Resource 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.

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Making Connections 2024 – Navigating the Future: Empowering Transit Workers in the Age of AI and Automation

This session about AI and automation in transit was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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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

pdf MC24 AI and Automation Workshop slides pdf Co-Designing the Future of Transit Work CMU
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Making Connections 2024 – Apprenticeship 101 – How Transit Apprenticeship Operates

This session about transit apprenticeships was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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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)

pdf MC24 Apprenticeship 101 slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Successful Models for Career Awareness, Outreach, and Recruitment in Our Varied Communities

This session about national and agency-level workforce datasets was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: Consistent with FTA’s strategic goal of driving workforce recruitment, this session explored successful models and strategies for increasing awareness of transit careers among potential workers. Presenters also focused on approaches to recruiting and retaining individuals from varied backgrounds, emphasizing engagement with the communities transit serves. Through discussions of hands-on initiatives, mentoring and training programs, and partnerships between transit agencies and community organizations, this session explored various ways transit systems can create sustainable pipelines to attract and retain talent from communities of different sizes and demographics.

Moderator: 

  • David Stephen: Senior Communications Specialist – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

  • Scott Joiner: Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)
  • Adam Parast: Enterprise and Strategic Initiatives Lead – King County Metro (WA)
  • Antonio Pollard: Organizer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (DC)
  • Dan Stoffer: Manager, Bus Instruction – Metro Transit (MN)
  • Jaymi Swarbrick: Director of Human Resources – Merrimack Valley Transit (MeVa – MA)
  • Trenise Winters: Assistant Executive Director – Bi-State Development/Metro Transit (St. Louis)

pdf MC24 Successful Models for Career Awareness slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Plan, Train, Succeed: Building Your Low-No Workforce Transition Strategy

This session about transitioning the transit workforce to low-no vehicles was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: As the transit industry accelerates toward new fuel technologies, a comprehensive workforce strategy is essential for a successful transition. This session focused on creating effective plans for workforce development, implementing targeted training programs with an emphasis on safety, and ensuring long-term success in transitioning to new fuels. Attendees learned about applied research, innovative training solutions, and technical assistance designed to help transit agencies develop a skilled workforce equipped to support new technologies.

Moderator:

  • Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

  • Eliseo Acosta Jr: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union
  • Mark Finnicum: Chief Operation Officer – Stark Area Regional Transit Authority
  • Molly King: Deputy Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration, and Innovation – Federal Transit Administration
  • Jennifer Sweten: Director of Operations – Missoula Urban Transportation District
  • Billy Terry: Director – National Transit Institute (NTI)

pdf MC24 ZEV Transition Strategy Workshop slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Engaging and Interactive Training Strategies

This session about innovative and engaging training methods was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: This session was designed to enhance learner engagement by utilizing interactive learning techniques. Through a discussion led by a panel of seasoned instructional designers from varied backgrounds, the workshop demonstrated how to translate material into engaging activities through the use of storytelling, gamification, and real-world problem-solving exercises. Additionally, the workshop showcased a blend of traditional methods and innovative technology tools to create learner-centered instructional experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration through group work and discussions.

Speakers:

  • Julie Deibel-Pundt: Program Director, Instructional Design – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Frank Burnett: Training Specialist – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Allie Franklyn: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Kristen Ribaudo: Senior Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

pdf MC24 Engaging and Interactive Training Strategies slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Zero In and Power Up: Resources for a Smooth Workforce Transition to New Fuel Technologies

This full-day intensive session about transitions the transit workforce to low-no vehicles was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: Currently managing or expecting to begin the process of transitioning part of your fleet towards electrification? Transitioning from work with the 12- and 24-volts electrical systems in traditional diesel and CNG buses to Low-No buses, with upwards of 800 volts, requires a significant commitment to additional skills training and development for new and incumbent transit technicians. As a central component of a nationally-coordinated effort to help prepare frontline technicians with the training needed to meet the challenges and demands of this new technology, TWC has developed a Low-No familiarization course, currently delivered in partnership with National Transit Institute. This full-day session combined an in-depth introduction to key elements of the course resources, freely available to all, followed by an afternoon technical tour of a nearby low-no maintenance facility.

Moderator:

  • Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

  • Brandon Liu: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Brian Markey: Chief Executive Officer – Custom Training Aids Inc.

pdf MC24 Transition to ZEVs slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Elevating Your Workforce Data: The Power of Interactive Visualization for Analyzing Metrics

This full-day intensive session about building visualizations and dashboard with workforce data was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: Want to make your workforce metrics more digestible, interactive, and insightful? Robust data can provide insights into the success of transit workforce development programs, hiring trends over time, and more, but raw data can be hard to interpret and analyze. Using TWC’s Transit Workforce Data Dashboard as a model, participants in this intensive explored methods for creating powerful and easily understandable data visualizations. These graphs and charts can support transit providers’ and unions’ efforts to measure and effectively communicate program metrics and employment trends.

Speakers:

  • Andrew Carpenter: Director – National Center for Applied Transportation Technology
  • Douglas Nevins: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Dr. Shayna Gleason: Senior Researcher – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Michaela Boneva: Research Associate – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

link MC24 Elevating Your Workforce Data slides
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Making Connections 2024 – Making Mentoring Matter: Building and Strengthening Your Frontline Worker Mentorship Program

This full-day intensive session about mentorship was presented as part of TWC’s Making Connections 2024 transit workforce conference in November, 2024.

Transit Workforce Center

November 2024

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Session Description: Are you looking to establish a program that increases retention, provides an edge in recruitment, and advances a positive and collaborative organizational culture? Well-organized mentorship programs with carefully-selected and trained mentors provide documented benefits for frontline workers and the organization as a whole. Check out this intensive full-day workshop to explore how to:

  • Initiative, develop, manage, and maintain a strong mentorship program
  • Establish a collaborative structure and culture that runs and maintains that program
  • Select and train effective mentors
  • Explore occupation-specific approaches, challenges, and systems
  • Track metrics that measure progress and success

Throughout this full-day intensive, attendees engaged with experienced instructors, facilitators, and peers to:

  • Review the foundational elements of transit-based mentorship programs
  • Experience TWC’s mentor training program, including: a review of mentor roles; an introduction to varied learning styles; and an examination of communications and problem-solving skills

Moderators: 

  • Maurice Beard: Senior Workforce Development Advisor – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Karitsa Holdzkom: Senior Policy Analyst – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

Speakers:

  • Stu Bass: Principal – Progress Worx; Founding Director – Keystone Development Partnership
  • Nick Biggar: District Director – Greater Cleveland RTA
  • Valerie Campo: Mentor Program Coordinator – Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit
  • Lee Estis: Mentor Program Coordinator – Metropolitan Council-Metro Transit (MN)
  • Jamaine “G” Gibson: Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development – Amalgamated Transit Union
  • Steve Jovel: Operations Manager, Workforce Development – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
  • Vanessa L’Esperance: Apprenticeship Program Coordinator – Metro Transit/ATU Local 1005 (MN)
  • Dionna McCane: ATU Mentorship and Apprenticeship Coordinator – IndyGo
  • Darnell Morris: Vice President – ATU Local 268, Greater Cleveland RTA
  • Harpreet Singh: JWI Co-Director – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

pdf MC24 Making Mentoring Matter slides
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