Lessons from Down Under - Insights from the American Public Transportation Association’s Study Mission to Australia and New Zealand

In August, APTA, in partnership with the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ), brought 35 public transit executives from the United States to Australia and New Zealand to learn from the region’s top public transport authorities, projects and operators.

Over the course of two weeks, the U.S. delegation met with high-level officials and public transport practitioners in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney to discuss public transport priorities, successes, and lessons learned.

They focused extensively on project delivery models, customer service enhancements, and the transition to zero emissions. And at each step of the way, they explored what is driving transit success down under and what are transferrable take-aways for the North American transit industry.

Moderator:

• Dorval R. Carter Jr., Immediate Past Chair, APTA; President, CTA, Chicago, IL

Speakers:

• Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, APTA  
• Trudi Mares, Deputy Secretary Greater Sydney, Transport for NSW, Australia  
• Dr. Deborah Hume, National Manager Multimodal Integration, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, New Zealand  
• Michael Jones, Deputy General Manager, BART, Oakland, CA  
• Diane Cowin, Senior Vice President, Director Global Transit – ESG, AECOM, USA