The American Public Transit Association (APTA) was created in 1974 with the merging of two major American transit-related organizations, the American Transit Association (ATA) and the Institute for Rapid Transit (IRT).  Both organizations trace their histories back decades before this date.  The ATA, which originated in 1932, specialized in issues dealing with motor buses, trolley coaches and other motorized transit vehicles.  The IRT, organized in 1961, specialized in electric railways and other rapid transit sources.  In January 2000, the name of the organization was changed to the American Public Transportation Association.  Today, APTA is a leading participant in research and legislation regarding the American transportation industry and issues relating to it. 

The American Public Transportation Association Collection contains subject-arranged records and archives pertaining to APTA's activities.  Included are materials from both the American Transit Association (ATA) and the Institute for Rapid Transit (IRT).  Types of materials in the Collection include:  memoranda, correspondence, reports, legislative information, industry-related information (such as brochures and technical reports), and membership information.  The material in the Collection dates from 1932 to 2000.  The APTA Collection supplements other transportation Collections in Special Collections & Archives (SC&A). Visit SC&A's Transportion Collections Web Page.

The APTA Information Center provides information to APTA members and the general public on a wide range of public transportation subjects. It's Information Center has research materials, APTA publications, and contact information for suppliers of transit products and services. 

The Information Center can be reached at:

Phone: 202-496-4889
FAX: 202-496-4326
E-mail: info@apta.com

SC&A preserves and makes available to all students, faculty, and researchers many kinds of original and scholarly materials. Subject areas in SC&A include Northern Virginiana, Planned Communities, Congressional Papers, Performing Arts, Maps, the Civil War, and George Mason University.  Formats in SC&A include manuscripts, rare books, playbills, musical scores, audio and videotapes, architectural drawings, photographs, and slides.  E-Mail SC&A

Access the APTA Collection Finding Aid