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ITLC’s Transit Workforce Center (TWC) partnered with Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure (Iyai) on May 3 to co-host part four of Iyai’s 2023 Transportation/Mobility Career Awareness Lunch & Learn series. The event, designed to introduce young people to career opportunities in transit, featured a diverse group of panelists discussing their career journeys. Iyai CEO and Founder Dr. Bev Scott kicked off the session, followed by ITLC/TWC Senior Director for Workforce Education Pat Greenfield. After welcoming the attendees, Pat introduced ITLC Research Associate Shayna Gleason, who provided an overview of the opportunities for young adults in the transit workforce and shared how she became involved in the transit industry.
Mineta Transportation Institute’s Dr. Karen Philbrick then introduced and facilitated a panel discussion with: Marvin Alfred, President, ATU Local 113 (Toronto); Kyisha Bond, Mechanic Apprentice, IndyGo (Indianapolis); Inez Evans, President and CEO, IndyGo; Andrew Falotico, Health and Safety Representative, ATU Local 113; and Desiree Patrice, Deputy Chief of Capital Transformation, MBTA (Boston). A lively question and answer session between panelists and the audience followed. As Bev Scott noted after the session, no one can tell transit’s story better than those who work in the industry every day, calling the presentations “real” and “inspirational” and emphasizing that the webinar was “a tremendous resource” for youth who want to learn about careers in the industry. You can watch the full webinar recording here. Look for the June 8 issue of TWC’s Pulse, featuring an in-depth look at the career ladder stories told throughout the webinar.
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Connecting to North Carolina
ITLC/TWC Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen presented TWC’s National Transit Frontline Worker Recruitment Toolkit and Campaign, #ConnectingMyCommunity, at the North Carolina Public Transit Association’s annual conference in April. As a contributor to the session “Best Practices in Recruiting and Retention,” David spoke about effective strategies that can be used to recruit and hire qualified frontline transit workers.
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BEB Familiarization Course Pilot
On April 13, ITLC Program Manager James Hall and Instructional Designer Brandon Liu visited CapMetro in Austin, Texas to present the Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Familiarization Course developed by ITLC/TWC. The CapMetro instructional team reviewed the course materials and provided useful feedback. In combination with the pilot delivery sessions at WMATA and LA Metro, this pilot review session provides the basis for finalizing the BEB Familiarization for industry dissemination in the coming months.
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Iyai Lunch & Learn 6: Why Mobility Careers Matter - APTA Emerging Leaders Share Their Stories – May 19
Join Iyai on National Transportation Day, May 19, 1-2:00 p.m. ET, for part 6 of its 2023 Transportation/Mobility Career Awareness Lunch and Learn series. As part of United for Infrastructure Week, Iyai will host a panel of APTA Emerging Leaders sharing their personal career stories and insights on why mobility careers matter. Join to learn about public transportation career pathways in maintenance, engineering, recruiting/human resources, and zero-emission fleet technology. This session also kicks off Iyai’s “Critical Conversations,” a “Youth VOICE” initiative to directly engage young adults to share their ideas on how to best attract youth to mobility careers and prepare the workplace and workforce for today and tomorrow. Register here to learn more about how you can participate and support.
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Employee Experience Specialist
ITLC, the operator of TWC, is seeking a candidate to fill the full-time role of an Employee Experience Specialist. Candidates should have significant experience in total employee experience, workforce support, and human resources to serve as ITLC’s first Employee Experience Specialist. In addition, the ideal candidate will understand how to carry out this function in a mission-focused, worker-centered nonprofit organization. ITLC and TWC support a range of critical areas for frontline workers in public transportation, including worker voice, career development and advancement, and workforce diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. We expect our Employee Experience Specialist to help advance these practices and values through thoughtful, rational, and compassionate systems and processes developed in consultation with the staff and directors. Click here to view the full job description.
If you are interested in this position, please email your resume and cover letter to our Office Manager/HR Joyce Williams: careers@transportcenter.org.
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Mental Health Resources for Transit Workers
Federal Transit Administration
Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being and a difficult topic to discuss. FTA has aggregated mental health resources to support transit industry workers during challenging times. FTA encourages the broad sharing of these online resources.
Federal Transit Administration Proposes New Requirements to Improve Transit Worker Safety
Federal Transit Administration – Apr. 26, 2023
WASHINGTON – To protect transit workers and riders, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is proposing new safety requirements authorized under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In a proposed update to the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans (PTASP) rule, FTA will codify communication between frontline transit workers and management, an important measure to address worker assaults.
FRA Issues $5 Million NOFO to Fund a Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence
Mass Transit – May 2, 2023
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) of $5 million to fund a rail research and development Center of Excellence. The new program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will advance research and development efforts that seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail. Eligible applicants for the NOFO include those with strong past performance related to rail research, education, and workforce development activities.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $700 Million in Grants to Replace Aging Passenger Railcars in Six Transit Systems
Federal Transit Administration – May 5, 2023
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the selection of six projects in six states to replace aging passenger railcars, improving reliability, safety, and accessibility on the nation's rail transit systems, including projects addressing the state of good repair needs.
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St. Louis Metro Transit to Launch Metal Detector Pilot Program
Mass Transit – May 4, 2023
A pilot project aimed at improving safety and security will see metal detectors rotated through various MetroLink station locations in Missouri and Illinois. Transit riders will walk through metal detectors to gain access to MetroLink platforms. The pilot program was approved by Bi-State Development Agency (St. Louis Metro) for stations in the city of St. Louis, Mo., St. Louis County, Mo., and St. Clair County, Ill.
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