The Twin Cities’ transit agency employs more than 2,800 people and provides bus, light rail, and commuter rail service in the greater Minneapolis–St. Paul area.

Metro Transit for years had high-quality technical training as part of its bus operator onboarding, said Brian Funk, deputy general manager, but the agency felt that an important piece was missing: the ability for new drivers to feel like they were truly part of the team and part of the culture.

Metro’s solution was to work closely with the ATU to provide an opportunity for new union drivers to enroll in a Department of Labor two-year registered apprenticeship

Read the article on page 18-19 of APTA’s How to Create Internships and Apprenticeships: Designing Programs That Develop the Workforce and Lead to Permanent Hire mini-guide.