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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
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2016 APTA Large Transit System of the Year
Light Rail Technician Training Program
Overview and Program Design
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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.
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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
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• 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
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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
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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
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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Brian Funk
Deputy Chief Operations Officer - Bus
Metro Transit
Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN
Metro Transit
Light Rail Technician
Training Program
APTA Rail Conference 2019
