ITLC Update: September 5, 2024

September 5, 2024

ITLC’s Traction Power Training Consortium Meets in Cleveland

ITLC’s Traction Power Training Consortium held its latest in-person meeting last month in collaboration with host agency Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) at GCRTA's Rail Training Facility to discuss rigging practices for traction power. Program Manager Amri Joyner and Instructional Designer Brandon Liu led the meeting with subject matter experts (SMEs) from consortium member agencies, including Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Metro Link St. Louis, Metro Transit Minneapolis, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA), Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT), and Sound Transit.

GCRTA's General Manager India Birdsong Terry and Director of Training and Employee Development Wendy Talley personally welcomed the group on the first day. The meeting focused on using the SMEs' knowledge and skills to develop learning objectives and content for two rigging courses on essential rigging, lifting, and load operations. Attendees developed scenarios for common rigging applications in overhead contact system repair and maintenance. The meeting included a guided demonstration of GCRTA's rigging training setup and a tour of the 55th Street substation.

For additional information or questions about Traction Power, please contact Brandon Liu at bliu@transportcenter.org.

Traction Power Training Consortium SMEs

ITLC Attends APTA’s Workforce Conference

Last month, Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard, Technical Assistance and Outreach Associate Alashia Bryant, Executive Director Jack Clark, Senior Policy Analyst Karitsa Holdzkom, and Senior Instructional Designer Kristen Ribaudo attended and hosted an exhibit table at the American Public Transit Association’s Workforce Summit in Washington, D.C.

Jack participated in a panel titled “Building Your Bench: Training Public Transit’s Workforce,” along with FTA’s Associate Administrator for Research Demonstration and Innovation Mary Leary and the National Transit Institute’s Executive Director Billy Terry. Knowledge Architects CEO Sheila Jordan moderated the panel discussion on a range of funding, resources, and strategies for continued investment in the development and advancement of transit’s workforce.