Transportation wonks unite: Chicago welcomes 12,000 public transit pros to blockbuster expo

More than 12,000 public transit leaders, along with industry representatives, will surge into McCormick Place Sunday for a major convention and expo.

The American Public Transportation Association TRANSform & EXPO runs through Wednesday and will host guests from 85 countries.

It’s the first time in 45 years the Chicago region, which is the nation’s busiest rail hub, has hosted APTA’s triennial expo where 800 companies will be exhibiting.

Welcoming the throng will be APTA Chair Leanne Redden, who is also the Regional Transportation Authority’s outgoing executive director.

“It’s a great opportunity to have thousands of people focused on public transportation descending on the area where we can host them and show them a good Chicago time,” Redden said.

Conventioneers will “also talk about what the future looks like for public transportation, not just in Chicago but across the nation.”

Redden, a Schaumburg resident, announced her retirement from the RTA Sept. 2, just as the agency was replaced by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority.

A 2025 law gave NITA enhanced oversight of Metra, Pace and the CTA, and channels millions more in gas and sales taxes to transit.

What’s next for the new agency will be the subject of a panel discussion at the conference Tuesday featuring Redden along with leaders from NITA and the three agencies.

Other sessions will explore topics such as accessibility for riders with disabilities, safety and crime prevention, universal fares, and high-speed passenger rail.

Throughout the four days, transit professionals will share stories on “what’s working and what’s not working … so we’re not all reinventing the wheel,” Redden said.

In the public transit community, “everyone is very forthcoming with their thoughts and ideas, so you don’t have to make the same mistake others made. We offer advice to Washington, D.C., and they offer advice to us,” she said.

It’s also an important chance to “get into the weeds” over transit funding, Redden noted.

APTA has already issued warnings about potential cuts to transit as Congress works on a new Surface Transportation Authorization funding bill to replace the current version that expires in December.

The expo floor will be less cerebral, offering exhibits ranging from electric buses and collision avoidance systems to train seat reservation systems and locomotive winterization.

There’s a learning zone with information about new technologies, a lounge to interact with international transit professionals and a procurement summit.

The beauty of the event is that it’s “super-nerdy” and also offers hands-on, kick-the-tires experiences, Redden said.

Metra will be among the exhibitors displaying a battery-operated trainset, a first for passenger rail in the U.S.

At the end of the conference, Redden will also retire as APTA chair. “It’s a last hurrah, a last hand-off if you will,” she said.

mpyke@dailyherald.com