Resource Center

This webinar featured presenters from Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC)/ATU Local 1220 in Virginia and Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) in Illinois.

• GRTC and ATU Local 1220 partnered to implement a mentorship program for their bus operators that launched in 2024. Presenters will describe that process, how the program has grown, and the benefits that it has provided.
• MTD launched its bus operator mentorship program in 2023 and has tracked metrics showing the program’s impact. Responding to both quantitative measures and qualitative feedback and observations, MTD is working to restructure the program to better meet the needs of the transit agency and the bus operators participating in the program as mentees or mentors.

Webinar Slides Webinar Recording

Session Description: An Increasing number of transit agencies across the country have begun mentorship programs to support the frontline workforce and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and skills from experienced workers to new employees. These programs offer many benefits, including improved rates of retention and absenteeism, stronger relationships between the workforce and management, and better employee morale. During this session, attendees learned how transit agencies are incorporating innovative models to tap into the full potential of mentorship programs. Panelists described the positive changes that have resulted from mentorship programs and how they are incorporating new and innovative applications and approaches to multiply these benefits.

Moderator: 

• George Fields: Deputy General Manager, Human Resources – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

Speakers:

• Ida Marshall: Senior Talent Acquisition Manager – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
• Wendy V. Talley: Director, Training & Employee Development – Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
• Reginald Howard: President – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788 (St. Louis)
• Trenise Winters: Assistant Executive Director – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)
• Maurice Beard: Sr. Workforce Development Advisor – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
• Karitsa Holdzkom: Senior Policy Analyst – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

MC24 Innovative Mentoring Models slides

“Someone to Rely On”

Mentoring programs are growing more common across transit agencies in the U.S., but most of them are specific to fixed-route operators and technicians. In Ohio, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 268 have pioneered a structured mentoring program for paratransit operators, as well as fixed-route operators. This “mini case study” focuses on the paratransit mentoring program, including lessons learned from its first two years.

Link to Case Study

This fact sheet provides overviews of four of the country’s most robust bus operator mentoring programs and preliminary data on the success of these programs (as of Spring 2023). Operator mentorship programs pair seasoned bus operators with new ones for technical skill instruction and/or individualized coaching and support to help mentees be successful in their new positions. They leverage institutional knowledge and incumbent workers’ expertise to improve training and support for new workers. The Mentoring Fact Sheet provides insight into the role mentorship programs can play in improving retention rates of workers, decrease unexcused absences, reduce rates of recorded violations, and lower complaints.

Contributing Authors: Shayna Gleason, Douglas Nevins, Michaela Boneva

Transit Mentorship Metrics

Read Rich Diaz’s Transit Career Story on the TWC Blog to learn more.

View the full case study below:

GGT and ATU Local 1575 Case Study