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.
TTA’s Upcoming Courses
These courses are offered to transit agencies in Texas at no cost by grant funding through TxDOT.
Title: Mobility Management and Community Engagement (webinar)
Date: January 9, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central
Instructor: Jeremy Johnson-Miller, Easterseals Project Action
Description: Mobility Managers have a unique advantage in the transportation industry, and can connect with riders one-on-one, or network with other human services providers in the community. This session provides industry insights and guides participants through various elements to community outreach, like how to craft your messaging to different members of the community from riders to elected officials. This webinar will also emphasize the importance of marketing available services, and how to clearly communicate through print media, web content or social media.
Title: Knowing What Works: Metrics and Methods to Evaluate Programs (webinar)
Date: January 16, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central
Instructor: Judy Shanley, Easterseals Project Action
Description: This interactive Webinar will highlight processes and tools to assess the performance of transportation and mobility programs. Attendees will learn about formative and summative measures that will enable them to evaluate the efficacy of the strategies they implement.
Title: Financial Management Level 2 (2-day, in-person workshop)
Dates: January 29-30, 2025
Location: El Metro Transit Center, 1301 Farragut St, Laredo, TX 78041
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central each day
Instructor: A.T. Stoddard, Consultant
Description: This workshop builds on Level 1 and provides more in-depth training in the areas of strategic planning, cost allocation plans, determining contract rates to provide service, and monitoring performance to evaluate success. The workshop will include development of cost allocation plans and build on use of cost allocation models for specific applications, particularly related to establishing contract reimbursement rates for service and how to integrate financial management with strategic planning. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to develop a cost allocation plan, determine reimbursement rates to provide service, and integrate financial management with development of a strategic plan.
Title: CARES Transit Management Certification (2-day, in-person)
Date: February 3-4, 2025
Location: AACOG, Art Training Room, 8200 Perrin Beitel, San Antonio, TX 78218
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Instructor: 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.
Title: Principles of Effective Leadership (1.5-day, in-person)
Dates: February 5-6, 2025
Location: AACOG, Art Training Room, 8200 Perrin Beitel, San Antonio, TX 78218
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central on Day 1 and 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Central on Day 2
Instructor: Carol Wright Kenderdine, Carol Wright Consulting
Description: In our day-to-day work life, we often become so bogged down with completing the necessary tasks and details that we do not take the time employ more leadership strategies into our work styles. In public transit, your life is hectic, your time is valuable, you are often overloaded, am you may sometimes feel like you are barely “hanging on.” Leadership is often the missing ingredient to greater productivity – not more work! While often we look to our managers as the “Leader,” everyone has the ability to lead others. This workshop demonstrates the essentials for effective leadership, identifies traits every leader should develop, and underscores the impact leadership skills can have on your life and the lives of those you lead.
Title: Civil Rights, Title VI, and the ADA (webinar)
Date: February 13, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Central
Instructor: Carol Kenderdine, Carol Wright Consulting
Description: As a transit agency, you are tasked with navigating a complex landscape of rules and regulations, often learning as you go while managing your daily operations. This webinar is designed to help you understand your vital responsibilities concerning Civil Rights, Title VI, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. You will have the opportunity to evaluate your agency’s practices and explore best practices for effective policy development. Additionally, you’ll gain access to valuable resources and have dedicated time for a Q&A session to address any specific challenges you’ve encountered.
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.
Recordings of past Webinars
(9/5) Transportation Emergency Preparedness – Recording of Webinar
(9/18) Building Return on Investment through Public Engagement for Mobility Managers – Recording of Webinar
(10/9) Digital Accessibility for Transport Professionals – Recording of Webinar
(10/17) Addressing Program Sustainability – Recording of Webinar
(10/30) The Caregiver Connection: Are You Missing Potential Riders? – Recording of Webinar
(12/03) Preparing for a Triennial Review – Recording of Webinar