U.S. Reps. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) are all receiving APTA’s Distinguished Service Award.
Now serving his second term as chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, Shuster has focused on promoting the safe and efficient movement of goods and people, increasing transparency and reducing regulatory burdens. He also spearheaded a signature achievement of the 114th Congress — the passage of the five-year, $305 billion FAST Act surface transportation bill.
Ad Loading...
The most senior member from Ill. of the T&I Committee, Lipinski recently served as a key player in the drafting and passage of the FAST Act. By offering over 20 amendments, Lipinski was able to ensure increased funding for local road and transit projects, as well as address regional transportation priorities. In addition, key provisions of his Future TRIP Act were included in the research portion of the FAST Act to speed the development and deployment of new transportation technology, including connected and autonomous vehicles, which will improve safety, save fuel and reduce congestion.
In November 2014, DeFazio was elected Ranking Member of the T&I Committee, making him the lead of the House Democratic Caucus on issues under the committee’s jurisdiction. DeFazio has long championed the fight to increase funding to maintain, rebuild and expand transit systems throughout the country and will continue to use his position as Ranking Member to fight for robust investment in the country’s aging system.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.