TARC and Louisville announced as host of 2019 Mobility Conference: APTA’s enhanced Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo

May 17 – 22, 2019: The ‘Olympics’ of the transit community

Louisville, Kentucky – In Tampa, Florida, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced Louisville, Kentucky and the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) as the host city and agency for the “2019 Mobility Conference: APTA’s enhanced Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo” May 17 – 22nd 2019. The six-day event features skills and safety competitions for bus operators and mechanics including conference workshops, networking sessions, committee meetings and an awards banquet.

The “Roadeo” and conference is a unique professional development opportunity for operators and maintenance professionals to share ideas and network with transit agency professionals across the country. This year, over 40 mechanic teams and 83 coach operators participated. The “Roadeo” is a competition of bus operation and safety skills and maintenance disciplines. As part of the Bus & Paratransit Conference, there are multiple training sessions for operators, maintenance teams, and supervisors. The competition attracts over 275 competitors. The convention itself attracts more than 1,500 attendees.

“We’re excited for this opportunity to showcase some of the best attractions our world famous city has to offer,” said Ferdinand L. Risco Jr., TARC executive director, “From moving beyond paper tickets to electronic fare cards, to our expanding all-electric fleet, we are committed to bringing innovative, sustainable, and smart transit options to our residents and visitors.”

APTA made the official announcement in Tampa on May 8, 2018 at the official Bus Roadeo Awards Banquet premiering a video highlighting all that Louisville has to offer visitors during the event next year. The video featured the city’s top attractions and a message from Mayor Greg Fischer and Karen Williams, CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

TARC was also awarded APTA’s “Security Excellence Award of Merit” for their focus on increasing the amount of time their two-person coach security teams spend accompanying operators on routes.