Transportation Workforce

Development

Vermont – New Hampshire - Maine

Transportation Systems Institute

Clark Martin

Office of Technical Services

Federal Highway Administration

December 7, 2011

Effective, Efficient, Safe

Transportation Network

Vital to US economic growth and stability

Supports US ability to compete in an increasingly competitive global economy

Provides mobility for commuters, access to recreational facilities, and a quality of life that US citizens have come to expect and enjoy

The Nation’s Highway Program

8,420,589 Lane Miles, 46,630 Interstate Highway Miles

3,014,116 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled

599,766 Bridges

Challenges

Safety

Congestion

Maintenance/Repair

Transportation Need

US population has increased by 45

million since 1990 to 320 million today

Vehicle miles travel is growing twice as

fast as the population

As population grows, suburban sprawl

drives new challenges for land use

Significant number of drivers over 65 in

the next 20 years

…

Workforce Challenges

40-50% of the transportation workforce will retire in the next 10 years

Fewer people are going into key transportation fields

Competition for workers from other industries

Challenge of reaching women and minorities

Changing Technologies/Improved Processes

RETIREMENTS SMALLER

HIRING POOL

NEW SKILL

REQUIREMENTS

“The Perfect Storm”

U.S. Birth Rates

Baby Boomers Generation X

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Generation Next

AVERAGE

RETIRING

HIRING

1.1

1.7

2.6

1.6

1.21.0

0.2

1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-2000

2000-2015

2015-2025

ProjectedSOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates in percent.

Annual rates of labor force growth, 1950-2025

Effect of Recession/Lower

Revenues

Challenge to State DOTs

Staff Reductions/Less investment in

Workforce Development

Connecticut – 817 positions reduced (25%)

New York – 140 DOT workers laid off

North Carolina – 400 positions cut

Missouri – 1,200 jobs lost (19%)

Awareness

of Field

Build Skills

Early

Career

Choices

College

Choices

Stay in

Major

Employment/

Graduate

School

Development

Choices

Rehire

K-12 COLLEGE EMPLOYMENT

Workforce Development

Continuum

Engineering

Major Disciplines/Education

Logistics/Distribution System Management

(State/local agencies)

Construction

K-12 Community College University Professional Development

FHWA

Working With Partner Organizations

in Key Areas of:

Engineering

Construction/Maintenance

Highway System Management

State DOT

Local Agency

Engineering

– American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

144,000 members

– American Council of Engineering Companies

(ACEC); Consulting Engineering Companies

– Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE); traffic

engineering/operations, Intelligent Transportation

Systems

Construction/Maintenance

– American Road and Transportation Builders

Association (ARTBA) - focus on road

construction/maintenance

– Associated General Contractors of America;

major highway building interest (AGC) -

general construction including road

Highway System Management

State DOT

-American Association of State and Highway Officials (AASHTO)

–AASHTO Human Resources Subcommittee State HR Directors

–Other AASHTO Committees/Subcommittees

–State DOT Workforce Toolkit

-National Transportation Training Directors

Highway System Management

Local Agency

– American Public Works Association (APWA) 29,000 public agency members: transportation, water

management, solid waste management

– National Association of County Engineers (NACE) 1900 members

– Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Provides training, professional development for local

agencies; Center in every state and Puerto Rico

Engineering

Major Disciplines/Education

Logistics/Distribution (System Management

State/local agencies)

Construction

K-12 Community College University Professional Development

Continuing Activities

Work with key transportation organizations for better workforce data (capacity/capability)

Organization Workforce Discussions Held October 25-27

Engage Departments of Education and Labor

Identify and replicate successful workforce development programs (transportation industry, education and communities)

Develop network of transportation and education groups by state to coordinate workforce development at the state and local levels

SAFETEA-LU Section 5204(f) Transportation Education Development Pilot Program

Grant Program to develop transportation curriculum/programs

$1.875 million, each year, FY06-09

Grants limited to $300,000 each recipient

100% federal, 06-08; 25% recipient, 09

All funds committed; 06-09

Continuing Resolution Funds Available

Institutions of higher education

University of Idaho

Four modules: one each university; critical area of

transportation engineering

Modules: 30 hours each

Field based problems, student materials, instructor material,

workshops, focus on interactive learning, students work in

groups

Modules delivered in ten week period

Distance learning/instructor lead

Penn State University North Dakota State University

Transportation Management and Operations

Certificate Program

Design and implement an e-learning

transportation graduate certificate

10 UTC Region University Transportation Centers

4 courses for certificate: two required courses

California State University

Identifying Needs of local, regional and metropolitan transportation

Focus on Region between San Diego and Ventura, California and ways to bring transportation and education together

Develop and test strategies for career outreach, preparation and development

Year one: identify strategies

Year two: develop strategies/tool kit

Year three: pilot testing program/strategies

Polk Community College

Program for Supply Chain Management

Develop, test industry driven, competency based curricula/courses for entry level positions

Create SC Management Associate Degree and support matriculate into a four-year program

Support Career academy for middle and high school students in Polk County School System

University of Baltimore

Working with Maryland State Highway Administration

in areas of Maintenance; Finance; Real Estate

Inventory current SHA professional development offerings

Conduct a SHA wide competency and skills analysis, identify gaps

Conduct an analysis of best practices in corporate university implementation

Develop a methodology for evaluating professional development activities

North Dakota State University

Designed to meet the training needs of four state DOTs

North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana

Develop a series of technical web-based training modules

Intended for DOT technicians and new engineers

National implementation opportunities

Local Technical Assistance Program

Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council

Community Colleges

University of Missouri - Rolla

Assist in developing a National Strategy for Transportation Workforce Development

Coordinate private and public sector workforce programs across the transportation continuum

K-12, Community College, University, Career Professional Development

University of Southern Illinois sub-grantee to Missouri for Transportation Career Clusters, Grades 6-12 www.transportationcareers.org/

University of Vermont

Working with Maine, Vermont,

New Hampshire DOTs

Four focus areas: 1. Transportation Systems Academy to support state DOT

succession planning

2. Community Colleges to include transportation case studies in curriculum

3. Second Careers, working with AARP for retirees to resume careers in transportation

4. Department of Corrections: transportation training for young offenders; work with employers for placement

TEDPP Continuing

Resolution (CR) Funds

SAFETEA-LU Expired 9/30/09

TEDPP CR funds @ $3 million

Invest CR funds in Workforce Development:

Continue/expand current TEDPP grant programs

Initiate New Efforts

K-12

Community Colleges

University

Vermont Pathway & TSI

Regional Workforce Center Pilot

National Transportation Workforce Development Strategy Lead by Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)

Includes USDOT Operating Administrations representatives

Engage Public and Private Sector Partners

Common Linkages

across modes

Data/statistics/analyses

Successful practices

Education engagement

Downsized industries

New technologies

Workplace practices

Performance metric Rail

Air

Water

National Transportation

Workforce Development

Strategy

Motor Carriers

Highway

Transit Pipeline

Highway Modal Profile

Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAY INDUSTRY

OVERVIEW OF HIGHWAY WORKFORCE

A estimated 80% of all State DOT employees work

in the highway area

Private sector important to highway program delivery

Highway workforce consists of all occupations: Planning, Construction, Engineering, Maintenance, Finance, Safety, Environment

Working to update Highway Profile to include enhanced data, workforce capacity, skills information

Workforce Skill Needs

Critical competencies include:

Leadership

Strategic Systems Thinking

Quality Management

Organizational Knowledge

People Management

Technical Knowledge

Workforce Provisions in SAFETEA-LU

Title V Training and Education Provisions

National Highway Institute

Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Tribal

Technical Assistance Program (TTAP)

Eisenhower Fellows Program

Transportation Education Development Pilot

Program

Garrett Morgan Program (K-12 focus on

underrepresented groups)

Section 504(e) Core Programs for Workforce

Development (STP, NHS, Bridge, Maintenance,

CMAQ) 100% federal funding

State Program Funds for

Workforce Development 23USC504(e)

No Match Required…100% funding Expanded Definition of Training and Education Funds can be used for:

Training current workforce “Pipeline” activities to encourage young people to pursue transportation careers Internships, scholarships, cooperative education

programs

As of 12/31/10…40 states invested $87,107,840 core funds in workforce development

University Transportation Centers Program

SAFETEA-LU

60 Universities: transportation research, education, technology transfer

$76.7 million, each year, FY05-09

10 National Centers

10 Region Centers

10 Tier I UTCs

22 Tier II UTCs

8 UTCs in Title III

All earmarked except 10 Regional Centers

University Transportation Centers Program

Now

Entire program open to competition

Every highway bill since 1987, only the 10 Region Centers were competed

Secretary LaHood decision to compete all Centers following expiration of SAFETEA-LU

New Program will include 10 Regional Centers,

10 Tier I Centers, 2 Tier 1 Transit Centers

Focus areas: Safety; State of Good Repair; Economic Competitiveness; Livable Communities; Environmental Sustainability

Proposal submissions: July 29 – October 26, One year funding

Competition may set precedent for new authorization UTC program – no earmarks

Reauthorization

Senate: introduced its bill 2 year program

Maintains SAFETEA-LU funding levels

House: expected to introduce its bill

in February/March, 2012 6 year program

Agreement to look for funding to support

current levels (SAFETEA-LU)

Skilled, Technically Competent

Workforce Development

Deliver transportation program to meet the

Nation’s growing transportation needs

Transportation demand increasing faster than

available resources

Apply new technologies for greater return on

investment

USDOT National Engineers Program

April 6, 2011, Catholic University; Directed to High School Students; 350 Washington DC area high school students participated

FHWA Office of Technical Services lead program planning and management

Three emphasis areas: Transportation industry overview; University Engineering Programs; Professional Engineering Organizations

Presentations by Deputy Secretary John Porcari; FHWA, FRA, FAA, FTA, FMCSA, NHTSA, RITA; Four university engineering schools; Professional Engineering Organizations (NSPE, ASCE, ACEC, ITE, ACE Mentoring)

Videotaped for access by national and state education/transportation organizations to reach middle/high school, community college students

Available on FHWA website: www.fhwa.dot.gov

Secretary of Transportation LaHood to introduces videos

National Transportation

Workforce Summit April 24-26, 2012 - Washington, DC

Bring together key private and public sector transportation, and education and labor workforce develop interests

Identify issues/barriers to workforce development, successful programs, develop/support national strategy

Institutionalize Transportation Workforce Development processes/best practices

Secretaries of Transportation, Education and Labor to be invited

It’s About People

“To provide for the

public good…”