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twc@transportcenter.orgResource Center
The Transit Workforce Center is pleased to host a curated collection of publications and other materials to assist stakeholders engaged in transit workforce development. The Resource Center includes case studies, training materials, research reports, and other materials of interest, including publications produced by federal government agencies, transit organizations, and independent research entities. Resources may be filtered by topic, resource type, and transit mode. This TWC blog post explains how to use the Resource Center.
We are continuing to update the Resource Center regularly. Please contact us via the Request Help menu option if you would like assistance using the Resource Center or are looking for resources on a particular topic. We also welcome suggestions of topics or specific resources to add.
Content in external resources linked from the Resource Center is solely the responsibility of the resource authors and does not necessarily reflect the perspectives of or endorsement by the Transit Workforce Center.
CLEAR
Understanding the Prevalence of Mental Health and Behavioral Distress in Transit Assaults
This research aims to better understand the prevalence of mental health and behavioral distress in transit assaults and present corresponding targeted response and mitigation methods to reduce victimization trends. It includes a literature review, a data presentation and overview of reported public transit assault-related events, an examination of the contributing factors to those events, and documentation of 10 transit agency case studies. It discusses various approaches and strategies that transit agencies have used to prepare transit vehicle operators and other frontline workers to better recognize mental health presentations and engage appropriately. The research team gathered additional data from case study sites, including the methods used to address assault-related challenges and the successful community engagement and partnerships. The report provides findings and policy and practice recommendations.
Mineta Transportation Institute
February 2025
TOPICS: Policy and Planning, Retention, Safety and Health
Understanding the Prevalence of Mental Health and Behavioral Distress in Transit Assaults and Presenting Targeted Response and Mitigation Methods to Reduce Victimization Trends
This research aims to better understand the prevalence of mental health and behavioral distress in transit assaults and present corresponding targeted response and mitigation methods to reduce victimization trends. It includes a literature review, a data presentation and overview of reported public transit assault-related events, an examination of the contributing factors to those events, and documentation of 10 transit agency case studies. It discusses various approaches and strategies that transit agencies have used to prepare transit vehicle operators and other frontline workers to better recognize mental health presentations and engage appropriately. It also highlights evidence-based practices that transit agencies can use to better prepare their systems and provide tools employees can use to better communicate with individuals who may be having mental health-related episodes. The research team gathered additional data from case study sites, including the methods used to address assault-related challenges and the successful community engagement and partnerships. The report provides findings and policy and practice recommendations.
National RTAP Resource Catalogue
The National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP) aims to address the training and technical assistance needs of rural and tribal transit operators across the nation. They provide free technical assistance programs and resources including training materials, webinars, newsletters and technical briefs, peer resources, research, and innovative technology initiatives. This Resource Catalogue details all products available for ordering or online use.
National RTAP
TOPICS: Policy and Planning, Safety and Health, Training
Check out some trainings that may be most useful for transit frontline workers:
- Safety
- Active Shooter Preparedness Training for Rural Transit Systems
- COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for Frontline Transit Employees
- Emergency Procedures for Rural Transit Drivers
- Problem Passengers: Managing Difficult Passengers & Situations
- START (Safety Training & Rural Transit) Training
- Substance Abuse Awareness Training for Employees
- Transit and Human Trafficking
- Drivers/Dispatchers
- 2 the Point Training (available in Spanish)
- ADA Driver Training
- Customer Service Excellence
- Customer Service for Rural and Tribal Transit Providers
- Dispatching and Scheduling Training for Rural Transit Systems
- Essential Skills for Trainers
- Essential Spanish for Rural Transit
- HR
- HR Training Shorts on Employee Recognition, Interview Questions, Onboarding, and Performance Appraisals
Check out some technical briefs and toolkits relevant to the frontline transit workforce:
- Safety
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information and Resources for Transit
- Healthy Habits: Reducing Stress and Fatigue and Increasing your Energy
- Incident and Injury Report Form
- Responding to Transit Incidents
- Seasonal Flu: Information and Resources
- Substance Abuse Awareness Training, Testing, and Compliance
- Threat and Vulnerability Toolkit
- Trainers
- Bus Roadeo Toolkit
- Training Adult Learners: How to Reach and Engage Your Audience
- Drivers/Dispatchers
- Customer Service in Rural Transit: How to Identify and Meet Customer Needs
- Emergency Response Checklist: After Normal Operating Hours & Emergency Response Checklist: During Normal Operating Hours
- Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements
- Essential Spanish for Rural Transit
- Mobile Driver Training Simulators
- HR
- Applying Good Business Practices: Hiring, Training and Evaluating Employees
Offerings as of January 2025
Advancing Rider and Worker Safety
The 2022-2024 Charter tasked the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) with developing recommendations that the Federal Transit Administration could implement to improve public safety. This report includes recommendations related to one of the Charter’s safety focus areas: Advancing Rider and Worker Safety.
Transit Advisory Committee for Safety
February 2024
TOPICS: Policy and Planning, Safety and Health, Training
Passenger Assistance, Safety And Sensitivity (PASS) Program Handbook
CTAA’s Passenger Assistance, Safety and Sensitivity (PASS) driver training program provides resources and standards for operators to transport passengers in the most safe, sensitive and careful manner possible. PASS is ideal for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) trips, for ADA paratransit services, for specialized transit for older passengers, for human and social service riders — really any transportation operation where the passengers require extra care.
Community Transportation Association of America
January 2024
TOPICS: Community Engagement, Safety and Health, Training
Human Trafficking: Awareness to Action
This webinar reviews the anti-trafficking resources available to transit agencies, shares success stories from the transit industry, and highlights a newly developed template for implementing human trafficking response protocols, which are vital to effective anti-trafficking initiatives. The accompanying toolkit guides transit agencies on steps they can take to help combat human trafficking, including how they can partner with Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) to implement anti-human trafficking training and policies in their operations.
Presenters:
- Jodi Godrey, Center For Urban Transportation Research
- Lexi Higgins, Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) at Truckers Against Trafficking
American Public Transportation Association
January 2024
TOPICS: Safety and Health
Transportation for People with Disabilities and Older Adults During COVID-19: Lessons for Emergency Response
This pre-publication report aims to provide transportation organizations (including transit agencies, specialized transportation providers, and other local government agencies and stakeholders) with helpful information and strategies on providing service for persons with disabilities and older adults in emergency situations.
Transportation Cooperative Research Program
October 2023
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Contributor(s): National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Transportation Research Board; Transit Cooperative Research Program; Todd Hansen; Zachary Elgart; Ipek Sener; Patricia Bye
Transportation for People with Disabilities and Older Adults During COVID-19
Supplemental Pocket Guide
Bus Design Innovation Program
The Bus Design Innovation Project aimed to improve the security and environment of bus operators. The design provides a barrier that shields the operator’s workspace from the passenger area, which reduces the risk of assaults and protects against biohazards without decreasing view of mirrors. The design also improved ergonomics. The partnership between ATU International, ATU local 113, Centennial College, and Toronto Transit Commission enabled the development of a prototype, which was showcased at the ATU Canada Conference in September 2024.
ATU International; ATU local 113; Centennial College; Toronto Transit Commission
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Enhanced Transit Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative FTA Funding Sources Factsheet
To help ensure the continued safety of our nation’s public transit systems, FTA launched the Enhanced Transit Safety and Crime Prevention Initiative to provide information and resources to help transit agencies address and prevent crime on their systems and protect transit workers and riders.
Federal Transit Administration
November 2022
TOPICS: Funding Opportunities, Safety and Health