Nearly 600 public transportation leaders will convene in Washington, D.C., at the 2013 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Legislative Conference at the JW Marriott Hotel from March 10 to 12, to address the need for funding and policies that will support the needs of the nation’s public transportation and passenger rail systems.

A variety of topics will be discussed, including: ideas for new revenues to support shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account; implementation of the Federal surface transportation law, MAP-21; and the outlook for passenger rail and rail safety legislation in 2013.

The public transit leaders will also spend Tuesday and Wednesday on Capitol Hill lobbying their congressional representatives.

The 2013 Legislative Conference will feature esteemed transportation leaders including: Ray LaHood, secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; Peter M. Rogoff, administrator, Federal Transit Administration; Joseph C. Szabo, administrator, Federal Railroad Administration; and Steve LaTourette, former congressman, U.S. House of Representatives, and President, McDonald Hopkins Government Strategies.