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12 < m ETRO m AGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 metro-magazine.com The triennial event featured more than 750 global exhibitors, 60-plus buses and two mockup railcars, as well as more than 80 educational sessions. BY METRO STAFF The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) welcomed thou- sands of attendees to Houston for EXPO 2014 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Tis year's EXPO featured more than 750 global exhibitors displaying the latest products, services and technolo- gies, and ofered attendees a peek at more than 60 buses and two mockup railcars. Additional highlights included 80-plus educational sessions as well as forums, tours and networking events. In addition to new "Learning Zones" highlighting product innovations and best practices, APTA also launched a new space called "Mobility Manage- ment for Livable and Sustainable Com- munities," which featured a special pla- za focusing on livable and sustainable communities, complete streets and transit oriented development. The APTA Expo General Session fea- tured the "passing of the gavel" from out- going APTA Chair Peter Varga, CEO, Te Rapid, to incoming chair Phil Washing- ton, GM, Denver Regional Transporta- tion District. Washington discussed his intent to increase emphasis on safety and security; funding; shifting workforce demographics; changing customer life- styles and demographics; and accelerat- ed technological innovations. "This country has been on an infra- structure vacation," he said, and vowed APTA would be able to change that. FOXX TALKS FUTURE Presentation highlights included a speech by Secretary of Transportation Secretary Foxx visited fve suppliers on the show foor, including Alstom, Gillig (pictured), Mobility Ventures LLC, Route Match and Wabtec. Wealth of Public Transit Tech,Tools and Talk in Texas APTA EXPO 2014