Making Connections 2024 Conference Registration is Open! | |
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Registration is now open for Making Connections 2024 – The National Transit Workforce Conference (MC24), on November 11-13, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor. Join us to hear from and interact with a diverse range of industry stakeholders, including key representatives from transit agencies of all sizes, labor and the frontline workforce, government, nonprofit, community, education, and workforce development organizations.
Throughout the main conference on November 12-13, featuring a keynote by FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool, attendees will gain fresh insights, skills, and perspectives, choosing from over twenty-five engaging and interactive sessions on critical topics aligned with industry needs and FTA's Transit Workforce Development Strategic Plan goals. Plenaries and workshops will allow attendees to explore current and future workforce development challenges, opportunities, and cutting-edge strategies across a range of areas, including:
- Recruitment and retention
- Funding opportunities
- Worker safety
- Mentoring and apprenticeship
- Zero-emission vehicle workforce transition
- Training skills and curriculum development
- Career advancement
- Workforce partnerships
- Transit workforce data tracking and utilization
- Advanced technologies
See a more detailed list on the MC24 website, along with information about a technical tour and an opportunity to explore Baltimore’s educational and historic B&O Railroad Museum, the location of Tuesday night’s reception.
In addition to the main conference program, responding to attendee demand after the resounding success of Making Connections 2022, MC24 adds an optional day of in-depth intensives on Monday, November 11, capped by an evening reception honoring veterans who work in the industry. Participants interested in adding in-depth content to their regular conference registration can also sign up for one of these space-limited sessions:
- Making Mentoring Matter: Building and Strengthening Your Frontline Worker Mentorship Program
- Train-the-Trainer Bootcamp: Strategies for Successful Instruction
- Zero In and Power Up: Strategies for a Smooth Workforce Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles
- Elevating Your Workforce Data: The Power of Interactive Visualization for Analyzing Metrics
- Creating Community Partnerships for Transit Career Pathways
Register now for MC24, and check out a video recap of Making Connections 2022 for a glimpse of what to expect. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and shape the future of transit workforce development!
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TWC continues its national work supporting and promoting apprenticeship and mentorship programs across frontline occupations in the transit industry, engaging agencies and their workforce partners, and providing ongoing technical assistance to develop and implement these programs. Last month, TWC held a meeting of the American Transit Trainers and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN), focusing on bus operator apprenticeship and mentorship programs. Presentations described the process of setting up mentorship and registered apprenticeship programs, provided guidance on how to identify and contact the appropriate state office of apprenticeship, and illustrated how various program components can be altered according to the needs of agencies and their workforce partners.
In addition, labor and management representatives from St. Louis Metro and ATU Local 788; and King County Metro and ATU Local 587 shared how they overcame challenges, and detailed how they measure the program’s success moving forward. Because ATTAIN builds on the collective knowledge and experience of the public transit industry, a significant part of the meeting engaged participants in a group discussion, in which they asked questions and offered their insight. Both the meeting recording and presentation slides are available online.
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Developing Resources for Transit Emerging Technologies | |
The rapid advancement of technology in transit, from zero-emission buses (ZEB) to autonomous shuttles, is transforming the industry and reshaping the skills needed for frontline workers. Today's transit vehicles are akin to "Computers on Wheels," requiring a new level of digital literacy and technical expertise among employees. This shift presents an opportunity to attract individuals, particularly young people, interested in green technologies and sustainable industries.
TWC is collaborating with industry stakeholders to produce critical resources as part of a nationally coordinated effort to prepare frontline technicians and operators with their training needs to prepare for new technologies. TWC worked with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), transit agencies, labor unions, and ZEB manufacturers to facilitate discussions among subject matter experts and developed the National ZEB Maintenance Training Standards. These standards were approved last October and are being used by agencies as the starting point for identifying skills gaps, assessing training needs, and designing curricula.
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TWC Resources Webinar
Powering Up the Workforce: Transit Workforce Center's Zero-Emission Bus Resources
A safe and successful transition to zero-emission vehicles requires a significant commitment to additional workforce skills, training, and development. This webinar, on June 17 at 1:30 pm ET, will feature the tools and resources the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) has made available to help frontline technicians with the necessary training to meet the challenges and demands of this new technology. Hear from and engage with TWC, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the National Transit Institute (NTI), and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) as they showcase key zero-emission workforce development resources, including:
- Critical Elements in Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Planning
- Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Maintenance Training Standards
- Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Familiarization Course
- Research Reports and Case Studies
- Technical Assistance and Upcoming Events
Opportunities for questions and discussion will follow the presentations. To view and download some featured resources, visit TWC’s ZEB Transition Resources page. Additional resources can be found on the TWC Resource Center by searching the terms ZEB, ZEV, or BEB.
Register for the webinar today! For more information, contact Brandon Liu at bliu@transportcenter.org.
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New TWC Case Study
TWC’s newest case study describes how the Mississippi Developing Responsible Individuals with Valuable Education (DRIVE) Program helps place unhoused individuals into much-needed operator positions, using Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, distributed by the Mississippi Home Corporation, in collaboration with a range of community and transportation partners. Learn how these partners use the funding in a variety of creative ways to provide housing and other supportive services to DRIVE participants while they complete training and certification for a commercial driver’s license. Partners also provide job assistance to participants, placing them and helping them succeed in local transit jobs. Find out more about the program, services offered, and how stakeholders leverage funding in the full case study.
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Transit Career Stories
The TWC Blog features two recent additions to its collection of Transit Career Stories, spotlighting the career paths of diverse frontline transit workers. Read about Leah Anderson, ATU Local 689 Assistant Business Agent and Executive Board Member, who has worked as a lead mechanic for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for over 23 years and now works full-time with her union. She outlines how her work has changed over time, as well as her experience as a woman in the transit trades.
Jerry Garcia has taken on multiple roles during his time at Mountain Rides Transportation Authority, starting as a bus operator and now serving as Manager of Finance and Administration. Learn how he navigated through his career at the Blaine County, Idaho transit agency and how it strongly ties him to his community.
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NCMM Community Transportation Map
The National Center for Mobility Management Community Transportation Map now shows a heat map of agencies nationwide. Providers can now select all the counties where they provide service so we need your help updating it. Use the quick survey below to submit your information so that you can be added. The map also now includes mobility managers and volunteer driver programs.
Explore the map here.
Add or update your information here.
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By the Numbers
TWC continues to reach numerous transit industry stakeholders through public presentations, website resources, and technical assistance. The TWC team has presented at state and national conferences, hosted and participated in webinars, added extensively to transitworkforce.org, and continued to provide in-depth ongoing engagement to transit locations requesting technical assistance. Since TWC’s inception in September 2021, support to the industry has included:
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Out and About
TWC team members frequently travel to industry events around the country to present, share resources, and engage with industry stakeholders. To request TWC's participation in an event, please send an email to twc@transportcenter.org. Here are some examples of where the TWC team have been and what they have been doing off-site and online:
January/February
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Frank Burnett and Allie Franklyn delivered a Level 1 Train-the-Trainer Session with transit trainers at the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT).
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Dennise Cardona, Arnett Powell, and Kristen Ribaudo delivered three Train-the-Trainer Level 2 Sessions to transit trainers from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
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Michaela Boneva, Shayna Gleason, and Doug Nevins demonstrated how to use TWC’s Transit Workforce Data Dashboard and engaged in a lively Q&A session during TWC’s webinar, "Transit Workforce Data Dashboard: Harnessing the Power of Data for Transit Workforce Development."
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Maurice Beard, Jack Clark, and Karitsa Holdzkom convened in Tampa to co-host an inaugural Apprenticeship Academy and presented on registered apprenticeships.
March
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The TWC team took an organizational field trip to Montgomery County's Microgrid Charging Facility at the Brookville Bus Depot in Silver Spring, Maryland, to learn about the facility's cutting-edge zero-emission technologies.
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Frank Burnett and Grant Young facilitated a Train-the-Trainer Level 2 session, “Creating Courseware That Works,” for Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) trainers and department managers in California.
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During the annual Texas Transit Association (TTA) Conference and Expo, Jack Clark facilitated a session titled “Growing Your Own Through Apprenticeship: A Joint Approach to Building Skills for the Frontline Workforce.”
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Maurice Beard and ATU’s Jamaine Gibson led a mentor training program for Cap Metro’s (Austin, TX) bus operator mentors in the transit agency's paratransit arm, Demand Response.
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In Seattle, Maurice Beard and ATU’s Jamaine Gibson co-facilitated a mentor training for King County Metro at the ATU Local 587 union hall.
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Brandon Liu traveled to Arlington, Virginia for the Global Mass Transit Zero-Emission Ferries - East Conference for an inside look at the zero-emission ferry industry.
April
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Brandon Liu co-hosted part one of a four-part webinar series titled “Overview for Electric School Bus Operators” to help provide fundamental knowledge on electric school bus technology for its incorporation into school systems.
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Pat Greenfield spoke about the range of TWC technical assistance to the Massachusetts Association of Regional Transit Authorities (MARTA), which represents the 15 regional transit authorities across the state that provide fixed-route and paratransit services when they convened in Worcester, Massachusetts.
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Xinge Wang participated in a distinguished panel at the ITS America 2024 Conference and Expo in Phoenix, where FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool moderated the session and noted TWC’s valuable technical assistance to the industry on workforce development.
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Maurice Beard, Shayna Gleason, Brandon Liu, and Doug Nevins attended APTA’s Bus Roadeo and Mobility Conference in Portland, Oregon, where TWC staffed an exhibit table and presented during multiple sessions.
May
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TWC team members toured the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transit Administrations Kirk Bus Division in Baltimore to learn about their ZEB transition and related training programs.
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Shayna Gleason and Dr. Judy Shanley of Easterseals and the National Center for Mobility Management gave a virtual presentation to employees at New Jersey Transit called “Creating an Inclusive Workplace at NJ Transit,” discussing strategies for making NJ Transit a more accessible and welcoming workplace for people with disabilities.
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Karitsa Holdzkom led the session, “Leveling the Playing Field—Promoting Inclusivity for the Frontline Transit Workforce,” at the WTS International Conference in New Orleans.
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David Stephen joined a panel discussion during Iyai+’s "National Transportation Week: Critical Conversations" webinar, highlighting the importance of apprenticeship, mentorship, and recruitment for the frontline workforce in public transit.
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Maurice Beard and Karitsa Holdzkom facilitated a virtual bus operator apprenticeship ATTAIN meeting, featuring short presentations, and an engaging and interactive discussion on the development of apprenticeship programs and how they work.
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Maurice Beard, Karitsa Holdzkom, and Kristen Ribaudo presented during multiple sessions at the Transit Knowledge Sharing Retreat in Erie, Pennsylvania.
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Brandon Liu delivered a BEB Familiarization Course in Pinellas County, Florida.
For more details on many of these presentations, subscribe to ITLC Update.
| The Transit Workforce Center is FTA’s technical assistance center for frontline workforce development, operated by the International Transportation Learning Center. | |
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