Resource Center

Session Description: In this workshop, participants explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize training and development efforts. We explored practical applications of AI throughout the ADDIE model and advanced usages of AI for helping trainers synthesize information from large datasets. Attendees also learned about the ethical considerations surrounding AI in training and how to effectively use AI tools by improving prompt engineering to craft content.

Moderator:

• Arnett Powell: Adjunct Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Addie Khanu: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Jeff Pratt: Manager of Training – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)
• Michael Tomlinson: Solution Architect – Xpan

MC24 Integrating AI in Training slides

Session Description: Strong partnerships between transit and local colleges across the country currently support recruitment, retention, apprenticeships and other career advancement initiatives developed by agencies and their workforce partners. Presenters in this session reviewed and discussed several different models of industry-education partnerships, focusing on how to establish productive working relationships with local colleges to advance workforce development goals.

Moderator:

• Patricia Greenfield: Senior Director, Workforce Education – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Jason Abbott: Executive Director, Workforce Operations – Cuyahoga Community College
• Celeste Chavis: Interim Chair and Professor, Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies – Morgan State University (Baltimore)
• Rich Diaz: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
• Rob Gamble: Sr Workforce and Academic Strategist – California Transit Works!

MC24 College Connection slides

Session Description: Employment in public transportation is affected by broad economic and demographic dynamics, but honing in on transit workforce trends can be challenging. The Transit Workforce Center created the Transit Workforce Data Dashboard to distill relevant data points from national datasets. In this session, TWC highlighted specific employment patterns and challenges in transit-related occupations and panelists covered research and trends in national and agency-level datasets.

Moderator: 

• Douglas Nevins: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

• Dr. Asha Weinstein Agrawal: Director of Education – Mineta Transportation Institute
• Kenneth Blacks: Transportation Program Analyst – Federal Transit Administration
• Michaela Boneva: Research Associate – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Dr. Shayna Gleason: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Transitioning to a ZEB fleet requires thorough planning and consideration of the elements that are unique to ZEBs, such as range limitations, higher vehicle costs, charging and/or hydrogen infrastructure, and operator and maintenance workforce development. Failing to plan around these issues may result in added costs for bus and infrastructure purchases, project delays, service concerns, and operational challenges as low-no become a larger and larger portion of the fleet.

A properly developed Low-No Transition Plan can help overcome these challenges. This Guidebook is intended to give public transit fleet operators the knowledge necessary to plan for a full fleet transition to low-no technologies.

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Link to Access Guidebook

Session Description: As the transit industry works to reach out to the communities it serves to establish strong and effective career pipelines, agencies and their partners often explore how to best attract young people into the industry. In this session, attendees heard from and engaged with young people themselves, along with national and local experts who have conducted research and worked directly with youth. Topics covered include the most effective approaches to connecting with young people and creating awareness and excitement about career opportunities in public transportation.

Moderator:

• Dr. Beverly Scott: Founder and CEO – Introducing Youth to American Infrastructure

Speakers:

• Justin Augustine: Project Manager II – Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
• Kayla Cooper-Redd: 12th Grade Student – TransSTEM Academy, Cardozo High School (DC)
• Sean Holley: Bus Transportation Instructor – Maryland Transit Administration
• Cheryl Rodgers: Director – TransSTEM Academy, Cardozo Education Academy (DC)
• Edwin Rodriguez: Director – Office of Research Management, Innovation, and Outreach – Federal Transit Administration
• Jamaal Schoby: Transportation Planner – Transportation Research Board

MC24 Youth in Transit slides

Session Description: Strong workforce development programs are most often built on an equally strong foundation of effective labor-management partnership, and, across all types of transit agencies, the ability for frontline workers to have a voice in workforce decisions. Join this session to hear from and engage with national and local leaders from management, labor, and government about how to establish and sustain these collaborative partnerships, facilitate frontline worker involvement, and the benefits these initiatives bring to individual agencies, the workforce, and the industry as a whole.

Moderator: 

• Darnice Marsh: Labor Management Partnership Coordinator – U.S. Department of Labor

Speakers:

• Sean Adgerson: Deputy Director and COO – Miami-Dade County Transportation & Public Works
• Patrick Brady: Moving Metro Co-Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 (WA)
• Joseph D’Elia: President – Transport Workers Union, Local 291 (FL)
• Debra Frazier: Moving Metro Co-Coordinator – King County Metro (WA)
• Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union

MC24 Partnerships slides

Session Description: This dynamic workshop focused on the empowerment and upskilling of frontline transit workers in the face of rapidly evolving technologies of AI and automated vehicles (AV). The session explored innovative projects with industry and academic experts on co-designing and co-implementing AV technologies with deep involvement of transit frontline workers and discussed the importance of equipping workers with essential digital skills and knowledge in AI and AV. We examined strategies for the government, employers, and labor collaboration to ensure these emerging technologies serve as tool for worker empowerment and for improving worker safety and health, rather than causing displacement.

Moderator:

• Brooke DeRenzis: Chief Strategy Officer – National Skills Coalition

Speakers:

• Kimberly Cosby: Strategic Policy Advisor – Technology Institute, AFL-CIO
• Sarah Fox: Assistant Professor – Carnegie Mellon University
• John Lyons: Director of Collective Bargaining – Amalgamated Transit Union
• Arjan Van Andel: Strategy and Innovation Director – GIRO
• Michael Walk: Research Scientist and Program Manager – Transit Mobility Program, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

MC24 AI and Automation Workshop slides Co-Designing the Future of Transit Work CMU

Session Description: Apprenticeship programs are rapidly expanding at transit locations across the country. With quality training tied to clearly-identified career ladders and advancement, these programs are commonly regarded as the “gold standard” of workforce development. Documented benefits include increased retention, reductions in absenteeism, and the creation of a sustainable talent pipeline. These programs also result in better employee morale and a more engaged workforce. In this session, presenters walked through the essential steps to developing, registering, and implementing an apprenticeship program. Attendees heard from and engaged with transit labor and management about their joint programs including bus maintenance, traction power, HVAC/facilities, and signals/communications—and explore how to locate and access resources to support new and existing programs.

Moderator: 

• Brian J. Turner: Founding Director – International Transportation Learning Center

Speakers:

• Michelle Allison: General Manager – King County Metro (WA)
• Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor –
• Norman Blessant: Financial Secretary/Treasurer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 381 (UT)
• Rod Dunn: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 382 (UT)
• Brandee Gross: Program Manager, Workforce Development – Maryland Department of Transportation
• Dimas Koral-Arocho: Program Manager – King County Metro (WA)
• Stephanie Lewis: Workforce Development Project Manager – Center for Urban Transportation Research
• Kylee Parker: Shop Steward/Joint Apprenticeship Committee Chairman – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 (MD)
• Jeff Stambaugh: Vice President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 (WA)
• Greg Woodfill: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 (WA)

MC24 Apprenticeship 101 slides