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This brief discusses the experiences of early career Black, Latina, and Afro Latina women in the trades. The COVID crisis has put a spotlight on the concentration of Black, Latina, and Afro-Latina women in low-wage jobs, including in many essential healthcare and retail jobs. The skilled construction trades have given many women an alternative to the poorly paid jobs in the service sector that many had to turn to before finding the trades. Skilled construction trades provide opportunities to build careers that are both challenging and fulfilling, pay a family sustaining wage with benefits, and can be accessed through ‘learn as you earn’ apprenticeships.
RESOURCE TYPE
Transit Workforce Data Dashboard Webinar: Harnessing the Power of Data for Transit Workforce Development
TWC hosted a webinar titled “Transit Workforce Data Dashboard Webinar: Harnessing the Power of Data for Transit Workforce Development” on February 28, 2024. The Dashboard features innovative visualizations of transit and transportation workforce statistics and demographics from the National Transit Database (NTD) and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It can be used to highlight key issues, like the high proportion of transit workers nearing retirement age, the potential for greater participation of women in key transportation occupations, and the need to hire extensively in the coming decade. A new interactive page launched in February, allowing users to filter NTD employment data by agency.
TWC demonstrated the full dashboard, discussed lessons learned from working with NTD and BLS data, and opened up a Q&A for participants to ask questions or share their unique data needs.
Transit Workforce Center
February 2024
At the end of the webinar, TWC shared a survey to collect unique transit workforce data needs and feedback for potential additions to the Data Dashboard. The survey continues to accept responses and can be found below.
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
How to train for the Bus – The Zero Emission Bus (ZEB)
In this video, James Hall, Principal & Founder of ZEB Tech, and Bekhi Spika, Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer of Spika Design & Manufacturing, have a conversation about transitioning and training the transit workforce for zero-emission buses.
Spika Design & Manufacturing
February 2024
TOPICS: Training , Zero Emission Buses
Zeroing in on New Standards for the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Fleet
In this video, Bryan Sooter, P.E., Director of Standards at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and Bekhi Spika, VP and CRO of Spika Design & Manufacturing, have a conversation about ZEB standards, including how standards are created in public transportation; the challenges faced by transit agencies in getting prepared for an entirely new way of operating with entirely new technology in existing, new or modified infrastructure; the kinds of areas that new standards on ZEB can be expected to encompass; and the guidance on resources available from APTA for transit agencies shifting to ZEB fleets.
Spika Design & Manufacturing
February 2024
TOPICS: Policy and Planning , Training , Zero Emission Buses
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
Approaches to Childcare Support in the Transit Industry
Across the nation, the lack of access to affordable and accessible childcare is often a major employment barrier for workers in the transit industry. TWC hosted a pivotal discussion on this issue in the webinar, “Approaches to Childcare Support in the Transit Industry”.
Hear from Barb Cline, Executive Director of Prairie Hills Transit (Spearfish, South Dakota), and Charles Jenkins, Director of the Transport Workers Union Local 100 – New York City Transit Training & Upgrading Fund, who share their approaches to creating childcare solutions tailored for their transit employees. They will delve into the inception of their programs, their ongoing hurdles, and the successes that have marked their journey.
Transit Workforce Center
November 2023
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
Women in Frontline Transit Apprenticeships
In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, TWC celebrated the tremendous progress made by transit agencies in implementing apprenticeship programs for various transit occupations. Women have long been under-represented in the most high-paying, highly skilled frontline transit occupations. The number of women in registered apprenticeship programs is increasing across industries, and public transit is no exception. Women from public transit agencies across the country have found rewarding careers with family-sustaining wages through apprenticeship.
This event featured a presentation from Liz Weiss, Deputy Director of the Working for America Institute along with a panel of women in registered apprenticeship programs from COTA/TWU Local 208 and MARTA/ATU Local 732.
Transit Workforce Center
November 2023
Integrating Industry Credentials within Apprenticeship Programs
This webinar examines how to integrate industry credentials within registered and unregistered apprenticeship programs and emphasizes the importance of building connections across sponsor/employer organizations to ensure curriculum and training alignment.
WorkforceGPS
September 2023
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Career Pathways
RESOURCE TYPE: Tools/Toolkits , Training Materials , Training Programs , Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: All Modes
Lesson Planning Webinar: Basics to Best Practices
Have you ever been tasked with developing or delivering a class and didn’t know where to start? Do you have a class that isn’t engaging learners and you don’t know why? On September 26, 2023, TWC hosted an informative webinar on Lesson Planning basics and best practices with award winning author and advisor on all things training, Dr. Chuck Hodell. We took a high-level look at Lesson Planning for those new to training, as well as discussed how to overcome inherent challenges and best practices for transit trainers.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2023
TOPICS: Trainer and Mentor Development , Training
ATTAIN Rail and Facilities Apprenticeship Meeting
This recorded meeting of the ATTAIN Rail and Facilities Committee serves as a resource for transit industry stakeholders and includes presentations on apprenticeship and case studies of successful programs across the country.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2023
RESOURCE TYPE: Case Studies , Reports/Articles , Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route , Paratransit
Bus Operator Workforce Management: Practitioner’s Guide
This report, produced by the Eno Center for Transportation, International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC), and Huber & Associates, is a practitioner’s guide that provides recommendations and resources enabling transit agencies to better assess, plan, and implement their operator workforce management programs. A link to a related TRB webinar is also included.
Transit Cooperative Research Program
August 2023
Contributor(s): National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Transportation Research Board; Transit Cooperative Research Program; Robert Puentes; Philip Plotch; Brianne Eby; Paul Lewis; Karitsa Holdzkom; Xinge Wang; Douglas Nevins; Kenyon Corbett; Melissa Huber
Transit-Community Partnerships: Advancing Workforce Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion
In this webinar, hosted by the Transportation Equity Caucus and Transit Workforce Center, panelists with experience in community-based partnerships that embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and access discuss a variety of ways community-based organizations, transit agencies, and unions can engage in creating a strong workforce that fully reflects their communities.
Transportation Equity Caucus
June 2023
Featured Speakers:
- Beth Berendsen, Policy Director, Chicago Women in Trades
- Rich Diaz, Bus Operator Mentor Lead, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
- Aaron Koski, Senior Manager – Workforce Development, Metro Transit (MN)
- Anna Penland, Assistant Transportation Manager – OECC Coordinator, Metro Transit (MN)
- David Stephen, International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center
- Chris VanEyken, Director, Research and Policy, TransitCenter
Partnering With Purpose: Building Partnerships to Drive Equitable Registered Apprenticeships
This webinar recording features successful partnership stakeholders discussing how to create and maintain partnerships to support equitable and effective registered apprenticeships. Leaders of apprenticeship partnerships discuss the steps they took to build strong relationships with fellow stakeholders and the factors that make their partnerships succeed.
Jobs for the Future
May 2023
Lunch & Learn: Youth Careers in Transit – Exploring a World of Opportunity
This is Part 4 of Iyai’s 6-part 2023 Transportation/Mobility Career Awareness Lunch and Learn series. This webinar is co-sponsored with the International Transportation Learning Center / Transit Workforce Center. This webinar features presenters at various stages of their transit careers discussing their work and their own career pathways, engaging in an interactive discussion with the audience.
Iyai+; International Transportation Learning Center/Transit Workforce Center
May 2023
Program: Iyai’s Dr. Beverly Scott and TWC’s Shayna Gleason present an overview of the program series and career landscape, followed by participants in diverse positions talking about their work and careers. Speakers include:
- Marvin Alfred, President, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 (Toronto);
- Kyisha Bond, mechanic apprentice, IndyGo (Indianapolis),
- Inez Evans, President and CEO, IndyGo (Indianapolis);
- Andrew Falotico, Health and Safety Representative, ATU Local 113 (Toronto);
- Desiree Patrice, Deputy Chief of Capital Transformation, MBTA (Boston).
After the presentations, Karen Philbrick from the Mineta Transportation Institute facilitates a conversation between the audience and presenters.
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
ATTAIN Bus Operator Apprenticeship Meeting
This recorded meeting of the ATTAIN Bus Operator Committee serves as a resource for transit industry stakeholders and includes presentations on apprenticeship and case studies of successful programs across the country.
Transit Workforce Center
May 2023
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Career Pathways , Mentorship , Trainer and Mentor Development , Training
The American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN), run by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC), is a peer network created for transit agencies and labor unions to explore new apprenticeship programs or enhance existing programs for their frontline workforce.
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
ATTAIN Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Meeting
The American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN), run by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC), is a peer network created for transit agencies and labor unions to explore new apprenticeship programs or enhance existing programs for their frontline workforce. This recorded meeting of the ATTAIN Bus Maintenance Committee serves as a resource for transit industry stakeholders and includes presentations on apprenticeship and case studies of successful programs across the country.
Transit Workforce Center
March 2023
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Career Pathways , Trainer and Mentor Development , Training
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
Bus Operators—New Strategies for Maintaining the Workforce
This webinar discusses the ideas, best practices, and resources that will enable transit agencies to better plan, implement, and assess their operator workforce management programs as described in the Bus Operator Workforce Management: Practitioner’s Guide. Presenters discussed workforce needs assessment, recruitment, selection and on-boarding, training, mentoring, and retention and motivation.
Transit Cooperative Research Program
March 2023
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Hiring and Recruitment , Mentorship , Policy and Planning , Retention , Workforce Shortage
Webinar agenda and presenters
- Bus operator training and retention – Xinge Wang, International Transportation Learning Center
- Lessons from Florida – Trish Collins, Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
- Lessons from the Midwest – George F. Fields, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
- Question and answer session moderated by Robert Puentes, Eno Center for Transportation
Online Learning and Learning Technologies Webinar
On October 25, 2022, TWC hosted an exciting webinar that explores online training, best practices in training delivery, and exciting trends in online technology for the transit industry.
Transit Workforce Center
October 2022
TOPICS: Training
ATTAIN Rail/Signals/Traction Power and Facilities/Elevator-Escalator Committees Meeting
This recorded meeting of the ATTAIN committees for Rail/Signals/Traction Power and Facilities/Elevator-Escalator serves as a resource for transit industry stakeholders and includes presentations on apprenticeship and case studies of successful programs across the country.
Transit Workforce Center
September 2022
The American Transit Training and Apprenticeship Innovators Network (ATTAIN), run by the Transit Workforce Center (TWC), is a peer network created for transit agencies and labor unions to explore new apprenticeship programs or enhance existing programs for their frontline workforce.
Bus Operators in Crisis
TransitCenter’s report, entitled Bus Operators in Crisis: The Steady Deterioration of One of Transit’s Most Essential Jobs, and How Agencies Can Turn Things Around, analyzes the nationwide phenomenon of bus operator shortages and advocates for enhanced job quality in the occupation. It details the challenges American operators are facing, and offers solutions that transit agencies can take to solve issues locally, as well as steps that state and the federal governments can take to provide agencies with necessary support.
TransitCenter
July 2022
This resource also includes a link to a webinar hosted in July, 2022 presenting information from the report and slides from the webinar.
Strategic Workforce Planning in Transit: Fundamentals of Mentoring
Transit Workforce Center
June 2022
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Mentorship , Retention , Trainer and Mentor Development
This is the third in the Transit Workforce Center’s webinar series on strategic workforce development planning in transit. Labor and management leaders from across the country discussed the impact of mentorship programs in their agencies.
Mentor programs provide a powerful and effective tool for workforce development and retention. For maintenance occupations, mentors deliver hands-on training support, putting skills in diverse workplace contexts beyond the classroom. For bus operators, mentors provide guidance that addresses real world situations, building and expanding on basic training and creating ongoing support for each new operator. In every transit agency across all occupations, seasoned employees have stores of knowledge waiting to be shared. Without mentorship, this knowledge can be lost when workers retire or move on. A well-structured mentorship program, designed in partnership with the workers, ensure this expertise is passed on. Strong mentorship programs also provide mentors with leadership opportunities and mentees with the skills and confidence they need to succeed, increasing expertise and morale throughout the organization.
Linked below are a video recording of the webinar, the associated slides, and a webpage where all past TWC webinars are available.
Bus Operator Recruitment and Retention: Confronting Obstacles and Creating Opportunity
This multimedia case study details a high-road training partnership jointly operated by Golden Gate Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575.
Transit Workforce Center; Golden Gate Transit; Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1575
June 2022
Golden Gate Transit (GGT) serves four counties in San Francisco’s North Bay. GGT suspended approximately 90% of its commute service during COVID. As of Spring 2022, the agency was operating at roughly 50% of pre -COVID service levels, but needed to hire and retain large numbers of bus operators as ridership demand returned. To achieve this goal, a GGT and ATU labor-management partnership created a high-road training partnership that worked with local colleges and California Transit Works to establish bus operator mentorship, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. To guide its initiatives and actions, the partnership also examined data and asked underlying questions about the root causes of their employment challenges, resulting in reevaluating and adjusting some of its pathways to employment and hiring guidelines.
This resource contains presentation slides and video of a Golden Gate Transit/ATU presentation. The entire June 7, 2022 TWC webinar, Recruiting and Developing Today’s Transit Workforce, can be found here. It includes a question and answer session, beginning at 51:53, that covers more detail on this and other recruitment initiatives discussed in the webinar.
The Power of Partnership: Automotive Technology/Collision Career Technical Education Program
This multimedia case study details an internship program developed by the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 208. This resource contains a brief written summary, presentation slides, and video of a COTA-TWU Local 208 presentation. The entire June 7, 2022 TWC webinar, Recruiting and Developing Today’s Transit Workforce, can be found here. The complete webinar recording includes a question and answer session, beginning at 51:53, that covers more detail on this and other recruitment initiatives.
Transit Workforce Center; Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA); Transport Workers Union Local 208
June 2022
To meet its need for vehicle maintenance technicians, COTA leadership partnered with TWU Local 208 and Columbus City Schools to provide a Vehicle Maintenance Internship Program, helping students already enrolled in an automotive program to develop additional technology competencies and prepare them for entry level positions. The COTA Vehicle Maintenance Internship Program provides career technical center high school students who have completed their junior year in a participating career-technical program the opportunity to work as paid interns in the Vehicle Maintenance Department at COTA. Students receive classroom training, hands-on training, laboratory experiences, and are partnered with mentors in preparation to enter the workforce as entry level automotive/collision technologies service technicians. From this foundation, COTA has now established a state-registered pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program to support vehicle technician hiring, retention, and workforce development.
Strategic Workforce Planning in Transit: Recruiting and Developing Today’s Transit Workforce
This is the second in the Transit Workforce Center’s webinar series on strategic workforce development planning in transit. TWC’s first webinar examined workforce development for the incumbent workforce. This second webinar focuses on how transit agencies and partner organizations are working to meet the significant recruitment challenges across the country and how to best turn these challenges into opportunities to reach, attract, and retain a diverse workforce. Two transit agencies and their labor partners discuss their innovative outreach and recruitment programs, including mentoring, pre-apprenticeships, and community college partnerships, followed by a presentation from a national organization leader who has coordinated cross-sectoral recruitment initiatives with agencies across the U.S.
Transit Workforce Center
June 2022
Linked below are a video recording of the webinar, the associated slides, and a webpage where all past TWC webinars are available.
RESOURCE TYPE: Case Studies , Webinars | TRANSIT MODE:
Strategic Workforce Planning in Transit: Developing, Supporting, and Strengthening Your Incumbent Workforce
This webinar, presented on April 27, 2022, explores important considerations and best practices for creating strong strategic workforce development plans.
FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez provided opening remarks, followed by insightful workforce development guidance and case examples from leading, experienced, and insightful presentations from IndyGo (Indianapolis IN), ATU International and Local 558, SporTran (Shreveport LA), TWU Local 100- NYCTA Training and Upgrading Fund (NYC), SEPTA (Philadelphia PA), and ProgressWorx.
It is the first in a series of TWC webinars on Strategic Workforce Planning.
Transit Workforce Center
April 2022
TOPICS: Apprenticeship , Career Pathways , Labor-Management Partnerships , Retention
RESOURCE TYPE: Reports/Articles , Webinars | TRANSIT MODE:
Improving Diversity and Inclusion Programs in Public Transportation
This webinar provides an overview of current diversity and inclusion efforts utilized by large, medium, and small public transportation agencies in the United States. Presenters highlight how agencies embed equity in operations and discuss policies that impact employees, local businesses, and community members. They also discuss a diversity and inclusion toolkit, which can be adapted to fit the contexts of any transit agency. At the end of this webinar, you will able to:
-Identify how to develop benchmarks to measure diversity, equity, and inclusion
-Determine methods for transit agencies to improve equity
The webinar features research from TCRP Research Report 228: Resource Guide for Improving Diversity and Inclusion Programs for the Public Transportation Industry.
Transportation Research Board
February 2022
RESOURCE TYPE: Webinars | TRANSIT MODE: Bus - Fixed Route
Bus Electrification: The Role Agencies Can Play in Workforce Equity
In this webinar, speakers discuss the issues of procurement, manufacturing, job creation, and job equity associated with fleet electrification.
Eno Center for Transportation
April 2021
TOPICS: Policy and Planning , Procurement , Retention , Zero Emission Buses
Speakers:
- Christy Veeder, PhD, National Program Director, Jobs to Move America
- Brianne Eby, Senior Policy Analyst, Eno Center for Transportation
Preparing for and Capturing Video Footage for Instructional Video
International Transportation Learning Center
March 2021
TOPICS: Trainer and Mentor Development , Training
Digital and video instruction are two ways in which transit agencies can enhance their current training methods for their frontline employees. In a previous skill booster event, we showcased video editing software Filmora™. But before you can edit video, you need to capture it. As videography expert and the presenter of this session Kenyon Corbett says, “there is no replacement for good audio and video.”
This video uses real-world examples to demonstrate the Dos and Don’ts of capturing video and audio for instructional videos. It also outlines how best to prepare for this process.
This is one of several skill booster events held by the International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC). Other webinars can be found by filtering by resource type.
Here to Stay: Black, Latina, and Afro-Latina Women in Construction Trades Apprenticeships and Employment
Chicago Women in the Trades; Institute for Women's Policy Research
March 2021
Creating and Editing Instructional Videos to Engage Learners
Beyond the traditional classroom environment, one way transit trainers can enhance delivery is through video instruction. This recorded webinar demonstrates Filmora™, an affordable and easy-to-use platform that helps you create video instruction modules.
This is one of several skill booster events held by the International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC).
International Transportation Learning Center
November 2020
TOPICS: Trainer and Mentor Development , Training
How Women Fare in the Transit Industry
This webinar provides an overview of the barriers and solutions to including more women in the transit industry. Panelists discuss strategies to support women in transit and share examples of transit agencies that have effectively implemented programs to attract, retain, and advance women in the industry.
Transportation Research Board
September 2020
The webinar draws on research from TCRP Synthesis 147: Attracting, Retaining, and Advancing Women in Transit.
Empowering a Resilient Transit Workforce
This webinar identifies critical labor market benchmarks and addresses ways to cultivate a more resilient and empowered transit workforce, particularly in the post-COVID world. The speakers delve into resiliency challenges and education and training solutions.
Eno Center of Transportation
June 2020
TOPICS: Hiring and Recruitment , Retention , Workforce Shortage
Battery Electric Bus Familiarization Webinars
The International Transportation Learning Center presents three distance-based courses to help transit bus technicians gain fundamental understanding of battery electric bus (BEB) technology. These courses are recorded from live online sessions.
International Transportation Learning Center
June 2020
TOPICS: Safety and Health , Training , Zero Emission Buses
In each session, experts from various BEB manufacturers presented on specific topics, with over 400 participants attending. Each session is introduced by John Schiavone, who moderated many questions from participants. Please click through the drop-down options below to view the recorded sessions, slides and presenters’ notes, and sample tests and test answers.
RESOURCE TYPE: Training Materials , Webinars | TRANSIT MODE:
Integrating eLearning in Transit Frontline Learning
In this webinar, guest speaker Ron Thiele, Xpan Interactive, presented on ways in which some transit organizations use eLearning.
This is one of several skill booster events held by the International Transportation Learning Center (ITLC).
International Transportation Learning Center
May 2020
TOPICS: Trainer and Mentor Development , Training