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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.
Directory of Grant Writers
The purpose of this Directory is to connect transit managers looking to contract with grant writing consultants available for hire. Agencies can contact grant writers using their information provided by clicking the link below.
National Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)
October 2024
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The purpose of this Directory is to connect transit managers looking to contract with grant writing consultants available for hire. Agencies can contact grant writers using their information provided by clicking the link below.
FTA Safety Training Resources
This landing page features FTA safety training resources, including the 2024–2025 Virtual Safety Risk Management and Safety Assurance Workshop and De-Escalation Training Resource Directory, as well as FTA sponsored resources, such as the USDOT Transportation Safety Institute (TSI).
Federal Transit Administration
September 2024
TOPICS: Safety and Health, Training
ATTAIN Facilities & Elevator/Escalator Maintenance Meeting
This ATTAIN meeting featured discussions from Pittsburgh Regional Transit/ATU 85 and Bay Area Rapid Transit about how their facilities and elevator/escalator maintenance apprenticeship programs are developed, work, and the benefits they offer.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2024
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The American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN) is a peer network created for transit agencies and labor unions to explore new apprenticeship programs or enhance existing programs for their frontline workforce. Through ATTAIN, TWC promotes apprenticeship, advances frontline worker training, facilitates peer exchange, and provides technical assistance to agencies and unions interested in developing apprenticeship programs for their frontline workforce.
This ATTAIN meeting featured discussions from Pittsburgh Regional Transit/ATU 85 and Bay Area Rapid Transit about how their facilities and elevator/escalator maintenance apprenticeship programs are developed, work, and the benefits they offer.
Map – Apprenticeship and Mentorship Programs
This map visualizes the growing trend of registered apprenticeship in U.S. transit agencies, displaying transit locations with registered apprenticeship or mentorship programs. Users can reveal information about the active apprenticeship/mentorship programs at each agency, the agency’s workforce-related statistics (such as wage, employee count, labor hours, and ridership), and links to Standards of Apprenticeship, which include details about qualifications, wages, hours, and training schedules.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2024
TOPICS: Apprenticeship, Career Pathways, Community Engagement, Labor-Management Partnerships, Mentorship
2024 Sector Strategies Framework
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released an updated Sector Strategies Framework to guide national, state, and local practitioners in their efforts to launch and implement effective sector strategies. It clearly lays out essential concepts and was developed to harness lessons learned from the field, provide support to overcome common barriers, and help practitioners build knowledge in new areas.
WorkforceGPS
September 2024
TOPICS: Hiring and Recruitment, Labor-Management Partnerships, Low-No, Policy and Planning, Retention, Trainer and Mentor Development, Training, Workforce Shortage
In September 2024, ETA released an updated Sector Strategies Framework to guide national, state, and local practitioners in their efforts to launch and implement effective sector strategies. The Framework is intended to advance knowledge and support the development, scaling, and durability of sector strategies. It provides workforce system practitioners with a clear picture of the concepts and elements essential to the successful implementation of sector partnerships and sector strategies. The Sector Strategies Framework was developed by ETA to harness lessons learned from the field, provide support to overcome common barriers, and help practitioners build knowledge in new areas.
Along with the Framework, the ETA released additional resources including:
- Implementation Guide and Self-Assessment and Action Planning Tool: Resources to help practitioners implement the Framework and assess and strengthen existing sector strategies efforts.
- ETA Blog Post: “Demand-driven training: Reimagining sector partnerships to build career pathways”
- Training and Employment Notice No. 08-24: Release and Availability of Updated 2024 U.S. Department of Labor’s Sector Strategies Framework
- Virtual Training Series: Learn more about the Framework and strategies to implement and scale sector strategies by viewing each session in this three-part series.
Case Study: Mentoring in the Paratransit Setting
In Ohio, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 268 have pioneered a structured mentoring program for paratransit operators. This “mini case study” focuses on their lessons learned from its first two years.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2024
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“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.
Mini Case Studies: Low-No Workforce Transition
In the past decade, the number of hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell buses has increased substantially across the U.S., particularly as transit locations have made use of FTA’s Low-No grant program. Well-developed and proactive training and preparation of technicians and operators is critical for a successful transition to new vehicle technologies; maintaining and operating newly procured vehicles effectively is necessary for fleet reliability and efficiency. Transit locations have supported training and other initiatives through FTA’s Low-No grants, which offer 5% for workforce development, as well as through formula funds. These mini case studies offer examples of training, retention, and procurement methods being used by transit agencies to support new fleet technologies.
Transit Workforce Center
August 2024
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In the past decade, the number of hybrid, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell buses has increased substantially across the U.S., particularly as transit locations have made use of FTA’s Low-No grant program. Well-developed and proactive training and preparation of technicians and operators is critical for a successful transition to new vehicle technologies; maintaining and operating newly procured vehicles effectively is necessary for fleet reliability and efficiency. Transit locations have supported training and other initiatives through FTA’s Low-No grants, which offer 5% for workforce development, as well as through formula funds. These mini case studies offer examples of training, retention, and procurement methods being used by transit agencies to support new fleet technologies.
- Foundational Skills and Technician Engagement at Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District
- Bringing Training In-House at Mountain Line and Teamsters Local 2
- Transferable Knowledge and Train-the-Trainer at IndyGo and ATU Local 1070
- Innovative Technology and Documentation for Workforce Transitioning at AC Transit and ATU Local 192
- Training Operators Through Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, and Mentorship at Golden Gate Transit and ATU Local 1575
- Frontline Worker Involvement in Vehicle Procurement at SporTran and ATU Local 588
- Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence at SARTA and AFSCME Local 1880
Gold Standard Playbook for Workforce Development
WSP and AFA developed this Workforce Development Playbook, which offers a guide to best practices informed by interviews with key industry stakeholders in California.
Accelerator for America
August 2024
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This Workforce Development Playbook – a menu of malleable strategies and tactics that can be applied in different situational contexts – is meant to serve two purposes:
- To document best practices in workforce development focusing on California but with applicability nationally and sources.
- To set the first “Gold Standard” guiding owners who want to incorporate workforce development goals into their infrastructure projects.
To develop the Playbook, WSP and Accelerator for America (AFA) supported by The James Irvine Foundation, gathered information on current standards, practices, and barriers to workforce development efforts through interviews with key stakeholders across the industry in California, including project owners, community benefit organizations (CBOs), and government leaders.
