In April, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08), a senior member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, joined Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) to introduce the Transit Workforce Development Act, a bill to “expand workforce training and strengthen the pipeline of skilled workers needed to support the nation’s public transportation systems.”

The bill amends federal transit law to allow a greater portion of existing bus and bus facility grants to be used for workforce development, including training programs, registered apprenticeships, and labor-management partnerships.

“For too long, our federal transit programs have treated workforce development as an afterthought when in reality, transit workers are the backbone of the system,” Rep. Garamendi said. “This legislation will help transit agencies build up a highly skilled workforce to operate and maintain the next generation of transit. I’m grateful for Rep. Wilson’s leadership on this issue.”

“Our transit systems cannot run without the people who power them,” said Rep. Frederica S. Wilson. “We are facing a workforce crisis. Experienced workers are retiring, technology is rapidly changing the job, and too many agencies do not have the resources to train the next generation. This bill is about investing in people, creating real career pathways, and making sure our transit workforce is ready for the future.”

Transit Workforce Gap Widens as Technology Advances

According to a release, public transportation agencies across the country are confronting significant workforce shortages, compounded by rapid technological changes such as the transition to zero-emission buses. These advancements require new technical skills, including expertise in high-voltage systems, electronic diagnostics, and advanced safety procedures. However, current training programs remain limited and underfunded.

“Today’s transit buses are way different under the hood compared to twenty or even ten years ago,”  said John Costa, president of Amalgamated Transit Union International. “Battery electric buses require a different set of skills to not only repair and maintain, but to operate. Our union has been a leader in developing transit workforce development programs to train our members with the skills and knowledge to have successful careers in public transit. We commend Representative Wilson and the other 19 Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for introducing the Transit Workforce Development Act. It is long overdue!”    

"Public transit is a service that so many working families rely on, and it is crucial that we are investing in the workforce training needed to keep these systems safe and reliable as transit vehicle technology advances,” said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “TTD strongly supports the Transit Workforce Development Act because it will help to solve some of the current challenges facing transit systems, and promote job quality, retention, and recruitment in the industry."  

The Transit Workforce Development Act addresses these challenges by:

• Increasing the workforce development set-aside from 5% to 10% under the Low or No Emission Bus Program.
• Allowing up to 10% of bus and bus facility grant funds to be used for workforce training.
• Expanding training eligibility across all federal bus programs under 49 U.S.C. §5339.
• Supporting registered apprenticeships and labor-management training partnerships.

The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.