One word to describe yourself: Motivated
Alma Mater: Boston University for a B.A. in Political Science and B.S. in Communications (Public Relations concentration); The George Washington University for a Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree.
Fast fact about yourself: I love to travel the world and I’ve been to about 50 countries (some work-related such as the United Kindom, Canada, Hong Kong, Chile and Brazil but many on my own time). I love to go on adventures around the world and think there is so much to experience and see.
What’s your best experience on transit and what made it memorable?
In Melbourne, Australia, a company converted some of the old tram/trolley cars to dining cars complete with a four-course meal, wine and white table clothes. Therefore, as part of our honeymoon gift from my cousin upon visiting Australia, she bought lunch tickets on this tram for my husband and me. It was fascinating being able to take the tram throughout the city and see multiple sites while being able to have a high-end meal. I hugely enjoyed this experience.
Another experience that was very fun and unique was a few years back in Hong Kong. In 2017-2019, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) was contracted by MTR to conduct safety audits of its system. While there, I took an MTR train to Hong Kong Disneyland. These trains literally have Mickey Mouse ears as the shape in the train windows, as well as Mickey Mouse-shaped handles along the length of the train. I found this to be a really nice touch for this mode of transit.
Brian Alberts joined APTA in 2017, where he has risen through the ranks to his current position and has played a critical role in enhancing North American public transportation safety. Alberts oversees all safety policy and standards work for APTA, serving as the industry expert on safety and advising several safety committees. He was recently appointed to the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety by U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg and serves on the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Transit Standards Working Group. Before APTA, Alberts worked at the FTA, where he authored key safety regulations, including the State Safety Oversight Program Final Rule and the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alberts led efforts to develop best practices for cleaning and sanitizing transit vehicles, producing a widely praised white paper. He also addressed the rise in worker and passenger assaults by organizing sessions at APTA conferences to develop new safety approaches. Alberts transformed APTA’s annual safety seminar into a major event, the APTA Safety and Risk Seminar, attracting global safety experts and officials.
Alberts also leads APTA’s advisory services programs, conducting peer reviews and safety audits for transit agencies. Under his leadership, the program has grown significantly, providing valuable services and generating revenue for APTA.
Known for his hard work and innovative thinking, Alberts collaborates with transit agencies to improve safety measures, engages with the National Transportation Safety Board and FTA to learn from past accidents and incidents and hosts monthly webinars on key safety issues. He is a strong advocate for equity and diversity, mentoring staff and interns and is deeply committed to the safety and security of transit workers and passengers.
Is there a specific experience that led you to where you are today?
I don’t know if there’s one experience, per say, that’s led me to where I am today. There are several. I would say my hard work, perseverance and dedication to public transportation and transit/rail safety has continued to make me passionate about my job, my work in public transportation safety and my representation of APTA’s members across the spectrum, from smaller bus properties all the way up to the largest multimodal systems in North America.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy getting to work with many people in different facets of public transportation, including people representing APTA’s nearly 1,600 [BA1] member organizations. I also really like the people I work with at APTA and I love working in Washington, D.C., where we have great public transportation options. I also enjoy the travel I am able to take advantage of, including APTA’s many conferences throughout the year and also APTA peer reviews and safety audits (for which I am the manager of both programs).
APTA staff work very hard, especially when we’re preparing for an upcoming meeting, conference, webinar or workshop. We also have a good deal of flexibility and work-life balance, which I greatly appreciate. We have a good executive management team at APTA and APTA’s CEO, Paul Skoutelas, is a great leader to work for. Overall, there are many things I really like about my job working in public transportation and rail safety and there are numerous reasons I have stayed at APTA for over seven years.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is also one of the most enjoyable aspects: The constant travel. There’s an expectation in my position at APTA that travel and attendance at the large APTA conferences/meetings is mandatory and I also have the responsibility to lead at least three to four peer reviews and safety audits per year. I tend to travel at least once, if not two to three times per month. I do love the travel I am fortunate enough to take part in but it also can be exhausting at times (especially if the travel is back-to-back).
Accomplishment you’re most proud of and why?
I would say the accomplishments I am most proud of include: Receiving my Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree from the George Washington University, as well as my completion of the Leadership APTA Program in 2018 and the ENO Transit Senior Executive Program in 2020. I am also proud of being appointed by Buttigieg to be on FTA’s Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) for the most recent 2022-2024 term. On this committee of transit safety experts from throughout the country, I serve as the lead for the Cyber and Data Systems subcommittee.
What is an accomplishment you would like to work towards in your career?
An accomplishment I’d like to work towards in my career is to eventually become a CEO of a transit agency, vice president of a consulting firm, an administrator at USDOT or another high-level position in the public transportation industry. However, I am very comfortable now in my position as senior director of safety and advisory services at APTA. However, I would like to grow in my career and eventually take on more responsibility and lead a team to do something important in the public transportation and rail industries, especially in my specialization of safety and security.
Best advice/tip/best practice to share from your area of expertise?
Work hard, have perseverance and, eventually, things will come. Don’t let people’s negative attitudes towards you get you down. Always look toward the larger goal and try to have a positive attitude with your colleagues and supervisors at work.
Also – transit is a very small community, and many people know each other so try not to burn any bridges.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
