BART launches innovative tech training program partnership
BART has launched an innovative training program in partnership with Bay Area community colleges and local workforce investment boards to provide up to 100 students with the technical knowledge to pursue transit-related careers.
“This is truly a win-win situation,” said BART Assistant General Manager for Employee Relations Allison Picard. “Students will learn highly practical skills they can take directly to the workforce while BART will gain our most valuable resource: qualified, dedicated employees. As of January 2015, 45% of BART’s workforce was eligible to retire so it’s vital that we train the next generation of BART employees. This grant implementation is part of a comprehensive Workforce Development Plan designed to achieve that objective".
BART staff will work in partnership with Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, Chabot College, College of San Mateo and City College of San Francisco.
Partners from the local workforce investment boards include: East Bay Works representing Oakland, Alameda, Richmond and Contra Costa County, NOVA Workforce Board representing San Mateo and East Palo Alto areas and the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD).
The training program, called Transit Career Ladders Training (TCLT), will promote transportation careers in low-income areas, unemployed and underemployed communities, and among minorities, veterans and women to fill positions such as Electricians, Transit Vehicle Electronic Technicians (TVET) and Transit Communication Electronic Technicians (TCET). It is expected to last 23 months from start to completion.
The TCLT program is funded by a $750,000 Federal Transit Administration Ladder of Opportunity grant. BART’s Congressional Delegation, which was instrumental in supporting this effort, includes Representatives Jackie Speier, Barbara Lee, Mike Honda, Eric Swalwell, and Mark DeSaulnier.
At a launch celebration earlier today (November 6, 2015), Federal Transit Administration Region 9 Administrator Leslie T. Rogers joined BART General Manager Grace Crunican in applauding the partnership with BART and the community colleges and local workforce investment boards.
The next step for BART will be to work with our partners to plan advertising and outreach beginning in March.
BART is currently hiring TCETs and TVETs as it works to keep up with growing ridership. For more information about careers at BART, go to www.bart.gov/jobs.