Traction Power Consortium Meets in Seattle | | |
ITLC’s Traction Power Consortium met September 14–18 at Sound Transit’s headquarters in Seattle’s historic Union Station for a productive week of course development and connecting with fellow consortium members. ITLC Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo and Instructional Designer Shawna Bowker helped lead discussions and guide the group’s course development efforts throughout the week.
Throughout the week, subject matter experts began work on a new Print Reading course, reviewed and finalized updates to the existing Substations course, and continued development of an eLearning component to support the instructor-led Substations training. Participants also toured one of Sound Transit’s substations, providing a valuable opportunity to see equipment and systems firsthand.
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The meeting was especially exciting, as ITLC welcomed four new member agencies: Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Caltrain (Millbrae, CA), LA Metro, and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT). They joined representatives from Bi-State Development (Metro Transit St. Louis), Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Metro Transit Minneapolis, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT), and Sound Transit (Seatttle, WA).The addition of these new members brings fresh perspectives and expertise to the consortium, further strengthening the collaboration that makes these meetings so valuable.
A special thank you to Sound Transit, and especially Matt Williams, for their hospitality and support in making the week such a success. We look forward to continuing the work and building on the connections made during the meeting!
For more information on ITLC’s Traction Power Consortium, please contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org.
| | ITLC Visits Caltrain to Capture Substation Training Footage | | On September 29, ITLC’s Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo spent the morning at Caltrain (Milbrae, CA) with Manager of OCS Traction Power Operations John Bullers visiting three different substations to capture video footage for the Traction Power Consortium’s Substations course. The videos will be used to connect classroom instruction to what maintainers encounter in the field, helping learners to better understand traction power substations’ operations, the role of key equipment and components, and how electrical power moves through the system to support rail operations. | | |
This visit provided a valuable opportunity for ITLC’s instructional design team to explore equipment and processes firsthand and capture footage that makes training materials more engaging and directly connected to the work being performed.
ITLC thanks John and Caltrain for their time, expertise, and support in helping bring this course to life!
| | ITLC Train-the-Trainer Programs Continues to Support WMATA | |
This month, ITLC facilitated its ninth Train-the-Trainer session with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Since launching its partnership with the agency in April 2026, ITLC has helped trainers strengthen their instructional and facilitation skills, bringing the current number of participants to 66.
Each week-long session brings together participants with a wide range of training experience, making peer learning an important part of the experience. Trainers have the chance to share their current techniques and practice new ones in a supportive setting and leave with skills they can use right away in their own trainings.
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Feedback has continued to be positive, with participants finding the course delivers both on engaging content and practicality. One attendee stated, “I thoroughly enjoyed this class and feel that any and all instructors will find great value in learning different styles and approaches to teaching and learning!” Another emphasized the value of learning “an actual structured approach to teaching.”
With additional sessions scheduled through March 2027, ITLC looks forward to continuing its work with WMATA and supporting the trainers who develop the agency’s workforce. For questions about the program or upcoming open-enrollment sessions, contact Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org.
| Last Chance to Sign Up for Train-the-Trainer Level 1 | |
ITLC has 10 spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis for anyone who would like to join the latest open-enrollment Train-the-Trainer Level 1 course, November 16–20, in Kansas City, MO. Designed for both new and experienced trainers, this hands-on course helps participants strengthen their facilitation skills, engage learners, receive and provide feedback, and build confidence delivering classroom and hands-on training.
The class is limited to 10 participants. Register now to reserve your spot!
| | Interested in working with ITLC? View our current opportunities below. | Join Our Train-the-Trainer Facilitator Team | |
ITLC is expanding its team of contract facilitators to support its growing Train-the-Trainer program. The team is looking for experienced facilitators who enjoy working with adult learners and are comfortable leading highly interactive, in-person training.
This is a flexible, recurring contract opportunity based on course demand and facilitator availability, with sessions held at transit agencies and organizations across the country.
| Help Shape Training for Advancing Bus Technologies | | ITLC is seeking a contract consultant to support technical assistance and training program development for bus maintenance, with a particular focus on new and emerging bus technologies. | | Transit Workforce Center Activities | | |
Communications Manager Annmarie Carmody and Senior Researcher Shayna Gleason attended the Transportation Association of Maryland’s (TAM) 2026 Conference in Stevensville, MD, September 22-24. TAM annually gathers transit agencies and affiliated organizations from across Maryland, to focus on improving the mobility of all Maryland citizens.
Annmarie and Shayna presented “Strategies and Solutions for Attracting and Retaining Talented Frontline Workers,” which included findings from a recent report, Recruitment Messaging That Resonates: Insights into Attracting Frontline Transit Workers. The report details TWC’s pilot digital advertising campaign to identify effective strategies for highlighting rewarding frontline transit roles.
The presentation also covered best practices from TWC’s recent research initiative on Streamlining Operator Hiring Practices, which identifies proven strategies from agencies across the country, such as shortening the initial application and aligning hiring and training timelines. The session concluded with an audience Q&A. These resources and more are available at TWC’s National Frontline Transit Worker Recruitment Campaign.
| | TWC Presents at North State Transit Symposium | | |
Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard and Program Manager of Instructional Design Kristen Ribaudo attended this year’s North State Transit Symposium, hosted by Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA), in Redding, CA, September 29-October 1. Transit professionals, regional partners, and community leaders gathered to explore current trends, innovative solutions, and the future of transportation in Northern California.
TWC’s one-hour session, “Building Strong Union Partnerships: Guidance from the Transit Workforce Center,” highlighted the importance and positive impacts of understanding and respecting worker voice at transit agencies. The session included an overview of TWC’s Transit Core Competencies Curriculum (TC3), a set of freely available course materials developed by frontline transit worker subject matter experts from across the country to support the growth and development of the frontline transit workforce.
| | TWC Shares and Connects at APTA TRANSform and EXPO | | Senior Researcher Douglas Nevins and Deputy Director Xinge Wang attended APTA TRANSform and EXPO, held from October 4-7 in Chicago. The conference brought together transit industry stakeholders from around the country and the world, as well as representatives of the Federal Transit Administration, the Transportation Research Board, and other partners. | |
Douglas presented in the Operations and Workforce Development Committee meetings on TWC’s Streamlining Operator Hiring Practices research project, highlighting national survey findings and sharing key strategies to improve transit operator hiring. The presentations generated significant interest in TWC’s upcoming webinars on hiring practices, the ATTAIN registered apprenticeship network, and the Transit Core Competencies Curriculum (TC3).
Xinge and Douglas also attended EXPO and connected with agency and industry representatives engaged in workforce development, technology innovation, and transit worker safety initiatives.
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