CDTA Melleady Elected President of the New York Public Transit Association

• by New York Public Transit Association

Ray Melleady, Executive Director, Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) was elected President of the New York Public Transit Association, Inc. (NYPTA) at the organization's New York State transit industry conference held last week in Albany.

"I'm honored to serve as president at such a critical time for the transit industry. Ridership is increasing every day as the public continues to realize the economic and environmental benefits of public transportation. At the same time, the industry is facing proposed budget cuts when investing in our capital and operating needs has never been more important." Melleady said.

As President, Melleady will be responsible for overseeing the business of the association and will serve as the primary spokesperson for the public transportation industry in New York State. Previously, Melleady served on the NYPTA board of directors and conference planning committee, for the past two years he served as the Association's vice president.

"Ray makes things happen. Under his leadership as conference planning committee chairman, the association doubled corporate participation and successfully hosted Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at our transit conference held just last week in Albany," said immediate past president Scott Sopczyk, transportation director, Greater Glens Falls Transit.

NYPTA is a not-for-profit association representing more than 40 transit systems across New York State including the MTA, one of the largest public transportation systems in the nation, the four upstate authorities, and the transportation systems that serve rural upstate New York communities. In addition, NYPTA is comprised of more than 65 private sector manufacturers, consultants and state government agencies. Members provide nearly all of the public transportation services in New York State, nearly 40 percent of the public transportation services in the nation, and employ more than 60,000 New Yorkers.

"My goal is to grow our Association so we have the strongest, most effective voice possible for public transportation. Our slogan for 2009 is 'invest in transit: keep New York moving!' Our message doesn't get any clearer than that," Melleady said.