New York public transit professionals will gather this fall for a unique conference program to address safety, leadership, state and federal policy, and livable communities.

Held Sept. 19 to 20 at The Saratoga Hilton and City Center, the New York Public Transit Industry Great Ideas Conference & Expo includes nationally recognized speakers, the state’s only transit industry trade show, and a film festival.

New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA) has partnered with the New York State Department of Transportation and the FTA Region II to offer more than 20 educational sessions.

“It often surprises people to know just how much public transit is at the forefront of innovation,” said Carm Basile, NYPTA president/CEO of the Capital District Transportation Authority. “Our annual conference is a terrific platform for learning and sharing state-of-the-art best practices.”

Michael Melaniphy, president/CEO of the American Public Transportation Association is the opening session speaker. Joan McDonald, Commissioner of the NYS Department of Transportation is a keynote speaker on day one, September 19, during lunch.

Other presenters include Dale Yeager, a criminal behavior analyst and CEO of SERAPH; Don Kline, multimedia marketing specialist, community relations, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority; and Carol Wright, associate director of training & outreach at the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University.

David Grotto, RD, LDN, founder of Nutrition Housecall LLC, will close the conference with a discussion on health and wellness and its impact on our effectiveness as transit managers.

“This year’s program schedule is the best I’ve seen,” said Scott Sopczyk, transportation director, Greater Glens Falls Transit System and Chairman of NYPTA’s Transit Training Task Force. “The sessions are refreshing and relevant. We are an industry that likes to share and always learn from one another whenever we are together.”

Another significant value to the conference, the Transit Industry Premiere Product & Service Trade Show takes place Wednesday, Sept. 19, 4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the City Center. The trade show will feature 12 buses and host up to 60 vendor booths. More than 40 vendors will showcase their latest products, services, and onsite bus displays.

Registration details and additional information is available at nypublictransitgreatideas.org.

NYPTA is a not-for-profit association representing transit agencies across the state, as well as over 100 private sector manufacturers, consultants, and state government agencies. Members provide nearly all of the public transportation services in New York State and nearly 40% of the public transportation services in the nation, employing more than 60,000 New Yorkers.