Jul. 20, 2023

ITLC Presents Consortium Model at TRACCS

The 2023 Transit Rail Association for Canadian Contractors (TRACCS) Rail Expo was held in Toronto, Canada on June 20-21, where ITLC’s Program Manager for Technical Assistance and Training Amri Joyner attended, along with Donald Lamotthe, Director of Traction Electrical Systems for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). DART prioritizes training for its frontline workforce and has been a longtime champion of rail maintenance training consortiums. As a member of three ITLC consortiums (Signals, Rail Car, and Traction Power), DART prioritizes training for its frontline workforce and has been a longtime champion of rail maintenance training consortiums.

Donald Lamotthe (right) sharing ideas on rail electrification maintenance with Rick Leary (left), CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission, and Wendy Reuter (middle), Head of Research & Analytics at TTC.

TRACCS previously showed interest in ITLC’s consortium approach to rail maintenance training and invited ITLC to present its consortium model in an online meeting of its membership in February 2023. TRACCS followed up with a special invitation for ITLC to present at its 2023 Rail Expo, where Amri and Donald presented on the topic, "Rail Consortiums: A Collaborative Approach to Maintenance Training." ITLC also sponsored a booth where Amri and Donald interacted with many attendees inquiring about ITLC’s Traction Power, Signals, and Rail Car consortiums. Amri also held in-depth conversations with representatives of several organizations, including the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Metrolinx, League of Railway Women, McMaster University, and JVS Toronto. Click here to learn more about TRACCS 2023 Rail Expo.

DASH Hosts Battery Electric Bus Familiarization Pilot

Last month, ITLC’s Program Manager James Hall and Instructional Designer Brandon Liu partnered with Virginia bus transit agency Alexandria Transit Company (DASH), to set up and deliver a pilot course for frontline technicians on the basics and familiarization of Battery Electric Buses (BEBs). Nine attendees participated in the session and actively engaged in James's lectures, exercises, and demonstrations. The two-day, 16-hour instructor-led course included hands-on activities, supplemental videos, at-bus/vehicle demonstrations, and assessments to help facilitate and build a knowledge base for BEBs throughout the transit industry. The full course offers three modules: Module One provides content on the components and systems of a BEB, Module 2 offers insight into high voltage safety and personal protective equipment, and Module 3 reviews details of BEB charging. The course will be finalized and available later this year.

ITLC's James Hall (left) and Brandon Liu at the BEB Familiarization Pilot in Alexandria, VA

Pilot participants examining the rear interior of a High Voltage Junction Box (HVJB)

ITLC Staff Appointed to Transportation Equity Caucus Steering Committee

Last month, Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen accepted an appointment to the Steering Committee of the Transit Equity Caucus (TEC) on behalf of ITLC. TEC is a diverse coalition of organizations promoting policies that ensure access, mobility, and opportunity for all through transportation. In his position, David will collaborate with TEC leadership to positively impact transportation opportunities in coalition with the many partner organizations of the caucus. In addition to his role on the committee, David will co-chair its Jobs and Workforce Workgroup, which focuses on addressing access to jobs in and for transportation. Click here for more information on TEC.

NADTC Blog Post on Transit Recruitment Strategies

ITLC’s Research Associate Shayna Gleason, Senior Policy Analyst Karitsa Holdzkom, and Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen recently participated as guest bloggers for the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). The blog post, “Driver Recruitment and Retention Strategies,” discusses ideas for addressing transit’s current workforce shortage. The blog highlights several strategies, including partnerships that support the recruitment and retention of older adults and people with disabilities in the transit workforce. Click here to view the full article.

TWC Blog’s Research Roundup

This month, the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) launched the first Transit Workforce Research Roundup, another research post on the new TWC Blog page. The Research Roundup is a recurring blog series summarizing current research on topics regarding the transit workforce. This post outlines the transit workforce shortage, highlighting key factors contributing to the problem. Click here to view the full story: “Research Roundup: Transit Workforce Shortage.” Stay tuned for additional research and analysis, along with other topics, coming soon on the TWC Blog!

Labor-Management Partnership Dialogue at Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy

On July 11, 2023, ITLC’s Senior Director for Workforce Education Pat Greenfield engaged in a plenary session dialogue on the power of labor-management partnerships as part of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the National League of Cities’ "Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy" convening in Washington D.C. The conversation with Amanda Ballantyne, Executive Director of the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) Technology Institute and the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Working for America Institute, was introduced and framed by Working for America's Deputy Director Liz Weiss, highlighting partnership examples from transit and other sectors. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden opened the inaugural convening, speaking to over 80 participants from 16 cities about the importance of their work in creating good jobs in their communities. Throughout 2023 and 2024, this program will help support those cities’ teams in developing innovative and scalable city-supported solutions that upskill and reskill workers into quality and high-demand jobs in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing jobs. The program is made possible by new federal investments that focus on supporting residents from historically underserved and underrepresented communities to address key shortcomings in their education and workforce ecosystem.