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More Than 800 Transit Leaders Meet In Pittsburgh For 2005 APTA Rail Transit Conference And Rail Rodeo

May 24, 2005

Contacts: Virginia Miller (202) 496-4816 vmiller@apta.com

More than 800 members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will meet in Pittsburgh, PA at the APTA Rail Transit Conference June 6-8. This annual conference will focus on all aspects of the North American rail industry including: technology applications; rail standards, safety and security practices; the comeback of vintage trolleys; station designs; signal systems; and operation control centers. For a complete schedule of conference events, go to www.apta.com.

The conference also features four technical tours on Tuesday, June 7 that will take you behind the scenes to the Port Authority of Allegheny County's: rail maintenance facility; rail operations control center; the Monongahela Incline; and the new Overbrook Line.

Dignitaries expected to address the conference include: Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, Allegheny County Councilman and Port Authority Board Member Dr. Charles Martoni, and Port Authority of Allegheny County CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.

Two days earlier on June 4, the 13th Annual APTA International Rail Rodeo will take place for the honor of the best Rail Operator and Maintenance Teams in North America. The awards ceremony for the Rail Rodeo will be held at the end of the General Session of the Rail Transit Conference on Monday, June 7.

What:	13th Annual APTA International Rail Rodeo
Where:	South Hills Village Rail Center 1000 Village Drive Pittsburgh, PA
When:	Saturday, June 4, 2005 Operators Competition begins at 7:00 a.m. Maintainers Competition begins at 9:00 a.m.
What:	2005 APTA Rail Transit Conference
Where:	Hilton Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
When:	Monday, June 6 - Wednesday, June 8, 2005

Some highlights of the 2005 APTA Rail Transit Conference include:

Monday, June 6
8:30 - 10 a.m.	General Session - Public Transportation: Getting Down to Business * Mayor Tom Murphy, city of Pittsburgh * Dr. Charles Martoni, member, Allegheny County Council and member, Port Authority Board of Directors * Paul P. Skoutelas, secretary/treasurer, APTA, and chief executive officer, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA * Michael P. DePallo, vice chair- rail transit, APTA, and director/general manager, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (presiding)
Wednesday, June 8
1:30 - 3 p.m.	General Forum - Take Me Out To The Ball Game Have fun learning how transit is moving Steelers and Pirates fans to the games and to the new, mixed use areas in the North Shore area of Pittsburgh. Mayor Tom Murphy, city of Pittsburgh Paul P. Skoutelas, secretary/treasurer. APTA, and chief executive officer, Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA Kevin McClatchy, CEO and managing general partner, Pittsburgh Pirates Arthur J. Rooney II, president, Pittsburgh Steelers Sports, Inc. Barry C. Ford, vice president, Continental Real Estate Companies And Surprise Pittsburgh Sports Celebrity!

Complimentary credentials are available to working members of the news media who are actively covering conference activities. Members of the media may register on site. For more information or to register in advance, contact Virginia Miller at (202) 496-4816 or vmiller@apta.com.

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APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members.