SWTA Nation, it’s almost time! The 2026 SWTA Leadership Lab kicks off Monday, September 14, in Breckenridge with two packed days of learning, leadership and connection.

Monday features the Public Transit Legal Symposium, with experts tackling legal, legislative, regulatory, workforce, Tribal law and public safety issues facing transit agencies today.

Tuesday begins with keynote speaker Ehren Bingaman presenting “The Positivity Advantage,” followed by our hands-on labs:

🚍 Mobility Lab: Kendra McGeady, Tod Morris, Susan Starwalt and Ron Brooks
📱 Marketing & Communications Lab: Traci Jones, Michelle Robertson, Danielle Sterle, Simon McCullough and Crys Black
💻 Marketing attendees: BRING YOUR LAPTOP! We're putting the lab in Leadership Lab.

Didn't register online? Walk-up registration will be available on-site.
See you in Breckenridge! 

As membership renewal season begins, we want to start with the most important thing:

Thank you.

Your continued support makes SWTA's advocacy, education, professional development, industry connections, and member resources possible. Together, our network now includes more than 160 transit agencies and 140 business members across the region.

Your SWTA membership renewal will be arriving in your inbox soon, and we hope you'll take a moment to remember everything that comes with being part of SWTA Nation.

Membership includes access to member-only peer discussions and online forums, opportunities to help shape SWTA's advocacy priorities and strategic direction, eligibility to pursue SWTA Board leadership, complimentary job and RFP postings, inclusion in the SWTA Member Directory, and access to education, training, professional development, conferences, webinars, communications, and industry connections throughout the year.

And remember: SWTA membership belongs to your organization. If your organization is a member, your employees are members too—not just the person receiving the renewal notice.

We're grateful you're here, and we're looking forward to another year of learning, connecting, advocating, and moving public transit forward together.
Keep an eye on your inbox—your SWTA membership renewal is coming soon!

Some of the best transit stories aren't created in a conference room—they're already happening inside your agency.

Tuesday at Leadership Lab, Danielle Sterle, Mesa County Transit Program Manager, and Simon McCullough, Grand Valley Transit Transportation Access Specialist/Mobility Manager, will lead “Your Agency Has the Story. Let’s Tell It. — Turn Everyday Moments Into Powerful Community Connections.”

This 90-minute Marketing & Communications Lab will help attendees recognize the stories hiding in everyday moments and turn employees, riders, programs, and community connections into creative content people actually want to see.

And we're putting the LAB in Leadership Lab.

💻 BRING YOUR LAPTOP! Come ready to participate, create, exchange ideas, and start putting what you learn to work.

Online registration has closed, but walk-up registration will be available on-site in Breckenridge.

You'll see Community Transit Insurance Program (CTIP) from the moment you put on your Leadership Lab credentials! We're proud to welcome CTIP as the Official Lanyard Sponsor of the 2026 SWTA Leadership Lab.

CTIP is a national insurance program specifically designed for public transit agencies and nonprofit transit providers, providing insurance options along with transit-focused claims, loss control and risk management support.

We're grateful to CTIP for investing in Leadership Lab and supporting the transit professionals coming together in Breckenridge.

Thank you, CTIP, for supporting SWTA Nation!

SWTA Nation, get those calendars out—the dates are set!

The 2027 SWTA Annual Conference & EXPO is officially scheduled for January 26–29, 2027. The conference will begin Tuesday with SWTA Board activities and registration and continue through Friday morning.

We're already working on another exciting conference filled with education, industry connections, professional development, exhibitors and plenty of opportunities to reconnect with the SWTA family.

And we know what you're wondering...

Where are we going? 👀
We're keeping that part under wraps for just a little longer.

📅 JANUARY 26–29, 2027
 📍 LOCATION ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON
Save the date and stay tuned—there's much more to come!

The Federal Transit Administration is looking for innovative transit technologies and solutions for its upcoming FTA Transit Innovation Showcase at USDOT Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The one-day event will showcase high-impact innovations across buses, commuter rail, light rail, subways and ferries, with particular interest in solutions addressing safety and security, cleanliness, universal accessibility, real-time service data and system reliability.

FTA is looking broadly at innovation, including technologies involving operator security, fare enforcement, station safety, training simulators, accessibility, trip planning and wayfinding, and vehicle and facility cleanliness.
Have something worth showing? This could be an opportunity to put it in front of national transportation leaders.

📅 Questions Due: September 15 by 5:00 p.m. ET
 📅 Priority Consideration: Statements of Interest should be submitted by October 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET

SWTA members are encouraged to review the opportunity and share it with industry partners and innovators throughout their networks.