the 2025 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Commuter Rail Meeting. FRA Senior Policy Advisor Roberts expressed FRA’s dedication to new technologies that improve rail safety. He shared upcoming FRA grant programs designed to make significant investments in building safe rail infrastructure and fund intercity passenger rail. The Trump Administration has made it clear through policy action that it should not take years to advance rail projects. He told transit leaders, “U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Duffy and the FRA is in favor of a strong national intercity passenger rail network, but one which meets the needs of travelers.” 

Check out the #TransitWrapped2025 results! For agencies with under 3 million annual trips, the top five U.S. transit agencies by ridership growth over the last year are: 1. Virginia Railway Express (VRE) ⬆️ 42% 2. Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit ⬆️ 36% 3. Delaware County Transit ⬆️ 35% 4. High Valley Transit ⬆️ 28% 5. Billings Met - City Transit Service ⬆️ 28% #TransitWrapped2025 has the latest available data from fall 2024 to fall 2025. See our free 2025 Fact Book to learn more about the public #transit industry > https://lnkd.in/eeNsez9Y

Yesterday, hundreds of public transit leaders gathered in Washington, DC, for APTA’s Winter Legislative Conference at Amtrak's Union Station. APTA’s public transit system executives, transit board members, and business members met with Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marcus Molinaro, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Rick Larsen, other policy makers, and key partners – such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National League of Cities – to discuss public transit’s national economic impact. Federal investment in public transit boosts local economies, supports good-paying jobs, and drives growth nationwide. In fact, 77% of federal public transit funding flows to private businesses—including 2,000 suppliers across 48 states—fueling innovation, safety, and opportunity in communities across America. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eA5C3k6g #PublicTransitImpact

We’re proud to join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Move America Coalition” alongside American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC), Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), U.S. Travel Association, United for Infrastructure, and others. As founding members and steering committee members, we’re excited to work across sectors to highlight and expand public transit’s contributions to the American economy, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Learn more about the coalition: https://lnkd.in/gYBW27VD

The World Cup Is Coming, and Public Transit Is Ready to Move the World President Trump is to join FIFA President Gianni Infantino and global leaders at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States Draw on Dec. 5. This will not be just a big day for soccer fans—it is an exciting moment for public transportation. As the world learns the matchups for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, public transit leaders from all 11 U.S. host cities are focused on what comes next: welcoming millions of fans and showing how strong, safe transit systems can help the U.S. shine on the world stage. In a little more than six months, more than five million soccer fans will flood U.S. cities for the World Cup—a six-week event expected to boost GDP by $9.6 billion, generate $17.2 billion in economic output, and create nearly 185,000 full-time jobs nationwide. Winning the right to host the World Cup did not happen by chance. The U.S. won a hard-fought, competitive bid process that tested every aspect of its infrastructure. FIFA’s selection of the U.S. and its North American neighbors hinged on transportation readiness—cities needed to prove they could safely and efficiently move hundreds of thousands of fans. In other words, without strong, modern public transportation systems, the U.S. might never have made the cut. Public transportation didn’t just help the U.S. qualify; it secured the win. Public transit systems such as Atlanta’s MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority), Seattle’s Sound Transit, and New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for example, convinced FIFA that U.S. cities could handle an event of this magnitude. These same networks will determine whether host cities capture the tournament’s full economic potential—or leave billions of dollars on the airplane home. More Than Moving Fans: A Multiplier for American Growth Investment in public transportation does more than move people to stadiums. It fills hotels, packs restaurants, drives retail sales, and keeps local economies humming. And public transit investment does not just support major events; it powers the economy every day. Every dollar invested in public transportation produces five dollars in economic returns, multiplying the impact across industries and communities. Nearly 77 percent of those dollars flow to the private sector, supporting more than 2,000 domestic suppliers and manufacturers. In Erie, PA, for example, Wabtec Corporation is building hydrogen-powered locomotives with the help of a $48.4 million federal investment—sustaining 2,200 skilled jobs and creating more than $1 billion in annual economic impact for the region. Read more including how this is a defining moment for America and public transit > https://lnkd.in/eUAQY7Z4

Public transit keeps American businesses moving, including manufacturers like GILLIG. With the support of federal funding, like the Federal Transit Administration Low-No Grants, APTA business members like GILLIG are delivering safe, modern, and reliable buses across the country—fueling American manufacturing jobs and economic growth in communities large and small. From Hawaii to Alaska to Colorado, local agencies are upgrading and expanding their fleets with GILLIG’s battery-electric and CNG buses. These investments support thousands of good-paying jobs, strengthen U.S. manufacturing, and help more Americans get where they need to go.  Learn more about how communities are advancing transit with innovative, next-generation buses: + Hawaii: https://lnkd.in/gQ6rjgXd + Juneau, Alaska: https://lnkd.in/gU5ccBJK + Mesa County, Colorado: https://lnkd.in/gWcVm-9C And read our blog post to see how federal funding is supporting GILLIG’s work and driving American manufacturing jobs: https://lnkd.in/gQEad26B #PublicTransitImpact