Resource Center

Session Summary: A headline issue confronting all transit systems today – how to attract and retain bus operators in a tight labor market. This lively session began with presentations from the TCRP F-28 research team and TransitCenter on their recently published national research findings on recruiting, developing and retaining transit bus operators.  Labor and management industry practitioners from multiple locations then shared their recruitment approaches and strategies that have been most effective on the ground, and TWC staff summarized the National Transit Frontline Worker Recruitment Campaign.

Moderator

• Rob Puentes: President and CEO – The Eno Center for Transportation

Speakers

• Julia Castillo: Executive Director – Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Agency
• James Duff: Assistant Vice President, Human Resources – Dallas Area Rapid Transit
• Jeff Hazen: Executive Director – Sunset Empire Transportation District
• Steve Jovel: Transportation Superintendent – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
• Robin Phillips: Executive Director – National Rural Transit Assistance Program
• Harpreet Singh: JWI Director – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265
• David Stephen: Senior Communications Specialist – International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center
• Chris Van Eyken: Program Manager – TransitCenter

Driving Bus Operator Recruitment and Retention Session Slides ISU Returning Citizens Presentation Slides

Session Summary: This workshop covered the basic building blocks of program design. Participants evaluated the pieces needed to develop a robust program that enables trainers to link good program design to effective classroom and on-the-job learning. This workshop was relevant to those looking to build new programs or refine current programs.

Moderator

• Grant Young: Instructional Systems Design Consultant – International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center

Speakers

• Mike Glaeser: Manager, Bus Maintenance Training – Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Colleen May: Senior Director of Training – Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Danielle Wallace: Apprenticeship and Pathways Manager – King County Metro Transit

Designing an Impactful Training Program Session Slides

Session Summary: In the hierarchy of health and safety protections, engineering controls are at the top. This session addressed the critical issues of operator assaults and operator safety through the lens of safety by design, with a major focus on the significant planning work that has been done to create an effective operator barrier against assault and respiratory hazards. Other advances in safety-related design, such as blind-spot elimination for protection of pedestrians, ergonomics and accessibility, were also reviewed.

Moderators

• Jack Clark: Executive Director – International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center

Speakers

• Christy Campoll: Senior Associate – RLS & Associates Inc.
• Brian Sherlock: Safety Specialist – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Mohammed Yousuf: Director, Office of Infrastructure, Safety and Asset Innovation – Federal Transit Administration

Designing Safety Session Slides

Session Summary: Across the country, strong labor-management partnerships underlie many of the most effective public transportation recruitment, retention, career development, and advancement programs. In this session, experienced subject-matter experts from transit and from government discussed the importance and impact of these partnerships, provided program examples and outcomes, and highlighted key components in establishing and maintaining these relationships.

Moderators

• Brian Turner: Founding Director – International Transportation Learning Center

Speakers

• Shirley Block: President/Business Representative – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757
• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Andrew Hasty: Senior Advisor – U.S Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards; Commissioner – Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
• Nate Holton: Director of Labor Relations – TriMet
• Denise Jenkins-Agurs: Chief People Officer – IndyGo
• Charles Jenkins: Director – New York City Transit Training & Upgrading Fund/Transport Workers Union Local 100
• Darnice Marsh: Labor Management Partnership Coordinator – U.S. Department of Labor

Moving Forward Together Session Slides

Feedback collected during this session and in subsequent engagements informed the development of FTA’s National Transit Workforce Development Strategic Plan 2023 to 2028, which has since been released.

Speakers

• Mary Leary: Acting Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation – Federal Transit Administration

This handout was shared with participants in a feedback session held during TWC’s Making Connections 2022 transit workforce conference in December, 2022.

FTA Workforce Development National Plan Handout

Session Summary: As transit agencies integrate zero-emission technologies into their fleet, many are experiencing difficulties in preparing their frontline workforce to properly maintain and operate the equipment. In this workshop, panelists explored lessons learned, best practices, and available resources to upskill their operator workforce and prepare the future frontline workers to safely and effectively work with ZEB technologies. Presentations by industry experts, early-adopters, and examination of successful rollouts offered insight for an audience seeking guidance on first steps and follow-through.

Moderator

• Maurice Beard: Technical Training Supervisor [retired] – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

Speakers

• Dinero Washington: President/Chief Executive Officer – Shreveport Transit Management (SporTran)
• Richard Gwin: Training Specialist – Sacramento Regional Transit District
• Alphonza Clements: Executive Board Member – DASH/ATU Local 689

Drive to Revive Presentation Slides