News

Center Proposal to USDOL: Apprenticeship as Solution to Transportation Workforce Needs

Posted May 2015

The Center has recently submitted a $5 million proposal “National Public Transportation Partnership for Apprenticeship” to the US Department of Labor (DOL) under the American Apprenticeship Initiative. This industry-wide project seeks to develop, establish and expand Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs to address urgent needs for training the next generation of skilled workers in public transportation.  The standards-based apprenticeship training programs will build on the prior work of the National Training Committees and Consortia. Working with over twenty-five public transportation systems and their unions, local and state Workforce Investment Boards, State Apprenticeship Agencies, community colleges and high school CTE programs, the Center will develop the national framework and assist with the local implementation of two new apprenticeships for Signals Maintainers and Transit Coach Operators.  Local programs will also be implemented and expanded for three RA programs approved by DOL in recent years: Transit Rail Vehicle Maintenance Technicians, Bus Maintenance Technicians, and Transit Elevator/Escalator Maintenance Technicians.

Apprentices should be able to earn college for learning at work.  The Center is cooperating nationally with National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) and with a range of community colleges locally to develop clear agreements for credit.  The Center is also working with partners such as Wider Opportunities for Women and veterans’ organizations, and locally-based community and education providers to increase opportunities for women, minorities, veterans and other disadvantaged populations to enter into high-wage, high-skill careers in the public transportation industry. 

Center staff looks forward to collaborating with additional agencies and unions to advance the Registered Apprenticeship model in public transportation. Contact Executive Director Jack Clark to discuss joining in on this initiative and future funding opportunities.