October 06, 2026
Longtime CDTA Board Member Recognized for National Leadership in Public Transportation
CHICAGO, IL (October 6, 2026) The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) today announced that longtime Board Member Denise Figueroa has been elected Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), one of the public transportation industry’s leading national organizations.
Figueroa was elected during APTA’s Annual Meeting of the Members at the 2026 TRANSform Conference & EXPO in Chicago, where public transportation leaders from across the country gathered to discuss the future of the industry. As APTA Chair, Figueroa will help lead the national association and represent the interests of public transportation agencies, board members, and industry leaders across the country.
The honor capped an especially significant week for Figueroa, who was also presented with APTA’s 2026 Board Member of the Year Award during the TRANSform Conference. The national award recognizes outstanding leadership, governance, and commitment to advancing public transportation. Figueroa’s recognition marked the second consecutive year that a CDTA Board member has received the national honor.
“Public transportation is about so much more than moving people from one place to another,” said Denise Figueroa. “It is about opportunity, independence, and creating stronger communities. I am honored to serve as APTA Board Chair and humbled to receive the Board Member of the Year award. I look forward to working with transit leaders across the country to strengthen our industry and ensure public transportation continues to meet the needs of the communities we serve.”
Figueroa has been deeply involved with APTA for many years and has included serving on the APTA Executive Committee, chairing the Transit Board Members Committee, serving on the Leadership APTA Committee, and co-leading the association’s Paratransit Task Force. She is also a former chair of APTA’s Research, Communications, and Advocacy Council.
Figueroa has served on the CDTA Board of Directors since 2003 and was Board Chair from 2010 to 2014. She currently serves as treasurer on the board. Throughout her tenure, she has helped guide CDTA through significant growth and innovation while maintaining a strong focus on accessibility, customer service, community partnerships, and the needs of people with disabilities.
“This is a really special honor for Denise, and it’s so well deserved,” said Peter Wohl, CDTA Board Chair. “She has given so much to CDTA and to public transportation over the years. Denise brings a lot of experience, passion, and heart to everything she does, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference she has made here at CDTA and throughout the Capital Region. We’re incredibly proud to see her take on this role and represent our region on the national stage.”
“Denise’s leadership has always extended well beyond our region,” said CDTA CEO Frank Annicaro. “She has spent decades advocating for accessible transportation and making sure public transit works for everyone. Her election as APTA Chair gives her an extraordinary opportunity to help shape the future of public transportation across the country. Having a CDTA board member lead APTA is an incredible opportunity to bring the Capital Region’s perspective to the national conversation about the future of transit.”
Figueroa is the executive director of the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley and has dedicated her career to advancing independence, accessibility, and opportunity for people with disabilities. Her extensive public transportation and advocacy experience has made her a respected national voice on accessibility and inclusive mobility.
Her election as APTA Chair and recognition as Board Member of the Year represent the latest milestones in a career dedicated to public transportation, accessibility, and ensuring that transit systems serve everyone.
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About CDTA
CDTA is the premier mobility provider in the Capital Region, providing local, express, commuter and bus rapid transit services across its six-county service area. CDTA also operates the regional bike-share program, CDPHP Cycle! and carshare program, DRIVE. CDTA owns and operates the Joseph L. Bruno Rail Station and the Saratoga Springs Train Station. CDTA was named the 2017 Best Mid-Sized Transportation System in North America by the American Public Transportation Association.