General Session: Transit Megaprojects and the Narrative of Enduring Community Value featuring the APTA Safety and Security Awards

There is a story that accompanies every infrastructure project.   While every project stage requires attention to budgets, schedules and funding, ultimately projects are a story about how they how they enhance the quality of life in a community, how they enable economic growth, and how they provide access to jobs and opportunity.

A new and highly acclaimed podcast by Boston’s GBH public radio station has taken a look at what was at one time the nation’s largest and most scrutinized megaproject – Boston’s Big Dig – to reflect on its story and impact twenty years following its opening.   That story today is about a project that delivered on its promise to transform the city and improve its transit and highway operations.

In this session, Big Dig podcast producer Ian Coss will speak about the public narrative associated with big infrastructure projects, the engineering and community challenges that inevitably arise and need to be overcome, and the ultimate judgement that comes from the longer-term outcomes and benefits.  Following the presentation, a panel of practitioners will share their experiences and perspectives in a facilitated conversation. 

Keynote Speaker:

• Ian Coss, Producer, The Big Dig: A Study in Infrastructure

Introduction:

• Dorval Carter, Immediate Past Chair, APTA; and President, Chicago Transit Authority 

Panelists:

• Felicia Alexander, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S. Department of Transportation 
• Phillip Eng, General Manager & CEO, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 
• Andy Byford, Senior Vice President of High-Speed Rail Development, AMTRAK 
• Ryan Snow, Senior Vice President - Strategy, Stacy Witbeck