The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) brought together our members, Board of Directors, Policy Advisory Board, and staff for its 2026 Annual Member Meeting, held October 19–20 in Atlanta, Georgia. As the industry navigates an evolving policy and market landscape, this two-day gathering provided opportunities for CTE and its members to discuss policy priorities, share project insights, explore emerging market opportunities, and strengthen partnerships advancing zero-emission transportation.

Shaping Policy Priorities with Leadership Circle Members

The event kicked off on October 19 with an exclusive Policy Strategy Session for CTE's Leadership Circle Members, providing an opportunity to engage directly with CTE's Policy Board, government affairs advisors, and staff to help shape the organization's legislative priorities.

Led by CTE's policy team and government affairs advisors, discussions examined the evolving federal, state, and local policy landscape and invited members to share industry perspectives and provide feedback on CTE's proposed 2027 legislative agenda and priorities for the coming year, including protecting key discretionary programs for fleets deploying battery electric vehicles, supporting hydrogen ecosystem development, and expanding policy presence at the state level.

The session featured conversations with Georgia State Senator Sonya Halpern and Dylan Nurse, Senior Advisor to Congressman Everton Blair Jr., as well as a fireside chat moderated by CTE Government Affairs Representative Suzanne Sullivan with three members of CTE's Policy Board: former Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval Carter, former Congressman and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari.

That evening, CTE welcomed its broader membership for an all-member reception at Tech Square Tavern, providing an opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues, meet fellow members, and build relationships ahead of the following day's programming.

Connecting Members with CTE's Work and Priorities

On October 20, CTE's broader membership gathered for a full day of organizational updates, project presentations, and discussions about opportunities for collaboration. The morning began with a State of the Organization address from CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh, followed by updates from CTE's Membership, Policy, Communications, Client and Engineering Services, Development, and Grants teams outlining ongoing initiatives and opportunities for member engagement.

Breakout sessions highlighted CTE's work across established and emerging markets, with market leads engaging members in discussions around opportunities to transition a variety of industries to zero-emission operations, such as ports, municipalities, and school districts. Sessions also showcased lessons learned from CTE managed real-world projects, including NorCAL ZERO's deployment of 30 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks, school bus electrification for the San Diego Unified School District, Georgia Tech's 10-year transit master plan, and the Port of Oakland's large-scale zero-emission equipment deployment.

Moving the Industry Forward, Together

Beyond organizational updates and technical discussions, CTE’s Annual Meeting provides valuable opportunities for members to connect with CTE staff and one another, exchange ideas, and identify new ways to collaborate. These conversations help inform CTE's work, ensuring that its initiatives continue to address the evolving needs of the zero-emission transportation industry while creating new opportunities for members to contribute their expertise.

CTE extends its thanks to all members who participated in this year's meeting. We look forward to building on these conversations and continuing to advance clean transportation solutions together.