APTA names new board members, honors transit agencies' marketing efforts

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has announced additions to its board and executive leadership committee.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel Ford Sr. was named APTA's chair. He succeeds Doran Barnes, who serves as executive director of Foothill Transit in West Covina, California.

In addition, David Stackrow Sr. was appointed APTA's vice chair, while Kim Green will continue serving as secretary-treasurer.

The association also added Sacramento Regional Transit District General Manager and CEO Henry Li to its board. Other new board members include Minneapolis Metro Transit General Manager Brian Lamb; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Acting General Manager and CEO Liz O'Neil; and Wabtec Corp. Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Fink III.

Each board member will serve a three-year term.

New executive committee members include Virginia Railway Express CEO Doug Allen; Regional Transportation District of Denver General Manager and CEO David Genova; former acting Federal Transit Administrator Carolyn Flowers; and MARTA board treasurer Frederick Daniel.

Meanwhile, APTA presented its AdWheel Grand Awards to TransLink, RTD and Alstom for their various efforts to increase ridership. The association's AdWheel awards highlight transit agencies' marketing and communications campaigns.

TransLink's "Evergreen Means GO" campaign helped demonstrate the benefits of rapid transit to local communities, APTA officials said in a press release. RTD's "Train to the Plane" campaign helped increase awareness of the agency's rail service to Denver International Airport. And Alstom created a new video to create awareness for its Avelia Liberty trains that will be used on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. The video also highlighted rail transportation as a way to alleviate auto traffic congestion in the United States.

Other AdWheel Grand Award winners included:

    •    The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The agency was recognized for its efforts to highlight transit needs and funding through its campaign for the Measure M ballot initiative, which was approved by voters in November 2016.
    •    Metrolink. The commuter railroad was honored for its efforts to shift riders to its new mobile ticketing app.
    •    GO Transit. The agency was recognized for its customer courtesy campaign.