September 2022
Join us for Making Connections 2022: The National Transit Workforce Conference in Washington, D.C. December 13-14, 2022, organized by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC) and co-sponsored by the National Transit Institute (NTI). Sessions will cover a broad range of critical issues such as recruitment and retention, training, mentoring and apprenticeships, new technologies, funding for workforce development, supporting tomorrow's workforce, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. The conference is open to anyone interested in moving transportation workforce development forward, including labor and management representatives, frontline workers, trainers and mentors, community leaders, educators, non-profits, advocacy groups, and government representatives. Conference registration, hotel, and sponsorship information can be found on the registration page (click here). For general conference inquiries, contact Brandon Liuevents@transportcenter.org
TWC Launches National Frontline Worker Recruitment Campaign
Responding to the historic shortage of transit workers around the country, TWC has launched a campaign toolkit designed to support the public transportation industry in meeting the critical challenge of recruiting workers, especially bus operators and maintenance workers. #ConnectingMyCommunity: The National Transit Frontline Worker Campaign Toolkit provides a wealth of resources for transit agencies and communities to explore and design effective recruitment strategies tailored to their needs.

The recruitment toolkit includes advertisements, videos, and case studies from agencies around the country. As an evolving tool built on actual experiences from the field, TWC invites you to share your materials and practices as we continue to expand our resource library. To share methods and materials or seek assistance with your agency’s recruitment efforts, please contact Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen at dstephen@transportcenter.org.
Help Shape TWC’s Upcoming Transit Trainers’ Webinar Series

TWC will host a series of Transit Trainers’ webinars beginning in October. Attendees who attend all three webinars and take part in associated in activities will be eligible for a certificate of participation. While we are in this planning phase, we want input from you on what topics you see as high priority. Please fill out this short survey to give us your feedback.
TWC Out and About
Colorado Department of Transportation: In late June, Program Director John Schiavone spoke to transit agency and DOT representatives from across Colorado on “Technician Transition to Zero Emission Buses”.  
Community Transportation Association of America’s Small Urban Network Conference 2022: Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen and Program Manager for Technical Training James Hall participated in this New Hampshire conference to discuss issues related to transit recruitment and zero and low emission vehicle technologies with the meeting's attendees. 
Michigan Public Transit Association Conference: Executive Director Jack Clark and Senior Communications Specialist David Stephen traveled in August to Crystal Lake, Michigan to deliver the keynote presentation. Jack reviewed TWC’s broad range of services, while David presented a preview of the TWC’s now-live #ConnectingMyCommunity: The National Transit Frontline Worker Recruitment Campaign Toolkit. Lively discussion with the conference’s plenary attendees continued with many who visited the TWC’s exhibit booth afterwards.
By the Numbers: A Brief Numerical Snapshot of TWC Technical Assistance and Outreach
Since its creation in September 2021, Transit Workforce Center has provided workforce development support in a number of forms. While numbers do not tell our whole story, they provide a partial sense of the scope of our core support work. 

Some of what TWC has accomplished since July 2022 by the numbers: 
  • 3,199 total participants served through TWC’s hosting of and participation in over 20 industry events, including conferences and webinars 
  • Over 3,500 website views of #ConnectingMyCommunity frontline worker recruitment campaign toolkit webpage.
  • 14,930 website views overall since the launch of TWC's website https://transitworkforce.org/ 
  • 544 participants engaged with TWC's ATTAIN webinars, roundtables, and forums. 
  • 235 individual technical assistance (TA) requests received and resolved from the transit industry on career pathways/pipelines, hiring, recruitment and retention, training and development (apprenticeship), labor-management partnership, workforce data, safety and health, etc.
  • 138 resources hosted on the online Resource Center covering a variety of topics related to transit workforce development, with 3,099 page views
Let us know how we can help with workforce development at your transit organization. For information and assistance on workforce development for the frontline transit workforce, visit our website for resources and contact TWC directly at twc@transportcenter.org or 1-855-888-NTWC. 
ATTAIN Update

TWC’s American Apprenticeship Transit Training and Innovators Network (ATTAIN) provides technical assistance and support through a series of peer exchange roundtables among coordinators of current transit apprenticeship programs and those interested in exploring the development of apprenticeship programs. With its latest forum in June, ATTAIN has now held sessions for participants from all its frontline worker committees: Bus Operations and Maintenance; Railcar, Signals, and Traction Power; and Facilities and Elevator/Escalator Maintenance. 
 
TWC invites anyone running apprenticeship programs or interested in starting one to join us in the future. For general information on ATTAIN, click here, and sign up here to receive information on upcoming programs. In addition, contact James Hall at jhall@transportcenter.org if you are interested in technical assistance from TWC on apprenticeship programs. 
News You Can Use

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $1.6 Billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding Including a $43.4 Million Investment in Transit Workforce Training. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration today announced $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities. Read press release here.

President Biden Announces Appointments to the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council
On August 21, 2002, President Biden announced his intent to appoint highly qualified and diverse industry and government leaders as members of the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), which advises the White House on how to reduce physical and cyber risks and improve the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors. Read more here.

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Launches the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative to Create Equitable, Debt-Free Pathways to High-Paying Jobs
Read Fact Sheet Here.
ATU Director of Apprenticeship and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson represented ATU at the opening White House event for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative along with other Apprenticeship Ambassadors from around the nation.
Transit Workforce Center
1-855-888-NTWC