To address the looming workforce challenges the transit industry faces, the Center brings labor and management together to develop productive solutions addressing their training needs: apprenticeship programs, mentoring and credentialing.

Apprenticeship programs benefit both employers and their workers. Quality training programs provide employers with a steady supply of skilled labor, improved equipment reliability and safety, and a high return on investment. For workers, apprenticeships provide enhanced job security, an opportunity to upgrade or learn new skills, and a career ladder for advancement within the organization. With funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Department of Transportation – Federal Transit Administration and the TRB/Transit Cooperative Research Program the Center has worked with local and national leaders to develop an industry-wide system of qualification that includes apprenticeship. The Center is now prepared to replicate this qualification model nation-wide.