APTA is a nonprofit international association of over
1,500 public and private member organizations including transit systems
and commuter rail operators; planning, design, construction and finance
firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, transit
associations and state departments of transportation. APTA members serve
the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical transit
services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public
transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA
members.
Standards have become an important program activity at
APTA and in the public transportation industry. APTA, through its
policy and planning committees, has played a major role in creating
active working structures within the organization focused on the
development of standards. Hundreds of industry volunteers serving
on numerous working committees have developed standards for bus, rail
transit and commuter rail operations, maintenance, procurement and ITS.
These consensus based standards are making a real difference to the
management and operations of these organizations. These standards are
now being used to achieve operational efficiencies and safety
improvements in services, facilities and vehicles.
- Officially designated APTA as a Standards Development
Organization (SDO),
- Established a permanent funding mechanism to support standards
activities at APTA,
- Created a standing committee, now called the Standards
Development and Oversight Council (SDOC) to oversee and lead APTA’s
efforts in standards.
