Celebrating four years of NATA

This month marks the four year anniversary since the North American Transit Alliance was created in order to advocate for the benefits of contracting in public transit. In May, the board and management committee met to reflect on the accomplishments of NATA to date and discuss the positive role we can play in the future - both in the industry and in the culture around transportation.

Here are some highlights from the past four years:

• Completed annual hill visits to discuss the benefits of private contracting, which have resulted in strong partnerships with the FTA and members of Congress.
• Advocated for transit employees during the COVID pandemic.
• Awarded more than $20,000 in scholarship money to rising stars in public transit through the CONFERENCE OF MINORITY TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS , Latinos In Transit , and Women In Transportation D.C. chapter.
• Supported the creation of two independent studies from UITP and Eno Transportation about the impact of private contracting in public transit, especially in light of the post-covid recovery.
• Testified to the U.S. House Committee on Transit and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on behalf of NATA, representing the benefits of contracting for public transit.

We are proud of the impact we have had on the industry and look forward to years to come!

View the slideshow below to look back at some of our favorite memories!

Board Chair Laura Hendricks testifies to the U.S. House committee on Transit and Infrastructure

In June, Laura Hendricks, chair of the NATA board and CEO of Transdev North America, testified to the U.S. House Committee on Transit and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit on behalf of NATA. Laura shared with the committee the essential role that private contractors play in delivering safe and reliable public transit as well as contributing to our economy.

Specifically, Laura shared with the subcommittee the ways that NATA member companies are working with transit agencies to deliver service that is responsive to passenger demand, specifically considering the Covid recovery. She shared examples of how our members are implementing on-demand microtransit services that allow passengers to book trips on-demand without increasing the fleet or operational costs.

She also testified about the importance of streamlining the procurement process with an eye toward efficiency. NATA members are excited to continue to advocate for reliable funding for public transit as well as to ensure a trained workforce that can deliver safe and reliable public transit services that best meet the needs of the traveling public.

NATA publishes a How to Contract Guide to successfully begin contracting in public transit

At NATA, part of our mission is to provide resources and educational materials on contracting as an option for public transit service. This spring we published a new guide for the industry to serve as a starting point for how to contract an existing service or new mode of transit.

There are numerous options for contracting and each agency customizes their contract for their community’s and agency’s needs. However, the fundamentals of what makes a successful contract and contracting relationship are the same. We hope this resource will serve as a tool to agencies interested in expanding service through contracting or moving current service to reduce the barriers to contracting going forward.

It's been a fast paced and productive past few months at NATA and are excited for the momentum and interest we've seen regarding private contracting and the benefits to our economy and communities. Stay tuned for some upcoming webinars and events in the coming months. If you aren't already subscribed to NATA news, please do so here!