For Immediate Release APTA Contact: Virginia Miller

Media Advisory

For Immediate Release APTA Contact: Virginia Miller

May 1, 2007 (202) 496-4816

Nashville MTA Contact: Patricia Harris-Morehead

(615) 880-3943

2007 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo

The 2007 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, which includes the 2007 International Bus Roadeo, will convene in Nashville, TN from May 5-9. Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and hosted by the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the conference will focus on all aspects of the bus and paratransit industry, including: operation; safety; advances in technology; accessibility; environmentally-friendly technologies; customer service; and emergency preparedness.

The 2007 International Bus Roadeo, which will be held on Sunday, May 6 at the Gaylord Opryland, highlights the best bus operators and bus maintenance teams in North America. Local and state bus roadeo competitions are held in North America to select the competitors in this prestigious competition. On Monday, May 7 the finals for the International Bus Roadeo Customer Service Challenge will be held at the Renaissance Hotel from 2:15-3:45 p.m. The winners for all competitions will be announced at an awards dinner on Tuesday, May 8 at the Renaissance Hotel.

What: International Bus Roadeo

Where: Gaylord Opryland Convention Center, Pavilion, near Parking Lot E

2800 Opryland Drive

Nashville, TN

When: Sunday, May 6

7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Events: Maintenance Competition begins at 7 a.m.

Operators Competition begins at 8 a.m.

What: 2007 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference

Where: Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN

Nashville Convention Center, 601 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN

When: May 5-9

Events: Some of the conference events are highlighted below.

Sunday, May 6

4:30 – 6 p.m. Opening General Session: Public Transportation: Wherever Life Takes You

President’s Welcome:

- William W. Millar, president, APTA

Presiding:

- Howard Silver, chair, APTA and board member, Golden Empire Transit District, Bakersfield, CA

Greetings:

- Paul J. Ballard, chair, APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference Planning Subcommittee, and chief executive officer, Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority, Nashville, TN

- Mayor Bill Purcell, Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County, TN

Introduction:

- Irwin Rosenberg, vice president, governmental relations and business development, Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc., Sherman Oaks, CA

Remarks

- James S. Simpson, administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Washington, DC

APTA Safety Awards Ceremony

- Fred Gilliam, vice chair-bus and paratransit operations, APTA; co-chair, APTA Quality Service Task Force; and president/CEO, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX

Monday, May 7

8:30 – 10 a.m. General Forum: Energy and the Environment (Renaissance Hotel)

Andrew Savitz, senior consultant at Sustainable Business Practices (Brookline, MA) will challenge attendees to think creatively about opportunities and risks related to sustainability, clean energy and transportation. Following his presentation, an industry panel of public and private sector experts will discuss how to apply environmentally-friendly and conservation strategies to the public transportation industry.

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. FTA and Industry Shared Safety Issues (Convention Center)

Come and hear the latest on the APTA/FTA partnership on safety. APTA and the

FTA have maintained a strong partnership to advance safety in bus and paratransit operations.

10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Technology, ITS Solutions at Work (Renaissance Hotel)

Learn how Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components are now fully integrated into transit operations and they help to relieve congestion, enhance safety and improve productivity. Applications such as Computer Aided Dispatching and Transit Signal Priority are working well in systems throughout the nation. Discussion will also focus on ITS Systems that aid transportation coordination in Tennessee.

2:15 - 3:45 p.m. Security Innovations (Convention Center)

This session takes a look at what security innovations exist to make bus services more secure. The panel discussion will focus on what resources are available and what actions can be implemented.

2:15 - 3:45 p.m. Does It Go? – Vehicle Propulsion Choices (Renaissance Hotel)

Vehicle technologies are rapidly progressing. Selecting vehicle propulsion technologies and the energy (fuels) to run the vehicles requires constant attention to keep up with advancements. Among the topics discussed, the panel will discuss the status of alternative fuels use in public transportation and will look at what has been learned about hydrogen buses.

4 – 5:30 p.m. Emergency Preparedness (Convention Center)

We all have become painfully aware of the impact that disasters can cause. Public transit plays a critical role in responding to such emergencies. The panel will focus on how agencies can develop their own preparedness plans and will examine the new industry mutual aid program.

Tuesday, May 8

8 – 9:30 a.m. HOST FORUM Nashville MTA – Moving Forward with Innovative Transit Services (Renaissance Hotel)

Join Paul Ballard, Nashville MTA CEO, and other special guests for information on the latest line up of innovative services and projects underway in the Music City. Come hear how Nashville MTA successfully implemented its first “on-demand” Bus Link service in a suburban neighborhood; get an update on Tennessee’s first commuter rail service (the Music City Star), and learn how the Nashville MTA gained both community and fiscal support for its planned customer-friendly downtown transit hub, Music City Central, which opens in the fall of 2008.

9:45 – 11:15 a.m. Advances in Passenger Information (Convention Center)

Technology is an important part customer service for transit riders. Find out how Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is providing riders with timely information.

2:15 – 3:45 p.m. Universal Access to Fixed-Route Service (Convention Center)

Ensuring a safe, barrier-free environment at and leading to bus stops is an important part of attracting and keeping riders. In this session, you’ll hear FTA’s perspective and examples of how transit systems are creating access for everyone to fixed-route bus services.

2:15 – 3:45 p.m. South American Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System – Lessons Learned (Convention Center)

South American countries have been extremely successful in deploying BRT systems. Come find out why.

Wednesday, May 9

8:30 – 10a.m. Transportation Options for Older Adults (Convention Center)

New resources and programs are no offered for older adults as they explore transportation options. This session will highlight innovative ideas, resources, and successful programs for older Americans.

10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Mobility and Coordination: More Service, More Riders (Renaissance Hotel)

With the coordination of human service and public transportation, the United We Ride (UWR) Program is helping to improve the efficiency of services offered within communities that are now funded by up to 62 federal agencies. Another federal program, Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) focuses on applying ITS technologies to improve service. Come here about these two federal programs.

Registration for press is FREE. To attend the 2007 International Bus Roadeo, please check in at the registration desk on site at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center, Pavilion, near parking lot E. To attend any of the workshops, please check in at the Renaissance Hotel.

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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.