Wilson, Van Hollen Introduce Bicameral Bill to Invest in Public Transit Workforce Training

"Public transportation is the backbone of our communities," said Representative Wilson. "It connects people to jobs, education, and essential services, but right now our transit systems are facing a serious workforce shortage that threatens safety and reliability. I am proud to introduce, along with Senator Chris Van Hollen, the bicameral National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act to make sure we are investing directly in the frontline workers who keep our country moving. This legislation will strengthen training, expand apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities, and provide the long-term federal support needed to build a skilled, modern transit workforce. When we invest in our workers, we strengthen our infrastructure, improve service for riders, and build a more resilient future for every community."

"From vehicle mechanics to train operators, transit workers are the foundation of our public transportation systems - making sure riders get where they need to go. This bill will ensure the Transit Workforce Center continues to open up opportunities for Americans to land good-paying jobs and will help address the persistent worker shortages in this field. Growing the pipeline of well-trained transit employees is key to helping transit systems across the country run safely and efficiently so they can best serve the millions of Americans who rely on them," said Senator Van Hollen.

"This Administration's failed economic policies are hurting American workers. I'm fighting for good-paying jobs so that families don't just live on margins but can live beyond their wildest dreams. Our National Transit Workforce Training Act helps meet the need for highly trained transit workers and creates a pathway for more good-paying jobs. These workers will do the essential job of making sure our transportation systems work efficiently and get Marylanders where they need to be," said Senator Alsobrooks.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration under the Biden Administration established the Transit Workforce Center after direction by Congress in the FY20 Minibus Appropriations bill in 2021, modeled on an earlier version of this legislationintroduced by Senator Van Hollen in 2020. This center was created to address the challenges of recruiting, training, and retaining skilled workers in the transit industry. This legislation makes this Center a permanent entity by law, enabling Congress to provide consistent and reliable federal funding to support its activities.

This legislation authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to award grants to a nonprofit organization with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide transit career ladder programs through labor-management partnerships and apprenticeships on a nationwide basis. The Center, in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration and public transportation authorities, develops and conducts training and educational programs for frontline local transportation employees who work for public transportation systems that receive federal funding. Along with establishing national standards for transit maintenance and operations skills, the Center provides training to local transit operators in both rural and urban transit systems.

Text of the bill can be viewed here.

The National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act is supported by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), and the Transportation Trades Department of AFL-CIO (TTD).

"The Transit Workforce Center (TWC), the Federal Transit Administration's national technical assistance center for transit workforce development, has been a great partner since being created just a few years ago. TWC plays a critical role in bringing labor and management in the transit industry together. This unique partnership helps us achieve our most important goal - to ensure safe, affordable, and efficient public transit for millions of Americans who rely on our service. This bill, which would officially establish the Center in federal law, is long overdue," said Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John A. Costa. "We thank Senator Van Hollen and Representative Wilson for moving forward on this legislation and will work to get it included in the surface transportation reauthorization bill."

"Every day, dedicated front-line transit workers, including our own AFSCME members, help people go to work, take their kids to school and go about their lives, but transit agencies nationwide are struggling to recruit and retain the skilled workforce needed to deliver safe and reliable services," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. "Sen. Van Hollen's legislation will help provide the Transit Workforce Center the stability and resources it needs to build a strong pipeline of skilled workers across the country. AFSCME members are proud to endorse this effort to support these hardworking public servants and the communities who depend on them."

"The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) commends Senator Van Hollen for championing the Transit Workforce Center Act. This legislation gives our industry the tools to recruit, train, and retain the next generation of professionals who will operate and maintain the public transit systems communities depend on. Investing in the transit workforce means investing in mobility and access for every rider, in every community," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas.

"With its focus on front-line transit workers, the Transit Workforce Center has provided outstanding resources and technical assistance for smaller transit agencies around the nation with driver recruitment and retention, mechanic skills building and apprenticeship programs. Many systems are today safer and more effective due to the TWC's important contributions," said Scott Bogren, Executive Director, CTAA.

"Frontline workers are the people who implement every safety initiative across our transportation systems," TWU International President John Samuelsen said. "As new technology and equipment evolves, it is essential that these workers have the training they need to properly use and oversee these tools. The National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act will help ensure that workers are always prepared and ready as new ideas are deployed in our transit systems."

"As America's largest transportation labor federation, we thank Senator Van Hollen for recognizing the invaluable work of the Transit Workforce Center and ensuring that it continues to serve the transit industry for years to come. A trained, supported workforce is a non-negotiable for safety and efficiency within our nation's public transit network," said President Greg Regan, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD).

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