Hiring and retention have been challenging for many industries, including the transit industry, with agencies having to make changes to attract and retain a more talented workforce. To address these challenges, the FDOT partnered with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), and the Federal Transit Administration’s Transit Workforce Center (TWC) to develop the nation’s first Apprenticeship Academy.
TWC’s Executive Director Jack Clark facilitated a panel discussion featuring John Meeks, Hillsborough Community College; Steven Lindas, Florida Department of Education Office of Apprenticeship; Mario Rodriquez and Karoline Guerrero, Career Source Tampa Bay; and Karitsa Holdzkom, TWC. This discussion focused on the role of education and workforce development partnerships, an overview of state apprenticeship guidelines and processes, and available funding opportunities.
Transit agencies from Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), City of Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS); Broward County Transit (BCT), Votran (Volusia County), Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), and Palm Tran (Palm Beach County) brought both management and labor teams to participate in bus technician and/or operator apprenticeship tracks. This ensured both management and labor unions supported the decision to implement these programs.