Metro Transit Light Rail Technician Training Program

Metro Transit

Light Rail Technician

Training Program

APTA Rail Conference 2019

Brian Funk

Deputy Chief Operations Officer - Bus

Metro Transit

Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

Metro Transit – Who We Are

2

3

2016 APTA Large Transit System of the Year

Light Rail Technician Training Program

Overview and Program Design

4

Builds onto companion program

for Bus Technicians. First of its

kind, training and professional

development program designed

by the Metropolitan Council,

Workforce Development team

to help address Metro Transit’s

current and future need for

talented, safety oriented LRV

and Signal Technicians.

5

6

Goal 1: Provide a clear and direct pathway for

individuals with the interest, aptitude, and financial need

toward a career as a Metro Transit Light Rail Technician

Goal 2: Build a talented and diverse Light Rail

Maintenance and Signals Technician workforce

Goal 3: Place and sponsor up to 20 program participants

into Hennepin Technical Colleges 2 year Light Rail

Technician degree program in Fall 2016

Goal 4: Present offer of employment to the graduates in

Summer 2019

7

• Successful Metro area

workforce readiness agency

• Develop and deliver

customized exposure course

and degreed program, entitled

“Associate in Applied Science:

Light Rail Train Technician”

• Rail Training and Maintenance

Departments, Office of Equal

Opportunity, ATU 1005,

Executive, Human Resources,

Office of General Counsel

Light Rail Technician Training Program

Four Phase Program Model

8

Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV

Program

Phase

Outreach &

Assessment

Participant

Readiness

Customized Training

& Internship

Degree Program

& Internship

Time Period 3 Months 6 Months 5 Months 2 Years

400 40 20 20

9

Multi-Faceted Strategy:• Transit Open house events at

various garages

• Recruitment events at

community centers

• Current Operators /

Employees serve as recruiters

Selection Criteria:• Reading and spatial

awareness testing

Phase One: Outreach and Assessment

10

Prepare participants for a successful internship and

rigors of 2 yr. degree program

Community Partner - Twin Cities Rise!

• Personal Empowerment Classes

• Life Coaching and navigational

support

Academic tutoring

Prepares participants for Accuplacer

exam.

Phase Two: Participant Readiness

11

• Introduce Mechanical concepts through

five-month customized course, created by

Light Rail Training Division, as well as on

the job experience through a paid

internship.

• Hennepin Technical College delivers

electrical training course through degree

offerings. Full-time attendance at Hennepin

Technical College.

• Bus Maintenance Training delivers Bus /

Rail specific mechanical concepts

• 15 hrs. per week paid internship

shadowing current Technicians $15.50 / hr.

• Mentorship a critical component of Intern

success

Phase Three: Customized Training and Internship

12

• Participants attend school and work full-time,

second or third shift, while completing their 2

year degree.

• Transit pays for first year of schooling

• Continuous performance reporting provided

by academic and community partners

• Rail degree is first in country Light Rail

Technician degree

• First year: Interns earn 70% union scale,

above $20 per hour

• Second Year: Interns earn 75% union scale

• Hired as full-time Technicians upon graduation

Phase Four: Degree Completion and Internship

13

Current Cohort Profile

Year Two, Phase Four

Six Future Technicians

Graduation from Hennepin

Technical College on July 5th

+Interview Workshops

+Individual Marketing

+Apply for Open Positions!

Key Lessons Learned

14

• Initial Aptitude testing is very important

• Internal communications and partnerships between groups

to start on the same page

• Establish procedures, policies, program guidelines early

• Be willing to adapt as new issues arise

15

Brian Funk

Deputy Chief Operations Officer - Bus

Metro Transit

Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN

Brian.Funk@metrotransit.org

Metro Transit

Light Rail Technician

Training Program

APTA Rail Conference 2019