TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary
SUBJECT: Travel Authorization
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing members of the Board of Directors and the General Manager to attend various out-of-state conferences, meetings, and seminars held by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) as outlined in the staff report.
Staff Contact:
Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Service Quality
Travel to conferences, workshops, and seminars provides Directors the opportunity for continuing education, networking opportunities, and to improve knowledge, professional, and technical skills necessary to their duties.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated expenses associated with the various conferences include per-person registration, airfare, lodging, per diem, and ground transportation:
COMTO 2025 National Meeting & Training Conference $3,400.00
APTA 2025 Transit Board Members & Board
Administrators Seminar $3,900.00
APTA 2025 APTAtech Conference $3,500.00
CTE 2025 Zero Emission Bus Conference $2,200.00
APTA 2025 TRANSform Conference and Expo $4,300.00
TRB 2026 105th Annual Meeting $3,400.00
APTA 2026 Mobility Conference & International Bus Roadeo $3,200.00
APTA 2026 Legislative Conference $3,400.00
NACTO 2026 Designing Cities Conference $3,500.00
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The following summaries describe the scope of each conference, meeting, and seminar referenced in this report. In addition, staff has included in the summaries the score for each destination from the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, which rates the inclusivity of municipal laws, policies, and services for LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. All scores are based on a 100-point rating system. There are no scores available for cities outside the U.S. or Washington, D. C.
COMTO 54th National Meeting and Training Conference, July 12-15, 2025, New York, New York
Municipal Equality Index Score: 100
The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) is the premier gathering of professionals in the transportation industry. The COMTO National Meeting and Training Conference will bring together industry leaders from across all modes of transportation for the purpose of learning, training, and networking. This event is open to transportation professionals at all career levels, government employees, manufacturers, and suppliers to the transportation industry and all interested participants.
2025 APTA Transit Board Members and Board Administrators Seminar,
July 19-22, 2025, Kansas City, Missouri
Municipal Equality Index Score: 100
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Transit Board Members and Board Administrators Seminar brings transit board members and board administrators together for peer exchange and professional development on board governance and policy development for public transportation agencies. Transit Board Members Seminar topics include national and regional transit advocacy, workforce development and labor relations, safety and security, mobility innovation, procurement practices and the CEO-Board relationship. The Transit Board Administrators Seminar will cover topics such as transit board member onboarding, good practices in board management and building resiliency as an administrator.
2025 APTAtech Conference, August 3-6, 2025, Miami, Florida,
Municipal Equality Index Score: 100
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) APTAtech conference explores how the public can use innovative technologies to better navigate transit including emerging technologies in fare payment systems, autonomous, and zero-emission vehicles, equity, cybersecurity readiness, workforce capacity, real-time open data services, and rider challenges.
CTE 2025 Zero Emission Bus Conference, August 2025, Atlanta, Georgia
Municipal Equality Index Score: 100
The Center for Transportation and the Environment 2024 Zero Emission Bus Conference is the premier event for transportation professionals leading the charge to electrification. From initial community advocacy to electrifying a full depot and managing on-going ZEB operations, conference content spans the entire journey to zero-emission.
TRB 105th Annual Meeting, January 11-15, 2026, Washington, D.C.
Municipal Equality Index Score: Not Scored
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting program covers all transportation modes, addressing topics of interest to policymakers among others, with many sessions and workshops focusing on the spotlight theme for the annual meeting.
APTA 2026 Legislative Conference, April 12-14, 2026, Washington, D.C.
Municipal Equality Index Score: Not Scored
The APTA Legislative Conference is an opportunity for public transportation industry professionals across the nation to make our presence felt and our voices heard in Washington, DC. The Conference educates members on important federal legislation and policy initiatives; provides members with the opportunity to shape the industry’s policies and federal advocacy agenda.
APTA 2026 Mobility Conference, May 17-20, 2026, Salt Lake City, Utah
APTA 2026 International Bus Roadeo, May 15-19, 2026, Salt Lake City, Utah
Municipal Equality Index Score: 96
The APTA Mobility Conference addresses the critical priorities and daily challenges currently facing the bus and paratransit industry and explores the ever-changing environment in which systems operate in today’s mobility landscape. Participate in interactive virtual sessions highlighting bus maintenance, financial recovery, safety, cybersecurity, cutting-edge technologies, zero and low emissions, innovation, diversity, and inclusion, and much more. Plus, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking with your peers and hearing about the latest cutting-edge technologies with our live innovative demonstrations.
The APTA International Bus Roadeo will provide a unique learning opportunity for operators and maintenance teams to engage with other transit agency professionals up close and personal. The Roadeo is a competition of driving skills and maintenance disciplines; it is a training and networking opportunity for all attendees. As part of the Mobility Conference, there are multiple training sessions for operators, maintenance teams, and supervisors.
NACTO 2026 Designing Cities Conference (tentative), Date and Location TBD
Municipal Equality Index Score: TBD
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is an association of 100 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues. NACTO’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life. The NACTO Designing Cities Conference brings together 1000 officials, planners, and practitioners to advance the state of transportation in cities.
Pursuant to Board Policy 155, all out-of-state travel for Directors and Officers to attend a conference or a meeting related to District business at District expense shall be approved by action of the Board of Directors prior to incurring expenses. This Travel authorization has been prepared in accordance with Board Policy 155.
Board Policy 155 further requires Directors to provide a brief oral or written summary of their activities and/or information learned during the trip not later than the next Board meeting following their return from the trip.
It is requested that the Board authorize out-of-state travel for conferences and meetings outlined in this report.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The conferences and meetings in this report provide an opportunity for Directors to improve knowledge, professional and technical skills, visit and learn best practices from other transit systems and provide networking opportunities for public transportation officials and professionals at all levels. The impact on the District of sending Directors to these meetings and conferences is beneficial to the District.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
There are no alternatives to the course of action recommended in this report.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Board Policy No. 155 - Travel, Meeting and Miscellaneous Expense Reimbursement for Directors and Board Officers.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Prepared by:
David W. Low, Administrative Specialist
Approved/Reviewed by:
Linda A. Nemeroff, Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary