Brian Cronin

Strategies to Attract and Retain a Capable Transportation Workforce

Even with workforce investments, many departments of transportation traditionally have experienced difficulty attracting and retaining capable employees. Noting that strategies need to reflect the evolving composition of applicants and the workforce, a new NCHRP guidebook presents straightforward, implementable practices for hiring, plus information on workforce challenges, industry strategies, and noteworthy models.

Building a Sustainable Workforce in the Public Transportation Industry—A Systems Approach

This report provides a guidebook that addresses contemporary issues in workforce development, retention, and attraction, and public transportation image management. The guidebook provides practical tools to transit agencies on a variety of workforce issues, including workforce strategies that enhance organizational processes, performance metrics to evaluate the impact of workforce strategies, image management techniques that improve perceptions of the public transportation industry, and benchmarking processes that allow for continuous organizational improvement. The guidebook is separated into modules that may be used independently or together in the form of the fully integrated guidebook. The modules address the following areas: strategies for recruitment, retention, training and development, and professional capacity building (Module 1); metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of human resource practices adopted or contemplated (Module 2); reflections and strategies that pertain to image management (Module 3); and a framework for an ongoing benchmarking process (Module 4). In addition, separate editable metrics scorecards are included that allow for input of metrics ratings tailored to match the specific situation of the organization using the scorecards. Information across the modules is in the form of example successful programs, state-of-the-art initiatives, industry effective practices, and directions to implement and measure those practices. The results of this research may be used by human resource professionals and transportation policy makers in implementing more effective human resource business-planning processes.

Selected State DOT Cost Reduction Initiatives for the Administration of State Public Transportation Programs

This digest describes the results of National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 20-65, Task 38, Estimated Impact of Selected State DOT Cost Reduction Initiatives on the Administration of State Public Transportation Programs, which was conducted by ICF International, Fairfax, Virginia. The purpose of this research was to identify the effects and costs associated with implementing cost containment initiatives as well as to suggest ways in which state departments of transportation can make informed decisions regarding the use of these various initiatives. The digest provides a summary of the project, the background literature review, and the project results. In addition, a Cost Containment Decision Guide that was created based on the results of this study is included.

Attracting, Recruiting, and Retaining Skilled Staff for Transportation System Operations and Management

This report presents guidance to help transportation agencies recruit and retain qualified professional staff in the Systems Operation and Management (SOM) area. It is based on an analysis of SOM career paths, skill requirements, and training needs to identify successful programs, state-of-the-art initiatives, and best industry practices. This report will be useful for all transportation professionals working in the SOM area and the Human Resources staff who address their personnel requirements.

Guidebook for Recruiting, Developing, and Retaining Transit Managers for Fixed-Route Bus and Paratransit Systems

This Guidebook provides fixed-route bus, general public demand response, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit systems resources to assist in the recruitment, development, and retention of managers. The Guidebook is accompanied by CRP-CD-77 that provides Model Job Descriptions for 32 broad job titles that indicate the structure and content for job descriptions for manager jobs. This Guidebook will be of interest to transit providers and their governing boards.