News
Workforce Development at APTA Rail Conference
Posted June 2023
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Rail Conference, hosted June 11-14 in Pittsburgh, drew a large audience from rail agencies, business members, and university research programs. ITLC played a significant role in APTA's two major workforce development sessions during the conference's opening day. More than 300 people attended the morning session on “Addressing the Workforce Crisis: Strategies, Models, New Generations and Great Stories,” moderated by Collie Greenwood, CEO at MARTA (Atlanta). Leading off that panel, ITLC Board Member and Mineta Transportation Institute (San Jose State University, CA) Executive Director Karen Philbrick discussed outreach to students from kindergarten to Grade 12, describing a wide range of activities including age-appropriate learning materials, summer internships, and a nationwide competition for students. Faragis Kakar, of WSP in California, recounted her own experience as an immigrant from Afghanistan seeking a professional-level job in the U.S., similar to many immigrants coming to the U.S. with experience and credentials in fields like engineering; she noted that transportation employers concerned about labor shortages should welcome immigrants. Founder and CEO of GenZ Planet Hana Ben-Shabat spoke last, providing data and stories into how transportation employers can appeal to Gen Z, the youngest segment of our workforce.
ITLC Executive Director Jack Clark moderated an afternoon session on “Rail Apprenticeship Programs—East Coast/West Cost: Common Goals, Proven Approaches at the MTA NYCT and the Santa Clara VTA” where Chief Operating Officer at VTA Derik Calhoun and Transportation Superintendent at VTA Steve Jovel spoke about the very successful Joint Workforce Investment (JWI) program that ATU Local 265 and VTA operate together. Through JWI, ATU and VTA have developed mentoring and apprenticeship programs for occupations including bus operator, bus mechanic, rail technician, overhead power, and signals. Chief Officer for Operations Training at MTA New York City Transit Monica DaCosta then spoke about an apprenticeship program specifically geared toward young people and Managing Partner of Knowledge Architects Sheila Jordan explained some of the innovative teaching tools that have helped accelerate learning for these apprentices. Programs in both San Jose and New York City have put a high priority on the retention of apprentices. Both panels were followed by lively audience discussion.
