April 3, 2025

ITLC National Training Consortiums Advancing Rail Maintenance Workforce Development

ITLC facilitates three National Rail Maintenance Training Consortiums that bring together agencies and unions from across the country to collaborate on the development of high-quality, standardized training for frontline technicians. They are the:

Signals Consortium – Launched in 2013 with 23 participating agencies; developed 29 courses to date
Rail Vehicle Consortium – Launched in 2016 with 18 agencies; developed 42 courses to date
Traction Power Consortium – Launched in 2020 with 10 agencies; developed 18 courses to date

Traction Power Consortium meeting at Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

Consortium members meet regularly in virtual sessions and in-person annually to continue developing courseware, tour transit agency facilities, and network with industry peers. Work is driven by the needs and priorities of member organizations. Courses include an introduction and overview of rail car, signals, and traction power systems, as well as preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and repair. Participating organizations contribute financially through membership dues, and subject matter experts (SMEs) work closely with ITLC instructional designers to develop interactive, ready-to-teach courses. Throughout the development process, members actively guide, review, and test the training materials. Where American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) approved and industry-recognized recommended training practices exist, consortium course materials align with them.

What consortium members are saying:

“Because of ITLC, our agency and others alike are able to train to a higher standard. And it shows with our end product, a highly trained skilled employee.”
“Everyone is focused and driven to accomplish the goal of putting out the best training we can for the employees that are coming up behind us.”
“We are saving $50-$75K each year in curriculum development and vendor fees by using consortium materials instead of bringing in outside training vendors.”

Rail Car Consortium SMEs touring Metro Transit's Rail Facility

Interested in learning more?

Join the Rail Car Consortium meeting in Charlotte, N.C., from May 5–9. Future meetings for the Signals and Traction Power Consortiums are scheduled for fall 2025, with locations to be announced.
Contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org for details.
Sign up for ITLC’s Rail Training Consortium Interest Meetings. More information in the story below.

Signals Consortium touring Southeastern Pennsylvania

Transportation Authority's Facility

Interested in learning more about ITLC’s National Rail Maintenance Training Consortiums? Don’t miss ITLC’s Rail Training Consortium Interest Meetings, hosted every Friday from 9 am–3 pm ET until May 9. Sign up for a time slot to have a focused conversation about ITLC’s National Signals, Rail Car, and Traction Power Consortium courseware and how your agency can get involved. If the scheduled times do not work for you, please contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org with your availability.

Rail Training Consortium Interest Meetings

Training on the Rise: Train-the-Trainer Level 1 Sessions

In February and March, ITLC facilitated three Train-the-Trainer Level 1 sessions, working with 35 transit trainers from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and King County Metro in Seattle.

This immersive, week-long course is designed to equip new and experienced trainers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver effective instructor-led training. Train-the-Trainer Level 1 covers key areas, including adult learning theory, instructional techniques, presentation skills, and lesson planning. Participants actively contribute their learning throughout the week, engaging in multiple practice teaching demonstrations. They are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, experiment with new methods, and reflect on their teaching style.

GCRTA Level 1 Train-the-Trainer mid-February course participants

ITLC Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard, Facilitator Frank Burnett, and Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo commended the group for its high level of engagement, thoughtful questions, and willingness to share their experiences. There was no shortage of energy or commitment in the training rooms in Cleveland and Seattle; participants were eager to build on their existing experiences and expand their instructional toolkit to create meaningful, learner-centered experiences. As one participant stated, the course is a “great foundation for new trainers” and a “great refresher for experienced trainers.”

For more information about ITLC’s Train-the-Trainer courses, visit the updated Train-the-Trainer page on the T ransit Workforce Center’s website or contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org.

GCRTA Level 1 Train-the-Trainer late-February course participants

Survey

Data Literacy Survey

The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida is conducting a survey for the Data Literacy Initiative. The initiative is sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration to increase the knowledge and utilization of data analytics capabilities in small-urban, rural, and tribal public transit agencies. It will allow smaller transit agencies to benefit from the increased safety, operational efficiencies, and improvements in the customer experience afforded by data analytics initiatives.

This survey is designed to better understand current practices, challenges, and opportunities related to data usage, tools, and decision-making within rural, tribal, and small-urban transit agencies, helping the National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) create tailored technical assistance resources, training, and tools to enhance data literacy and capacity across the transit industry.

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. For additional information and assistance, please contact Martin Catala at catala@usd.edu.