For immediate release: November 30, 2017

Metro to host international transit leaders for global forum

Experts from Europe, Latin America, Asia to share transit success stories for leveraging economic growth

Metro will host leading transit agencies from around the world for the International Association of Public Transport's (UITP) International Rail Forum for North America December 7. The first time that this annual forum is being held in Washington, the event brings together transit leaders to address "Public Transit as a Business" and how to fund and deliver sustainable, world-class service.

"This is a great opportunity to learn from the global success of peer agencies and how they have leveraged private and public resources and maximized investment in transit," said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. "As we look to the future, cities like London, Hong Kong and São Paulo can offer lessons on innovative ways to generate revenue and fund public transit in a competitive economic environment."

The forum will also include experts in transportation, finance and commerce to discuss strategies to capitalize on real estate development, new advertising opportunities, public-private partnerships and building support for public transportation. Participants include:

  • Transport for London (TfL) - Head of Consulting for TfL will address how the London transit agency is using land value capture to monetize the increase in property values from public transit.
  • MTR Corporation Hong Kong - MTR, which carries more than five million passengers every weekday and generates a profit, will discuss commercial development built around consumer demands linked to transit.
  • ADDAX, São Paulo - The award winning project team will share insights on the use of private investment to improve service and reduce costs, after the recent launch of a public-private partnership in Brazil's capital to operate and maintain two major transit modes (bus and light rail) across nine cities.

The forum hosted by Metro, in partnership with UITP, is supported by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA).

UITP is a worldwide network of public transit stakeholders with 1400 member companies from more than 96 countries, including transit agencies, policy decision-makers, research institutes and the public transport supply and service industry.

For more information and to register, go to the International Rail Forum North America Meeting 2017. 

Media outlets interested in attending are required to RSVP and should call 202-962-1051 by December 6 at 10 a.m. to be credentialed.