The transit advocacy organization Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) in partnership with the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) has announced plans for its next virtual “Talking Transit” event, which is set for Tuesday, October 24, at 8:30 a.m. via ZOOM. This event will highlight the state of transit in Missouri following a second historic win at the Missouri State Legislature this year that increased state funding for the second year in a row to $11.7 million. Pre-registration is required and can be completed online by following the link here.
On the heels of securing $11.7 million in transit funding from the state that is being split amongst the 32 transit providers operating in Missouri, those in attendance will learn about the latest plans for the two largest urban and the largest rural transit provider. The panel discussion will feature Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development, which operates Metro Transit for the St. Louis region; Frank White, III, President and CEO of KCATA in Kansas City; and Dorothy Yeager, Executive Director of OATS, the largest rural transit provider in the country. It will be moderated by Kimberly Cella, Executive Director of Citizens for Modern Transit and the Missouri Public Transit Association.
“There is a lot to be excited about as it relates to transit in Missouri,” Cella said. “This panel will take a look at the historic wins and challenges this year and discuss where each of their organizations go from here especially in light of the continuing operator shortage statewide. We encourage those with an interest in the impacts of public transit access to join this online forum.”
CMT hosts quarterly “Talking Transit” events to keep members, elected officials, stakeholders, transit riders and others in the loop on issues and efforts influencing the local transit system. These educational gatherings feature guest speakers and panel discussions addressing a wide range of topics, including transit-oriented development, safety and security, best practices, service changes and more.