By-laws | Board of Directors | Procedures and Deadlines

What is APT?

In 1973, public transportation advocates founded APT to promote effective, affordable, and accessible public transit. Its members are dedicated to spurring an improved & expanded transportation system in Greater Boston and the Northeast Megaregion. APT is the leading proponent for strategic transportation infra-structure. While all transportation projects move people or goods, strategic transportation projects move the economy. APT is the author of Car-Free™ in Boston, now in its 10th edition.

• APT’s monthly meetings and Annual Meeting provide a forum for the discussion of current transportation problems and prospects. Prominent guest speakers are often featured.
• APT regularly collaborates with other transit and transportation oriented organizations around the country.

APT Activities:

APT has been an advocate for public transportation through involvement with MBTA, Amtrak, and other organizations locally, regionally, and nationally:

• Promotes rail transit for competitiveness, efficiency, and environmental reasons.
• Meets monthly and conducts forums to discuss pressing transportation & mobility issues.
• Collaborates nationally with kindred groups such as NARP (National Association of Railroad Passengers).
• Provides project input to the MBTA, as well as regional and national planning organizations, including the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Provides testimony on service cuts, fare increases, transit budgets, and project priorities.
• Voting member-Mass. Regional Transportation Advisory Council (RTAC) of Metropolitan Planning Organization
• APT officers are invited to speak in national transportation conferences.
• Speaks out when national projects adversely affect Massachusetts, such as the ARC project in NY and NJ.

Mission:

• Educate stakeholders on importance of strategic transportation infrastructure
• Campaign to improve & increase transit options.
• Advance critical rail transit projects
• Publicize the economic cost of inadequate rail freight access in Massachusetts.
• Promote critical regional projects as leading candidates for federal stimulus funding.

Framework for Advocacy

The Framework for Advocacy consists of the policies which guide members in public forums when they are representing the Association. APT will continue to add to and update as appropriate. It consists of three major branches:

• Capital planning: Projects that are consistent with the principles of sustainable “transit oriented development” (TOD). TOD projects encourage the synergy of walking, cycling, and mass transit, and promote land use patterns that minimize the use of automobiles. The following critical projects are consistent with this strategy:
  • The North-South Rail Link between North and South Stations in Boston to optimize MBTA operations and link northern New England into the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
  • Completion of the I-93 Big Dig Transit Mitigation Requirements:
    • Blue Line-Red Line connector,
    • Arborway trolley restoration,
    • Green Line to Medford & Somerville
  • Light rail service on Washington Street, replacing the Silver BUS Line
  • Development of the “Indigo Line”, i.e. frequent service with additional stops on the Fairmount line.
  • Blue Line extension to Lynn and beyond.
• Operations: Working with the MBTA and other transit providers for improved service and enhanced operations
• Outreach: Forging strategic alliances with other like-minded groups, and presenting the case in public forums about the value of quality mass transportation.
  • Major strategic adjustment to facilitate transit objectives by being proactive versus reactive.
  • All mitigation agreements should clearly establish that transit and highway projects start simultaneously
  • Establish checkpoints to ensure that all projects are maintaining schedules with a recovery plan to bring schedules back into alignment should the transit component’s schedule slip vis a vis the highway project.