Sacramento RT and union officials were joined by local dignitaries to announce the bus apprenticeship program.
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Sacramento RT and union officials were joined by local dignitaries to announce the bus apprenticeship program.
The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT), in partnership with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245, received state certification by the Department of Industrial Relations for a Bus Mechanic Apprenticeship Program, the first in Northern California.
“How we develop our workforce and train future generations of mechanics is critical to RT,” said Henry Li, RT GM/CEO. “The maintenance of our fleet of compressed natural gas buses is highly specialized because they require unique features that support carrying passengers.”
"Becoming certified by the state brings valuable training resources and funding,” said Tom Dalzell, business manager, IBEW Local 1245. “It also provides important prestige and recognition for those who complete the program.”
The 36-month program trains individuals to be a journey-level bus mechanic. Students take classes at community colleges and receive on-the-job training. Having trained and qualified mechanics is critical to RT’s mission of providing reliable bus service to the Sacramento region.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
