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 –Advancing Workforce Development through Positive and Powerful Workplace Partnerships

This session about effective labor-management partnerships 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: 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

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Making Connections 2024 – Identifying Training Needs, Assessing Workforce Skills Gaps, and Creating Strong Training Programs

This session about assessing training needs and workforce skills gaps 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: Participants explored effective methods for identifying training needs and assessing workforce skills gaps to develop robust training programs, all in the context of ensuring worker voice and involvement. The session covered tools and techniques for evaluating current training needs for frontline workers, identified areas for improvement, and aligned training strategies with organizational goals. Attendees learned how to use data-driven approaches to map out training priorities that address immediate operational needs and long-term workforce development.

Moderators:

  • Kristen Ribaudo: Senior Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Stu Bass: Principal – Progress Worx; Founding Director – Keystone Development Partnership

Speakers:

  • Jeffrey Di Perna: Financial Secretary/Treasurer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 (PA)
  • Jason Macumber: Senior Advisor of Workforce Development and Technology – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

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Making Connections 2024 – What Do Young People Want from a Transit Career?

This session about outreach and retention of youth 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: 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

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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

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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

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Making Connections 2024 – Creating Community Partnerships for Transit Career Pathways

This half-day intensive session about community partnerships 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: Check out this immersive half-day session designed to provide information, tools, and strategies that build a foundation for career pathways for community members into good jobs and great transit careers. Participants engaged in dialogue with transit professionals on the opportunities in the industry, gain insight into communicating about these opportunities, and explore approaches to establishing working partnerships with transit agencies and their labor and workforce partners.

Attendees dove into strategies and principles for impactful engagement, hearing firsthand accounts of successful collaborative initiatives and messaging strategies that emphasize the impact and value of working in an industry providing a vital public good. Participants gained invaluable insights into building sustainable workforce solutions that mutually benefit the industry and the community.

Key topics included:

  • Exploring transit career opportunities
  • Messaging and framing
  • Building collaborative partnerships
  • Real-world success stories

Moderator:

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

Speakers:

  • Rich Diaz: Workforce Development Coordinator – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
  • Theus Jones: Recording Secretary – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (DC)
  • Antonio Pollard: Organizer – Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (DC)
  • Vanessa Sparks: Committee Member – Community Board 12-Queens Transportation Committee
  • Carlene Thorbs: Chairperson – Community Board 12-Queens Transportation Committee

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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.

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Making Connections 2024 – Train-the-Trainer Bootcamp: Strategies for Successful Instruction

This full-day intensive session about tools for new and experienced trainers to increase retention and engagement 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 intensive full-day session, an abbreviated version of TWC’s popular 5-day Train-the-Trainer Level 1 course, provided both new and experienced trainers with new tools to increase engagement, application, and retention. Participants added to their knowledge, skills, and confidence to fully engage learners and effectively facilitate a variety of instructor-led training programs. Topics included adult learning theory, teaching techniques, and instructional elements that really work! Participants also had the opportunity to observe and critique a teaching demonstration — learning what does and what does not contribute to impactful learning.

Check out experienced instructors and your trainer-peers from across the industry to explore the following topics:

  • How do adults learn, and what does adult learning theory tell us that we can use in our training?
  • What are the key instructional elements of successful classroom and hands-on training?
  • What are lesson plans, and how are they developed?
  • Which teaching techniques help strengthen classes and instructional presentations?

Speakers:

  • Frank Burnett: Training Specialist – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Julie Deibel-Pundt: Program Director, Instructional Design – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Marina Budeyeva: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center
  • Jessica Supervielle: Instructional Designer – International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center

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