TWC Debuts National Transit Apprenticeship and Mentorship Map | |
TWC is proud to announce the launch of its new interactive map of registered apprenticeship programs and mentorship programs at U.S. transit agencies. This innovative tool provides an engaging way to explore how apprenticeship and mentorship programs are being adopted and implemented as an effective workforce development strategy in American transit.
The map features a user-friendly interface that allows you to explore information about the programs and transit agencies featured, view apprenticeship standards for registered programs, access workforce data, and find articles and other resources related to a particular program. Whether a transit location is looking to start a similar program or is simply curious to see which agencies have pursued these effective workforce development strategies, this map provides an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and understanding.
The map was developed with coordination from labor unions, transit agencies, and individuals across the country, and led by Senior Policy Analyst Karitsa Holdzkom worked with TWC intern Adam Stievater on the map’s development and underlying research.
Please email feedback to Karitsa Holdzkom at kholdzkom@transportcenter.org. Stay tuned for future updates as new programs are implemented and added to the map.
| ATTAIN Webinar Happening on September 17 |
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Join TWC for the next American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) webinar on September 17 at 1:30 pm ET. ATTAIN is a peer network created for transit workforce partners to explore new apprenticeship programs or enhance existing programs for their frontline workforce. This webinar will focus on apprenticeship for facilities and elevator/escalator maintenance, beginning with a presentation outlining the process of starting an apprenticeship program and the benefits that apprenticeship offers. The information discussed in the webinar can be helpful to crafts for all frontline transit workers, and those not in facilities or elevator/escalators are welcome to join. Panelists from Pittsburgh Regional Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 85 will present their in-development facilities maintenance apprenticeship, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) panelists will showcase their elevator/escalator maintenance apprenticeship, and panelists from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), along with ATU Local 265, will highlight their track worker apprenticeship. TWC team members will join in for a full panel discussion and an audience Q&A. The open discussion will encourage attendees to discuss their progress toward starting an apprenticeship program, troubleshoot any challenges they’ve experienced, and share best practices with their peers.
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Don't Miss Making Connections 2024
in Baltimore!
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Dive into all aspects of transit workforce development at TWC’s Making Connections 2024 (MC24) on November 12-13, with pre-conference intensives on November 11. Join a diverse array of transit stakeholders, including agencies, unions, nonprofits, government entities, educational institutions, and workforce development organizations, coming together to share best practices, new technologies, and innovative strategies to address the comprehensive needs of the transit workforce. Each engaging and interactive session is aligned with the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) National Transit Workforce Development Strategic Plan, focusing on critical areas ranging from hiring, recruitment, training, retention, and career advancement to workforce safety, new technologies, funding opportunities, and tracking workforce data and metrics. Attending MC24 will ensure participants leave with actionable strategies to implement within their organizations.
This year, MC24 will offer a pre-conference day of in-depth interactive intensives covering TWC’s most in-demand topic areas, followed by an opening keynote by Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanterpool and a dialogue with industry leaders. Special events will feature: a Veterans Day reception honoring veterans and their contributions to public transportation; a Tuesday evening reception at Baltimore’s renowned B&O Railroad Museum, where participants can connect with colleagues amid transportation history; and a guided tour of MDOT Maryland Transit Administration's Zero-Emission Bus facility that explores the latest in sustainable transit technology. Various workshops, seminars, and plenaries will equip you with practical strategies and valuable connections that support your organization’s workforce development initiatives and mission.
The relationships built at Making Connections are designed to lead to valuable collaborations and knowledge-sharing that will benefit participants long after the conference concludes. Check out the Making Connections 2022 recap video for a glimpse of the experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow at Making Connections 2024. Register today to join us in Baltimore this November, and stay tuned for more updates!
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Zero-Emission Bus Workforce Transition
As transit locations transition to zero-emission fleets, they are trying different strategies and ideas to prepare their operators and mechanics with the skills needed to work with battery-electric and hydrogen vehicles. Last month, TWC published a collection of mini case studies of workforce transitions to zero-emission fleets, written by Michaela Boneva and Douglas Nevins. From employing in-house training to leveraging existing knowledge, agencies across the U.S. are trying to best prepare their workforce. As more workforce funding becomes available and new strategies emerge, TWC will continue to update the page with examples that reflect successes across the industry.
“Someone to Rely On”: Mentoring in the Paratransit Setting
TWC’s latest mini case study, published this month and authored by Shayna Gleason and Michaela Boneva, focuses on Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 268's innovative mentorship program for paratransit operators. The program has offered fixed-route and paratransit operators the opportunity to work with a mentor and consisted of 13 mentors and 74 mentees in its first two years. This mini case study shares lessons learned so far and tips for success for other agencies considering expanding mentoring to include paratransit operators.
As a type of public transportation required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, paratransit provides origin-to-destination service for people with disabilities who live in the service area and cannot use the fixed route because of their disabilities. While it is well-established that structured mentorship programs are an effective way to improve retention and morale across various roles in the transit workforce, to date, such programs have primarily been developed within fixed-route contexts, for roles like bus operator or rail technician.
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Since its inception in September 2021, TWC team members have interacted with public transportation organizations and individuals from across the county who work in the industry. From in-person consultations to webinars and presentations, TWC's resources and the people developing and working with them have served a range of needs. For those interested in reaching out to and working with TWC, here’s a breakdown of TWC’s program teams for a general understanding of their focus areas. Team leads are listed first, in italics.
Career Pathways: Karitsa Holdzkom, Maurice Beard, Jack Clark, Pat Greenfield, Jason Macumber, John Schiavone
The Career Pathways team works to advance workforce development strategies and initiatives that effectively support frontline worker training, retention, and the creation of career pipeline and career ladder programs built on a foundation of labor-management collaboration and community and education partnerships. Apprenticeship and mentorship programs produce highly effective outcomes and are a key focus for this group. Career Pathways manages TWC’s apprenticeship network, the American Transit Trainers and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN), providing individual and location-based technical assistance around apprenticeship and mentorship to members of the network, engaging the group through periodic events, and facilitating dialogue and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
Communications: David Stephen, Alashia Bryant, Annmarie Carmody, Pat Greenfield, Sudan Smith, Xinge Wang
The Communications Team plays a central role in relaying TWC’s objectives, while also developing materials, resources, career stories, and presentations on recruitment and retention initiatives gathered in #ConnectingMyCommunity – the national transit frontline worker recruitment campaign. The team shares news and updates about TWC’s work, as well as information about activities at transit locations across the country through the e-newsletter, Pulse, and TWC’s social media channels. The team also provides strategic communication support to assist other teams in their work and programs to support workforce development nationwide.
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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. From TWC's founding in September 2021 through June 30, 2024, support to the industry has included:
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Webinar Co-Hosted by Two FTA Technical Assistance Centers
A cyberattack can happen to anyone! On October 1, from 2:00-3:30 PM ET, the webinar Cybersecurity for Transit: What You Need to Know will cover cybersecurity for transit basics and show you where you can learn more. It will provide guidance for small transit agencies on the actions to take to prevent, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks. Attendees will leave with practical steps they can implement right away. The webinar is co-hosted by National RTAP and N-CATT.
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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:
June
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Jack Clark, Brandon Liu, and John Schiavone collaborated on a webinar titled “Powering Up the Workforce: Transit Workforce Center's Zero-Emission Bus Resources” that engaged individuals working on or interested in the range of workforce issues related to the transition to zero-emission fleet vehicles.
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Maurice Beard and Karitsa Holdzkom held a virtual #ATTAIN Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship meeting featuring interactive discussions on developing programs at local transit locations, the essential components of effective registered apprenticeship programs, resources that can help simplify the process, and insights from labor-management partnerships on the benefits of an effective apprenticeship program.
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Maurice Beard and Karitsa Holdzkom staffed a table at the Community Transportation Association of America’s (CTAA) EXPO in West Palm Beach and presented on the workforce development opportunity presented by the Low-No and Bus/Bus Facilities Grants.
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In Columbus, OH, Maurice Beard conducted a mentor training session for Mentor Forward, Central Ohio Transit Authority’s (COTA) new mentor program.
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Brandon Liu co-facilitated the first official delivery of National Transit Institute (NTI) and TWC’s Battery Electric Bus (BEB) Familiarization Course at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s (PSTA) Bus Maintenance Facility.
July
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Maurice Beard and Jack Clark traveled to Fort Worth Texas to attend the South West Transit Association’s (SWTA) annual Summer University Conference, where Jack participated in a panel discussion titled “An Overview of Transit Technical Assistance Programs,” focusing on the wide range of technical assistance programs available to transit professionals and their agencies.
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Michaela Boneva, Shayna Gleason, and Douglas Nevins delivered a poster presentation at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) 2nd Conference on Advancing Transportation Equity in Baltimore. The presentation, “Public Transportation Workforce Demographics: Exploring National Datasets,” provided an overview of several national data sources to understand equity issues in the transit workforce.
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Jack Clark attended Horizon’s Jobs for the Future Conference in Washington, D.C.
August
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Jack Clark visited Alexandria, Virginia for the Community Transportation Association of America’s (CTAA) annual Small Urban Network (SUN) Conference.
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Maurice Beard, Alashia Bryant, Jack Clark, Karitsa Holdzkom, Kristen Ribaudo, and David Stephen attended APTA’s Workforce Summit in Washington, D.C., where Jack co-presented with FTA’s (title) Mary Leary the National Transit Institute’s (NTI) (title) Billy Terry on (name of session).
- Maurice Beard, Michaela Boneva, Jason Macumber, and Xinge Wang attended the Zero Emission Bus Conference (ZEB Con), hosted by the Center of Transportation and the Environment in Philadelphia.
September
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Shayna Gleason and David Stephen administered presentations titled “Recruitment and Retention in Rural Systems” and “New Avenues for Recruitment and Retention” at the 2024 Missouri PTA Convention in St. Louis.
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Jack Clark participated in Workforce GPS's "Building Effective Employer Partnerships" webinar, sharing industry-specific insights on employer outreach, collaboration, and building lasting partnerships.
For more details on many of these presentations, subscribe to ITLC Update.
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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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