A Strategic Approach Workforce Development, Training,
Engagement, and Research
Lisa Staes, Director
Transit Safety and Workforce Development
October 28, 2015
Center for Urban Transportation Research | University of South Florida
Presentation Topics
• Transit Training and Workforce
Development Programs
• Transit Training Product Development
• Applied Research
• Technical Support through Engagement –
the Importance of Peer Networking
• Transit Technical Assistance Programs
• National Transit Safety Research and
Assistance Center
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Transit Training and Workforce
Development
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Certificate programs
Course offerings
Curriculum development
Conferences and Workshops
Leveraging technology
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Drug and Alcohol Program Manager
(DAPM) Certificate Program
• Purpose:
– Raise awareness of the vital role that the DAPM
has in an agency’s continued receipt of state
and federal operating funds
– Ensure that agencies throughout the state have
knowledgeable administrative staff to prevent
non-compliance
– Broaden the depth of knowledge among
current program managers
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Florida Transit Operator Trainer
Certificate Program
• Prepare Florida transit agency bus operator trainers
to ensure excellence in transit training
• Partnership with Transportation Safety Institute
• Core courses focus on adult learning and safety
• Fatigue Awareness
• Curbing Transit Operator Distracted Driving/Wireless
Distractions Training resource
• Managing for Performance – Safety, Customer Service, Conflict
and Work Ethics
• Rule Chapter 14-90, Florida Administrative Code: A Review for
You – A Course for Bus Transit Operators
• Over 50 certificates awarded to Florida transit
training professionals
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Certified Transit Technician
Program
• Technical training
• Curriculum approved by DOE
(14 courses)
• Graduates receive Post-Secondary Adult
Vocational certification AND ASE Master
Certification
• Includes hands on training – latest
technologies
• Students who wish to further their
education toward an AAS degree can
receive up to 33 credit hours toward
that degree
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Transit Manager Certificate
Program
• Offered through USF’s
University College
• Leadership building sessions
• Established to expand opportunities to
move into leadership positions within
their agencies or within the industry
• Tracks offered for operations,
maintenance, and administration
• Seminar series utilized to provide
specific training from industry experts
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Training Products – Computer
Based Training (CBT) Modules
 Chapter 14-90, Florida Administrative Code: A
Review for You – A Course for Transit Bus
Operators
 FTA Curbing Transit Employee Distracted
Driving
 FDOT Wireless Distractions Training Resource
Program
 REACT – Reasonable Suspicion Drug and
Alcohol Testing Decision Refresher Training
 Clean, Sober, and Safe
 Disability Etiquette for Transit Operators
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Training Products – Instructor-Led
Classroom Training
• REACT: Supervisor Training Package (DVD
and trainer/participant guides)
• Certified Transit Technician (15 courses)
• Policies, Procedures, and Work Rules – Best
Practices
• Transit Dispatch and Supervisor Training
• Transit Mid-Level Management Short
Course
• Prescription for Safety (DVD)
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Training Products – Instructor-Led
Classroom Training - Collaborations
• Managing for Performance - Safety,
Customer Service, Conflict and Work Ethic:
A Guide for Transit Operator Trainers (Pine
& Associates)
• Conflict Avoidance – The Art of Maintaining
Control: A Guide for Transit Operators (Pine
& Associates)
• Instructor’s Course for Transit Trainers
(Transportation Safety Institute)
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Leveraging Technology
• Virtual Hands-On Training (VHOT)
– This concept allows students to do real-time
troubleshooting over the Internet while miles
away at their worksite
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Leveraging Technology
(continued)
• Simulation Environments
– This concept allows students (operator and
technicians) to operate a bus in a simulated
environment
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Facilitation-trainer and class discussion
Trial and error
Practice
Relatively minimal
consequences
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Leveraging Technology
(continued)
• e-Learning Environment
• Learning Management System (LMS) platform
– www.transportationlearning.org
• Centralized and automated administration
• Self-service and self-guided services
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Instructor Led Training (ILT)
Computer Based Training (CBT)
Webinars
Online Training (OT)
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Workforce Development – Annual
Offerings
• FPTA/FDOT/CUTR Professional Development
Workshop
• Florida Statewide Annual Transit Safety
Summit
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October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2015
Over 14,280 training contact hours to
Florida’s Public Transportation
Professionals
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Technical Support through Engagement
– the Importance of Peer Networking
• Florida Transit Safety
Network
• Florida Operations
Network
• Florida Transit
Maintenance Consortium
• Florida Planning Network
• Florida Marketing
Network
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Applied Transit Safety-Related
Research
• Strategies to Prevent, Reduce, and
Mitigate Bus Collision
• Examination of Passenger Assaults
on Bus Transit Systems
• Bus Operator Safety – Critical
Issues Examination and Model
Practices
• Examination of Rear-End Bus
Collisions and Identification of
Possible Solutions
• Evaluation of Camera-Based
Systems to Reduce Transit Bus
Side Collisions
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Transit Technical Assistance
Programs
 Transit Research Inspection Procurement
Services (TRIPS) Program
 Centralized paratransit vehicle procurement
program
 Vehicle inspections
 Vehicle safety/component testing
 Product evaluations
 Performance standards
 Vehicle repair and warranty resolution
 Incident investigation (e.g. thermal events)
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Transit Technical Assistance
Programs
 Substance Abuse Management Oversight,
Training, and Technical Assistance Program
 Compliance reviews
 Substance Abuse Policy templates (preapproved by FTA and FDOT)
 Support to agencies in preparing for or
responding to FTA Drug and Alcohol Program
Audits (e.g. corrective action procedures)
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Transit Technical Assistance
Programs
 Statewide Transit Technical Assistance and
Training Program
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DBE
Title VI
Preparing for FDOT Triennial Reviews
Developing System Safety Program Plans and
Security Program Plans
 Corrective Action Plans
 Chapter 14-90, FAC compliance
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National Transit Safety Research
and Assistance Center
• Active Resource Website
– Transit Safety-Related Research Repository –
with links to TRID/TRB
– Federal and state transit safety regulations and
standards
– Links to training sources and resources
– News posts
– Federal Register notices
– Federal news/notification releases (FTA, FRA,
FMCSA)
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RESOURCE PROGRAM WEBSITES
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www.floridatsn.org
www.transitsafetycenter.org
www.transitoperations.org
www.tmaarc.org
www.floridatmcp.org
sam.cutr.usf.edu
www.cutr.usf.edu
www.nctr.usf.edu
www.floridartap.org
www.transportationlearning.org
www.tripsflorida.org
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