Already understaffed, most of the nation’s transit agencies will need to replace a majority of their workers due to retirement, but recruitment efforts are not yet keeping up with the need.
Public transit agencies will have to replace most of their maintenance workers by the end of the decade, according to a new report from TransitCenter.
Writing in Governing, Jared Brey explains, “The report, Developing Transit Talent Pipelines, is the last in a series that has examined workforce challenges in the industry over the last several years.” As many transit workers reach retirement age and recruitment lags, agencies “have much more work to do to solve the challenge — and prevent it from making public transit’s woes much worse.” Currently, roughly 13 percent of mechanic positions in the industry are vacant, forcing service cuts in some fleets.
The report concludes with recommendations for filling staffing gaps that include apprenticeship programs, expanded efforts to recruit diverse populations, competitive compensation, good workplace culture, and more funding directed to workforce development. “Above all, transit agencies need to steadily improve job quality to make transit jobs attractive to young workers.”
FULL STORY: Transit Agencies Must Replace Most Maintenance Workers This Decade
TSA Suggests More Background Checks for Transit Workers
The proposal could make it even harder for short-staffed agencies to attract and hire new employees.
1,500 Temporary Layoffs for Transit Workers in Vancouver
Sad days for public transit agencies in Canadian cities could be a sign of layoffs to come for U.S. transit agencies.
Chicago Transit Faces Severe Service Cuts
Metra officials warn the agency could cut service by as much as 40 percent to make up for a massive budget shortfall.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions