IPTA News

Join Us at the Capitol: Attend the 2026 IPTA & CTAA DC Fly‑In

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:15:28 GMT

2026 IPTA and CTAA DC Fly-In | March 4-6, 2026

IPTA members, be sure to join us for our 2026 DC Fly-In as we meet with Federal Legislators in Washington, DC.

Join fellow transit leaders, IPTA and CTAA staff on Capitol Hill to speak with your legislators to discuss priorities impacting community transportation systems and partners in advance of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and other legislation. We’ll book your meetings, you tell the unique story of your system.

Attendees will be provided with resources and coaching from IPTA and CTAA during the event on site as well as virtually in advance. All attendees will receive information on the briefing webinar in early 2026.

Combining with CTAA for our DC Fly-In, our IPTA agenda will incorporate more speakers at the national level. IPTA will still have their combined room at the Capitol to meet with legislative staff and to brief members on our priorities.

Register to Attend and Reserve Your DC Hotel Room

Registration cost for event is $299. CTAA will be hosting two webinars prior to the event. During the webinars we will review the agenda for the event and go over best practices, tips, and actionable ideas for how to make the most of your meetings with legislators. Links will be sent to registered attendees in advance of the webinars.

Fly-in Prep Webinar 1: January 27, 2026 at 1pm CST
Fly-in Prep Webinar 2: February 11, 2026 at 1pm CST

Please note, IPTA will also have an in-person meeting to discuss our Iowa specific priorities on Thursday, March 5.

Events surrounding the Legislative Fly-in will all be held at the Georgetown Marriott in Washington D.C. Address: 1221 22nd Street NW Georgetown Washington, DC 20037.

Reserve Your Seat for IPTA DC Fly-In & Attend Next Week's Iowa Legislative Day

heather@capturemngt.com — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:07:32 GMT

Register for 2025 IPTA DC Fly-In | March 20 & 21

We're looking for a few more IPTA members to join us for our 2025 IPTA DC Fly-In as we meet with Federal Legislators in Washington, DC.

If you've been on the fence about attending, we'd love to have you!

On Thursday, March 20, we will meet for dinner at 6 p.m. (location TBD)
On Friday, March 21, we will meet at the hotel (info below) for breakfast and then walk together to meet with our Federal Legislators.

There is NO COST to attend.

Reserve Your DC Hotel Room by End of This Week

For the DC event, you must reserve and pay for your own hotel room. You can then submit a fellowship for reimbursement.

A block of rooms has been secured for IPTA at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill for $339 per night.

Room reservations must be made by 11:59 p.m. (EST) This Friday, February 28.

2024-2025 IPTA Events

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 15:17:09 GMT

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

The docket of events is set for the rest of this year and next year. We're securing tremendous speakers on topics you care about and won't want to miss. Be sure to mark your calendars to attend and we will share RSVP information as soon as it's ready.

IPTA Mid-Year Meeting | October 7-8, 2024 | Ankeny, IA

Please note that these are UPDATED dates.

August 2024 Newsletter

carl@capturemarketinggroup.com (Carl Lingen) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:43:29 GMT

Meet IPTA's Newest Board Member

Darian L. Nagle-Gamm, Director of Transportation Services in Iowa City

Darian L. Nagle-Gamm has proudly served as Iowa City’s Director of Transportation for the past seven years, and we are delighted to welcome her to the IPTA Board.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the way communities are planned and how easy it is for people to move throughout them,” Darian told us. “As a bike commuter, I’ve always advocated for less traveled modes whether by bike, bus, or foot.”

While Iowa City is fortunate to have a supportive community and a City Council that understands the value of municipal transit, they are not immune to challenges such as limited funding and staffing shortages.

“Climate action and carbon emission reduction are high priorities for us,” explained Darian. “And while we’re facing the same staffing issues as most others, things appear to be improving in recent months. I hope this is a new trend!”

When Darian isn’t working, you can probably find her on her bike – bicycle that is.

“Cycling is my absolute favorite! I enjoy exploring the vast gravel roads and bike trails that Iowa has to offer.” Darian also has a competitive side, and she competes in a gravel race or two when she has the time.

Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended for Making Connections 2024!

Register by August 26

Great news! Early bird registration for the upcoming Making Connections 2024 - The National Transit Workforce Conference (MC24) has been extended to August 26. Don't miss the opportunity to converge with hundreds of transit professionals from across the industry and gain fresh insights, skills, and perspectives on critical transit workforce development topics.

MC24 features five pre-conference intensive sessions (limited space), over 25 interactive sessions with an exciting lineup of speakers addressing critical transit workforce development needs, and a keynote address by FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. If you have not registered for MC24 yet, this is your chance to secure a spot at a discounted rate!

Understanding Fatigue in Your Workplace

To improve the transit community’s understanding of the effects of fatigue in the workplace, FTA published a new Fatigue Resources for Transit Operations resource webpage . This resource webpage is designed for the transit community, including bus and rail transit workers (drivers, maintenance staff, etc.), agency management, and other transit professionals.

Fatigue-related resources include articles, videos, reports, websites, guides, and more, in the following categories:

Understanding Sleep
Causes
Symptoms and Warning Signs of Fatigue
Effects
Transit Employees

FTA Requirements on Reporting Abuse

FTA has published three new resources that will clarify the new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) requirements for expanded reporting of assaults on transit workers to the National Transit Database (NTD) .

These resources will help transit agencies:

Understand the difference between major and non-major events
Distinguish between physical and non-physical assaults
Know the “Who,” “What” and “Where” of an assault event

New technical resources include:

An overview of the expanded reporting requirements
Full Reporters Guide to reporting data on assaults on transit workers
Reduced Reporters Guide to reporting data on assaults on transit workers

These new resources serve as another tool in FTA’s NTD reporting toolkit; and additional details can be found on the new Transit Worker Assault webpage .

For additional support related to reporting assaults on transit workers, please contact NTDHelp@dot.gov

35th Annual IPTA / Iowa DOT State ROADEO

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 12:37:15 GMT

Join us in Iowa City for the the 35th Annual IPTA/Iowa DOT State ROADEO!

Iowa City | June 10th

Welcome to the 35th Annual IPTA /Iowa DOT State ROADEO. CAMBUS, ECICOG and Iowa City Transit are proud to be hosting this year’s competition. The annual competition is an opportunity for drivers to gain recognition for their driving skills, meet other drivers from across Iowa, and test their limits against those drivers while having a good time. The first-place drivers from each category (Large bus and Small bus) will go on to compete at the national level.

2023 IPTA Annual Meeting & Training Conference

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 12:30:22 GMT

Registration Now Open!

Join us for the 2023 IPTA Annual Meeting & Training Conference! Every year, transit agency employees from across the state are invited to attend the IPTA Training Conference and Annual Meeting.

This 3-day conference provides training on a variety of topics to benefit multiple staff positions such as transit leaders, managers, maintenance, drivers, administrators, and mobility coordinators.

This year, the agenda includes several general sessions covering a wide range of training topics. Businesses within the transit industry are also invited to exhibit. Please look at the Agenda page for a full view of the conference line-up, additional speakers and sessions will be added as they are confirmed.

Iowa Public Transit Association Releases 2023 Legislative Priorities

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:04:49 GMT

Continued coordination of state-funded transportation programs will minimize duplication of services, and help to ensure maximum service delivery from limited funding. Public transit is a vital link in the success of other state-sponsored programs. Service availability allows increased access to government-funded, early childhood education programs. It also allows many elderly and disabled Iowans to remain living in their homes, thereby reducing the need for expensive, government-funded institutionalized services. The State of Iowa ranks first in the nation in number of residents 85 and older, third for those 65+. Projections indicate this number will continue to rise. Efforts to mainstream persons with disabilities also continue. The quality of life in Iowa would be greatly diminished without the basic access that transit provides for all citizens.

The Iowa Public Transit Association believes the following state actions are needed to address public transit needs:

Support innovative financing options for bus and bus facilities replacement.
Separate transportation services from the Medicaid provider tiered rate and allow services to be billed directly for better coordination.
Sustain Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) Funding to $1.5 million.

HIRTA Roundtable to Discuss Transit Driver Shortages and Incarcerated Re-entry

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 20:12:44 GMT

Register now! On September 22, 2021 at 2pm (CT), HIRTA will be hosting a Roundtable to discuss Transit Driver shortages and Incarcerated Reentry.

How can Public Transit be part of the solution for those re-entering the workforce after incarceration, and tap into this pool of potential employees to fill positions in the ever-declining transit driver workforce?

Join us for a roundtable discussion on ideas, concerns, and opportunities for how to move these conversations forward.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpceiqrzwvG9FSyIjyvFJIuq76btYqT0HI?fbclid=IwAR3QergPUAbYbNH5qW8Vtb9aFbhH_HJgJxKg2jp2B4TE6ZE1vlz82aeqKnw

Check out the blog that prompted this roundtable discussion: https://ctaa.org/driver-shortage-and-incarcerated-reentry-solution-for-success/?fbclid=IwAR0UoCzZNka6S5jmYcuIUhxSN8fUQQGGe39641d_k64S50noXXpGulF6EHo

Driver Shortage and Incarcerated Re-entry - Solution for Success?

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 00:45:26 GMT

Job security is a necessity to re-entering the community after incarceration, however recently released individuals often return to underserved communities and face a wide range of barriers that make successful reintegration difficult. While incarcerated, there is little control over daily life, which means individuals could become overwhelmed or unprepared with the choices and decisions being made while returning back to the community. Therefore, re-entry programs are vital to the success of employment, housing, social interaction and decision-making.

Fortunately, progress is starting to be made in helping people make a successful transition into society. For example, in Iowa, they have placed Workforce Development and Iowa DOT staff within some correctional facilities to assist in preparing individuals before their release back into the community.

About one in three U.S. adults, some 70 million people, have a criminal record, including those who were arrested but not convicted. These records have long-lasting consequences that can hinder a person’s access to employment, housing or a professional license. (from The Pew Charitable Trusts 5/25/21)

More than half of the formerly incarcerated are unable to find stable employment within their first year of return. According to the National Institute of Justice , “an estimated 68 percent of released inmates were arrested within 3 years, 79 percent within 6 years, and 83 percent within 9 years.” These percentages showcase how most incarcerated individuals were unable to make a successful transition.

The Center for American Progress indicates that in every state, African Americans are incarcerated at more than double the rate of Caucasians; on average, African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of Caucasians, and, in several states, in excess of 10 times the rate. Putting stable, well-paying jobs out of reach of many people with records, further contributes to disproportionate rates of poverty among communities of color as well as racial inequality across the nation.

How can Public Transit be part of the solution, and at the same time look at tapping into this pool of potential employees to fill positions in the ever-declining driver workforce?

Eliminate blanket bans that automatically disqualify workers with criminal records: Nobody knows the situation, circumstances or what caused someone to make a decision. We should not pass judgment for what is written on a piece of paper, nor should we value someone by their record – start the conversation based on their character and what they can bring to the job.
Limit record information in background checks to recent, occupation-related information: Think about a questionable decision you made when you were 18 and then 10 years later that decision was still affecting your ability to secure a job? Would you want to be forever defined by that questionable decision? This isn’t an issue with the person, It is an issue with employers who will not even consider hiring someone because of their past record.
Work with community leaders in rehabilitation programs: Partner with community organizations already working with incarcerated individuals. These agencies will be a great resource for any employer looking to fill-positions and assist with job placement. They can also explain the benefits, the risks, and how to mitigate them.

How can transit systems overcome the following concerns

Lack of trust
Risk cost, including potential backlash from customers’ perception
Negligent Hiring
Safety Factors
Perceptions/Acceptance by other employees

The truth is, every hire is a risk. How many non-incarcerated employees have been untrustworthy while at work, had attendance issues or had to be disciplined?

Many individuals are accountable to their Probation Officer for gaining employment, holding onto their job and avoiding recidivism. The majority of incarcerated individuals are grateful to get back into the community and work hard not to violate their parole. For any due-diligence methods, as an employer you should work with your legal counsel and insurance carriers to put necessary policy in place, and the success or failure of hiring those reentering the workforce depends on how leadership promotes the program.

Removing barriers to employment for those with criminal records would not only help transit systems fill driver positions, but also create jobs for those who need to work and improve racial injustice, allowing everyone to become productive members of society. We can’t continue to leave people behind in a world that wouldn’t give them a chance to be successful.

As community and public transit professionals, we need to change the conversation, reframe our mindset, bring the right people to the table and create a successful solution!

Julia Castillo, Executive Director
Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency (HIRTA)

Axne Secures Funding For Iowa Bridges, Roads And Transit Projects

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:46:17 GMT

Posted July 2nd, 2021 by Nikoel Hytrek

Six new Iowa infrastructure projects are on track to have funding thanks to Iowa Rep. Cindy Axne.

The Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act passed in the House of Representatives yesterday, and with it, over $21 million of funding for six projects in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district.

Those include funds for upgrades and improvements to public transportation, some specific roads and the replacement of a bridge in Red Oak.

All of these projects have direct funding from the legislation.

“This year, I had the chance to bring Iowa’s tax dollars directly back to our communities to fund the projects we need – and I’m proud to help see funding for projects that will impact all 16 counties of Iowa’s Third District approved by the House today,” Axne said in a press release.

Her colleagues, Republican Reps. Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted against the bill.

Miller-Meeks was the only other representative to submit project requests, and if the bill is signed into law her district will receive the money anyway.

The INVEST in America Act is a five-year reauthorization for infrastructure programs, and it provides $715 billion for the task of repairing and updating infrastructure around the country. This bill also has $32 billion for repairing structurally deficient bridges.

“Repairing our bridges and roads, improving commuter routes and upgrading our mass transit systems are all critical to ensuring Iowa has the infrastructure it needs to grow and thrive for decades to come,” Axne said in her press release.

The specific items Axne pushed for are:

$7,000,000 for upgrades to the Southeast Connector connecting SE 30th Street to US Route 65 near Des Moines and Pleasant Hill
$5,000,000 for bus and bus facility upgrades at the Southwest Transit Agency, Western Iowa Transit, Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency, Southwest Iowa Trolley, and the Des Moines Regional Transit Authority
$4,880,000 for Phase 1 of construction on a Traffic Incident Management Center at Camp Dodge in Johnston
$2,321,000 for construction of a new Regional Transit Facility for the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency in Waukee
$2,000,000 for improvements to the Mills Civic Parkway at S. 91st Street and S. Grand Parkway in West Des Moines
$700,000 for the replacement of the Red Oak Creek Bridge in Red Oak

$2.8M federal grant to fund Iowa electric buses

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 15:43:36 GMT

IPTA transit systems are recipients of funds

Mary Stroka, The Center Square

Thu, July 1, 2021, 4:00 PM

The Iowa Department of Transportation will use a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration to replace nine gasoline or diesel public transit vehicles with battery-electric paratransit buses, the department announced June 28 .

The East Central Iowa Council of Governments (CorridorRides), Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency, and Southeast Iowa Bus will operate the buses and charging infrastructure the grant secures, the release said.

Iowa DOT Modal Transportation Bureau Transit Programs Administrator Brent Paulsen said in the USDOT release that, while some Iowa cities have battery-electric buses, the nine grant-funded buses are the first of their kind to be deployed in rural Iowa.

“The project will lead the way for other rural and urban transit systems to expand their use of alternative fuel vehicles, reduce energy consumption, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emission by using buses that are powered by the clean electric energy and reducing the consumption of gasoline,” he wrote to The Center Square. “For all nine buses over the lifetime of the vehicles, the energy consumption reduction is: Gasoline Buses = 2,135,868 kWh; Diesel Buses = 1,9290,067 kWh.”

Local, state and federal funds support the nine existing vehicles, Paulsen told The Center Square. The Iowa DOT consulted with CALSTART and solicited interest from Iowa public transit agencies and submitted a proposal for the replacement of the existing buses with zero-emission buses, charging infrastructure, and electrical upgrades, he said. Alliant Energy, the utility that serves the three public transit agencies included in the grant, will provide support with the charger installation and electrical upgrades.

IPTA Launches "Iowa Transit Gets You There" Campaign

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:02:03 GMT

What is “Iowa’s Public Transit Gets You There”?

The Story

Iowa Public Transit Association’s “Iowa’s Public Transit Gets You There” campaign is a messaging platform developed to communicate the safety, cleanliness, and continued reliability of public transportation in Iowa. The campaign shows audiences that during the COVID-19 pandemic, public transportation in Iowa has worked on the frontlines to not only physically get you from one place to another; it adapted to the new and emerging health guidelines and safety protocols that passengers and transit operators now follow.

The campaign is based on IPTA’s market research, which showed that key stakeholders’ and passengers’ perceptions of public transit were influenced by three core commitments: (1) following social distancing guidelines and requiring masks or other face coverings for passengers and operators, (2) frequent cleaning and sanitizing of vehicles, and (3) dependability to get you to the essential services, healthcare appointments, and jobs you rely on. Riders and non-riders alike continue to value public transportation—despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—because it gets people to essential services such as jobs and healthcare. They also count on transit systems to enforce safety protocols and follow public health guidelines to ensure a safe and healthy trip.

These core commitments guide passengers to feel heard, safe, and more likely to continue riding, reinstate ridership, or begin riding public transportation. This campaign was designed to highlight the safety and health protocols of public transportation and to show that Iowa’s public transit has always been there. It demonstrates that public transportation gets you to essential services and destinations.

It’s up to Iowa’s rural and urban transit systems to lead the effort in winning the rider’s confidence and advance the perception of public transportation to match today’s new realities. We have produced a bundle of modern, effective, and affordable communication tools that can be localized to any market and used by all members.

The Goal

This creative template was designed with flexibility in mind. It can be localized to communities around the state and any market. The goal of this guide is to help you understand the “Iowa’s Public Transit Gets You There” campaign and how to adapt it for your community. We hope you use it to design your own collateral promoting safe, healthy, and dependable public transportation to your audiences.

Find out more today!

IPTA Celebrates Transit Driver Appreciation Day

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:34:51 GMT

Today we are celebrating Transit Driver Appreciation Day and while this past year has been especially challenging, our drivers have risen to meet new obstacles and been on the front lines throughout this pandemic. We would just like to take a moment and thank the drivers for the great work they do each day.

Transit drivers are the lifeblood of our industry and without them, residents, students and workers would not be able to get to their essential activities. Now with COVID-19 impacting the nation, transit drivers are even more vital in providing critical transportation services for essential workers.

We look forward to seeing how each transit system is celebrating this day and will be gathering stories and pictures to share in an upcoming newsletter. Don’t forget to tag #TDAD2021 on your social media posts.

From all of us at IPTA, thank you to each and every driver.

Counties Provide Free Transportation to Vaccine Sites

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 22:59:42 GMT

Linn County LIFTS, is also providing free, next-day rides for county residents.

By Rachel Looker

Staff Writer, National Association of Counties

For many struggling to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, the last thought after finally getting their name on a list is one that is key to successful vaccine distribution: “How am I going to get there?” “There’s not a community in the country where somebody doesn’t have transportation challenges,” said David Turner, director of Oswego County, N.Y. Community Development, Tourism and Planning. In Oswego County, a rural county around 1,000 square miles, residents who need a ride to a COVID-19 vaccine can utilize a free, on-demand call service.

Turner said the county received federal transportation assistance and allocated CARES Act money for the rural transit system. Individuals can call and make an appointment to arrange rides to and from vaccination locations. Currently in New York, county health departments, hospitals and pharmacies are receiving vaccine allocations with each location serving as a vaccination site for different categories in the vaccine rollout plan, Turner said.

In the first few weeks, around 75 to 80 people utilized the service. “What we didn’t want to happen was people to not even try to get an appointment because they knew that they didn’t have transportation,” he said. With a high poverty level across the county, Turner said they were aware of the challenges many would face when seeking transportation to vaccine appointments. “One thing that we wanted to try to ensure was that anybody who was eligible for and wanted to receive either testing or vaccinations had the ability to do so,” Turner said.

There are several challenges with vaccine distribution and transportation, according to Turner, specifically with the lack of doses and fast turnaround time from when the county receives the vaccines to notifying the public about clinic opportunities. He said when someone finds out they have an appointment, they may not have a lot of time to figure out their transportation plan. “It’s all very last minute,” he said. “We’re very happy to be able to make the service available, but we just have no way to plan for what the need is going to be so we’re gearing up and ready to go and just waiting for people to say ‘I need help,’” he said.

Other counties are working to tackle transportation issues to ensure residents can get to and from vaccine appointments. In Linn County, Iowa, the county’s paratransit service and countywide public transportation, known as Linn County LIFTS, is also providing free, next-day rides for county residents. Linn County Mobility Coordinator Terry Bergen said he sees transportation as a key partner with public health when it comes to ensuring the public is vaccinated. “We want to use it to help people get vaccinated if that’s something they need,” he said.

Bergen said with decreased ridership levels because of the pandemic, there has been some additional capacity within the system to incorporate rides for vaccinations. “If they find that they’ll have a transportation challenge, they call our dispatch office and that gets scheduled either on one of our normal routes or we’ll send somebody out separately to their house,” Bergen said.

The county is specifically targeting people who are eligible in the first phases of the vaccine distribution including the elderly and those in other vulnerable categories. “We will be available to get them rides whether it’s now or as the process goes on to other vaccination locations because we just see it as being important to all of our residents to get as many vaccinations done as quickly as possible,” he said.

St. Clair County, Ill., which borders St. Louis, Mo., is utilizing its transit services to provide free transportation to a mass vaccination site at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center in the county. “We basically wanted everybody to have access,” said Ken Sharkey, St. Clair County Transit District managing director. The St. Clair County Transit District service began in February and allows individuals to take the MetroBus or MetroLink to a transit center where a St. Clair County Transit District Express Shuttle Bus Service will take them to the fairgrounds.

S harkey said the county also contracted with Southwestern Illinois College for a paratransit service to transport older individuals from their homes to the vaccination site. “We’re just going to provide as much transportation and anybody that needs a ride to get a vaccine — they’re going to have a ride here in St. Clair County,” he said.

Linn County LIFTS Announces Transportation Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 21:52:36 GMT

Linn County LIFTS Announces Transportation Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccinations

LINN COUNTY, IA – February 8, 2021

L inn County LIFTS today will begin providing free next-day rides for County residents in need of transportation assistance to scheduled and confirmed COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors wants to ensure no barriers, including lack of transportation, prevent someone from getting vaccinated. Anyone traveling to or from a Linn County vaccine provider is eligible for transportation for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or assisting someone who is receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Rides are only available to scheduled and confirmed vaccination appointments.

Requests for transportation must be made at least 24 hours in advance and can be made up to two weeks in advance. To request a ride to a vaccination site, County residents with scheduled and confirmed vaccination appointments can contact LIFTS by phone at 319-892-5170 or by e-mail at lifts@linncounty.org between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to request next-day transportation.

Transportation is only offered to or from locations within Linn County to designated vaccination sites between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. No rides are available on Sundays.

Linn County residents with questions about vaccine eligibility, vaccine availability, and vaccination appointment scheduling are advised to contact the Linn County Public Health COVID-19 vaccine call center at 319-892-6097. Information is also available online at LinnCounty.org/Vaccine .