Training
Texas Transit Association Statewide Training Initiative
TTA is now expanding access to educational resources by launching a Statewide training initiative covering the many obstacles that transit staff face, including funding, procurement, and regulatory compliance. This training opportunity is made possible with a grant through TxDOT.
To administer this program, TTA will work closely with Easterseals, which has over 34 years of experience developing and implementing training programs and workshops for rural, suburban, and urban transit agencies. This training curriculum will be designed and delivered to be relevant to transit providers at various levels of management, accounting, and procurement professionals, front-line supervisors, dispatchers/ call center staff, and drivers. It will incorporate best practices from both the public and the private sector.
All courses, workshops, and webinars, in-person or virtual, are designed to be interactive and participatory. These courses will be offered to Transit agencies in Texas at no cost, but space is limited, so make sure that you and your staff don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
Upcoming Training
TTA’s Upcoming Courses
These courses are offered to transit agencies in Texas at no cost by grant funding through TxDOT.
Paratransit Maintenance Technician Workshop
Date: March 9-10, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central (Day 1) and 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Day 2)
This session targets Paratransit technicians, maintenance supervisors, and maintenance managers.
Description:
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Topic: Braun Ramp and Dodge ProMaster Van Maintenance, Francois Caron, Braun Ramp Specialist
This session covers essential maintenance practices for Braun ramps and Dodge ProMaster vans to ensure reliability and longevity. It will highlight the importance of regular inspections, including checking door and ramp fasteners, lubricating hinge and pivot points, and keeping lower door channels clear of debris. Additionally, attendees will gain insights into routine maintenance tasks specific to Dodge ProMaster vans, learn how to identify potential issues early and receive key contacts for technical support and parts.
Monday, March 10, 2025, 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Topic: Common Vehicle Defects and Failures in Paratransit Vehicles, Simmon Johnson
This session focuses on common defects and failures in paratransit vehicles, providing attendees with the knowledge to identify, troubleshoot, and repair frequent issues. Participants will learn to recognize common problems, understand their root causes, and follow step-by-step diagnostic procedures to restore vehicle functionality. The discussion will be tailored to the specific vehicle types used by attendees, addressing unique challenges faced by different operators to ensure practical and relevant solutions.
Monday, March 10, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Topic: Managing your fleet video systems, Chris Ishmael, CWI Digital Systems Specialist
This session covers best practices for fleet video systems, including installation, troubleshooting, and file management. Learn optimal camera placement, system checks, preventative maintenance, and integration with other vehicle systems. Topics include troubleshooting common issues, offloading video files via various methods, and managing playback, storage, and incident files.
Heavy-Duty Technician Workshop
Date: March 9-10, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central (Day 1) and 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (Day 2)
This session targets heavy-duty technicians, maintenance supervisors, and maintenance managers.
Description:
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Topic: Maintenance Best Practices and Interdepartmental Collaboration, Kevin Bunce
This session covers maintenance best practices and interdepartmental collaboration to improve transit operations. Topics include systematic maintenance schedules, data-driven failure prevention, employee retention strategies, and fostering communication between operations, dispatch, and maintenance teams.
Monday, March 10, 2025, 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Topic: Preventative Maintenance and Troubleshooting for Voith Transmissions, Dan Hollenbach (Voith Group)
This session focuses on preventative maintenance and troubleshooting for Voith transmissions. It will cover essential maintenance practices to extend transmission lifespans and ensure optimal performance. Attendees will also learn how to identify common transmission issues, systematically diagnose and resolve problems, and utilize Voith’s support services for more complex challenges.
Monday, March 10, 2025, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Topic: Managing your fleet video systems, Chris Ishmael, CWI Digital Systems Specialist
This session covers best practices for fleet video systems, including installation, troubleshooting, and file management. Learn optimal camera placement, system checks, preventative maintenance, and integration with other vehicle systems. Topics include troubleshooting common issues, offloading video files via various methods, and managing playback, storage, and incident files.
Rural & Small Urban Transit Service Design for the Future: The Art of Science
Date: March 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Ken Hosen and Todd Hansen, KFH Group, Inc.
Description:
The theory and practice of rural transit service design has changed dramatically since the 1990s. Innovations in service designs and technology have driven these changes. Unfortunately, many rural systems are still operating 1990s services and losing out on potential ridership. The developments over the last five years tell us it is time to think in the year 2024 and use the combination of proper service design/planning and the appropriate technologies to enhance service, improve ridership and raise the stature of your system.
This introductory workshop, part of a series on rural transit service design, is focused on the basic theories that drive ridership in rural and small urban areas. All of the designs reviewed are proven in the rural transit world and many examples in Texas and across the country will be cited. The workshop will give the participants an understanding of the most appropriate 2024 service designs/options. Each of the service designs will be discussed in the context of the wide variety of service areas.
The last part of the workshop will include an exercise where participants will be able to apply what they learned in the presentation. The present-er will select an example of a real rural system and have all the participants review the service and apply the lessons learned in the session.
Giving Effective Presentation
Date: March 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Robbie Sarles, RLS & Associates and Kristen Joyner, KJ Backpack
Description:
Speak, present, and communicate with poise and power! Effective public speaking is key to your professional success and corporate image. Learn techniques to turn any presentation into a rewarding experience for you and your audience.
In this workshop, you’ll gain confidence, refine your speaking style, organize your message, and conquer the fear of public speaking. Robbie and Kristen will guide you through essentials like preparing strong beginnings, using visuals effectively, and handling speech anxiety. Plus, you’ll practice both impromptu and prepared presentations with personalized feedback.
If you need to give presentations, serve on panels, or speak at meetings, this workshop will boost your skills and confidence.
Workplace Impairment Training
Date: March 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:300 p.m. Central
Presenter: April Ramos, National Safety Council
Description:
This interactive, scenario-based course introduces a six-step process for responding to potential impairment in the workplace. Participants will explore how the scope of impairment has expanded to include a wide range of issues such as drugs and alcohol, over-the-counter medications, fatigue, stress, and mental distress.
The course addresses critical questions, including: What is the relationship between impairment and workplace safety? What factors and situa-tions can cause impairment? What are the common signs and symptoms of impairment? How should I respond when observing impairment in the workplace? What are the impacts and costs of employee impairment on a company’s bottom line? What resources are available to help recognize and address impairment in my workplace?
Managing Operational and Capital Costs at Rural and Small Urban Transit Systems
Date: March 9, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Michael Walk, TTI
Description:
In an era of rising costs, Texas rural and small urban transit agencies require effective knowledge, practices, and tools to manage operational and capital expenses. This workshop condenses 2.5 days of content developed by TTI with support from TxDOT into a focused training session. Partici-pants will gain an overview of the Guidebook and Online Course, both available at no cost, and will explore foundational concepts in cost manage-ment, including transit cost drivers, cost analysis, and reporting. The course also addresses strategies for managing directly operated labor and fuel expenses, as well as vehicle-related costs such as maintenance and replacement.
10 Steps to Starting a Travel Training Program (webinar)
Date: March 20, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Central
Presenter: Kristi McLaughlin, Easterseals Project Action
Description:
This webinar is designed to help organizations develop and implement successful travel training programs. This session outlines key steps, from identifying community needs and securing funding to recruiting travel trainers and marketing the program. It provides valuable insights into best practices, stakeholder engagement, and program administration to ensure individuals, including people with disabilities and older adults, gain the skills needed for independent travel on public transportation.
Navigating Accessibility: Understanding Fixed-Route and Paratransit ADA Requirements (remote workshop/webinar)
Date: March 27, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Kristi McLaughlin, Easterseals Project Action
Description:
Join us for this session on ensuring compliance with accessibility standards in public transportation. This session will provide an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its non-discrimination mandates. We'll delve into the specifics of fixed-route transit systems, covering essential aspects such as wheelchair securement, bus stop accessibility, and wheelchair boarding procedures to ensure an inclusive experience for all passengers. Additionally, we'll explore paratransit services, focusing on age limits, personal care assistants (PCAs), no-show policies, service beyond the curb and other accessibility considerations for both modes including reasonable modifications to enhance accessibility and meet the needs of all riders. This session is designed for transit operators, accessibility coordinators, and anyone involved in ensuring transportation services meet ADA requirements.
The Power of Your Attitude in Determining Your Success (webinar)
Date: April 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central
Presenter: Carol Kenderdine, Carol Wright Consulting
Description:
What is success to you? Every individual defines success for themselves in their own way. For some of us, our success is easy to define, and for others it is elusive and hard to pin down. As much as you try, sometimes it is very hard to change your life or work circumstances. But, you do have the power to choose how you look at your situation and the attitude you bring to your work, your home, and your ability to control your own environment.
All of us, at one time or another, express different kinds of attitudes: positive, negative, and neutral. Where we choose to spend our energy defines who we are. In the “game of life,” the positive people are the players; the negative people are the critics; and the neutral ones are the observers. We each tend to have leanings as to which of these dominates our personality. You aren’t, however, stuck with staying in one particular attitude role. A positive attitude doesn’t just happen. It is something that you have to work at all the time. When you do that, success tends to follow!
Writing Successful Grant Proposals (remote workshop/webinar)
Date: April 15, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Judy Shanley, Easterseals Project Action
Description:
Join us as we discuss the basics of grant writing and how to craft compelling proposals. This webinar covers topics such as grant writing basics and terminology, steps to writing successful grant proposals, common grant proposal sections, what to know before writing a grant proposal. covers what to know when writing a grant proposal, submitting a proposal on a tight deadline, proposal decision process, grant writing tips, grant writing don’ts, common reasons grants are declined, other grant writing considerations, and what to know after submitting a grant proposal.
Sensitivity Training for Bus Operators (remote workshop/webinar)
Date: April 17, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Kristi Mclaughlin, Easterseals Project Action
Description:
This 4-hour virtual workshop aims to educate bus drivers on appropriate behavior and communication with people with disabilities. The workshop covers various topics including assisting difficult customers, driver assistance and the ADA, service animals, effective communication, and disability awareness and sensitivity. This workshop is appropriate both for fixed-route and demand responsive bus operators.
Sensitivity Training for Bus Operators (remote workshop/webinar)
Date: April 17, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Kristi Mclaughlin, Easterseals Project Action
Description:
This 4-hour virtual workshop aims to educate bus drivers on appropriate behavior and communication with people with disabilities. The workshop covers various topics including assisting difficult customers, driver assistance and the ADA, service animals, effective communication, and disability awareness and sensitivity. This workshop is appropriate both for fixed-route and demand responsive bus operators.
CARES Transit Management Certification (2-day, in-person workshop)
Date: April 24-25, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Presenter: Carol Wright Kenderdine, Carol Wright Consulting
Description:
This 2-day certification workshop will provide the fundamental skills of transit management for new transit managers and experienced managers with the refresher they need to take a step back and review their overall program. The workshop has six modules which cover Human Resource Management; Financial Management; Operations and Service Design; Vehicle and Facilities Management; Title VI, Civil Rights, & ADA; and Customer Service. The workshop uses interactive techniques for involving all participants in the course, including scenarios, paired and large group discussions, Q and A for each module, and handout resources. There will be significant time allowed throughout for discussion of specific situations related to individual agency circumstances. A certification test is given at the end of the course. Participants must score 85% or better to receive their certification.
Agencies interested in hosting future training classes can contact Laura@TxTransit.org for details.
Host agencies are expected to provide the following:
Training Room with a projector that can accommodate up to 35 individuals classroom style.
Refreshments and coffee for morning and afternoon breaks.
Please note that the training location must be in close proximity to dining establishments to allow participants to leave and return within one hour.
Host agencies may also provide lunch if there are no dining establishments nearby.
The host agency is encouraged to offer tours of their facility.