News and Updates

Weekly Update for July 1, 2014

Posted July 2014

This week’s update includes stories on UTA is being the 2014 Outstanding Public Transportation System, The Bay Area’s third largest bus system will end the sale of paper transfers and The Federal Transit Administration this week announced $100 million in funding for buses and bus facilities through the Ladders of Opportunity Initiative.

Strong Leadership Developed Training Materials Increase Elevator/Escalator Reliability at NYCT

Posted June 2014

In 2007, New York City Transit had one in six elevators or escalators out of service for a month or more.  More recently, New York City Transit riders have seen escalator and elevator availability above 95 percent for the most recent quarter and above very high target rates of availability for ten straight quarters.

Strong Leadership & Consortium Training Materials Increase Elevator/Escalator Reliability at NYCT

Posted June 2014

In 2007, New York City Transit had one in six elevators or escalators out of service for a month or more.  More recently, New York City Transit riders have seen escalator and elevator availability above 95 percent for the most recent quarter and above very high target rates of availability for ten straight quarters.

Sally Librera, Vice President for Subway Operations Support at NYC Transit/MTA, presented these findings in a June 16 presentation at the APTA Rail Conference.  A number of factors, she made clear,  contributed to the dramatic improvement in elevator and escalator service in New York City, including some major changes in operations. Improved training was a significant contributor to improved performance, and Librera’s presentation focused mainly on improvements in training for elevator-escalator technicians and on the role of the Transit Elevator/Escalator Training Consortium in helping to effect those improvements.

Center Recognized as “Transportation Industry Champion” by The U.S. Department of Labor

Posted June 2014

n releasing its industry competency model for Transportation, Distribution and Logistics, US DOL recognized the Transportation Learning Center as a nonprofit organization “dedicated to improving public transportation by making a committed investment at the national and local levels in frontline technical workers. This commitment is manifested in a number of key initiatives including using a competency-based approach to create career pathways into public transportation jobs that provide living wages and benefits.

Partners in Philadelphia Host After School Prog Aimed at Recruiting Future Frontline Transit Workers

Posted June 2014

SEPTA, TWU Local 234, Keystone Development Partnership and school partners continued their cutting edge work on career pathways in Philadelphia as they kicked off a Careers in Public Transportation After School Program at Mastbaum Vocation and Technical High School.