Across the country, state departments of transportation continually host a wide variety of training events to help sharpen the skills of their own workers as well those of external entities.
[Above photo by the Illinois DOT]
For example, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to host 11 workshops statewide from April through June to help local governments and communities learn about and apply for funding opportunities via the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.
Organized through Illinois DOT’s ongoing Special Programs Assistance Conferences, the workshops will help stakeholders identify projects that qualify and learn how to craft successful applications. Each session will take place over two days, with group presentations the morning of the first day followed by one-on-one appointments and networking opportunities throughout the remainder of the workshop, the agency said in a statement.
Made possible by federal and state funds administered by Illinois DOT, the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program helps to support bike and pedestrian travel, as well as make other surface transportation improvements that promote quality of life and expanded options for getting around communities.
Meanwhile, in terms of encouraging internal improvements, the Idaho Transportation Department noted that it offers about 2,000 training courses statewide every year – offering courses designed to improve technical skills and increase the abilities of ITD employees.
ITD added that such training not only helps employees learn new skills and sharpen current ones, but to learn from each other – sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration that helps strengthen all of the agency’s teams.
Instead of relying on lecture-style formats, ITD said many of its courses “create space” for conversation and shared experience. “We have subject matter experts all across the state doing great things in their own districts,” explained Ty Winther, ITD maintenance operations manager, in a statement. “Bringing them together really brings out the good things they’re doing. This space gives us the opportunities to talk about innovations and best practices.”
Those ideas don’t always surface in day-to-day work, ITD noted – but in a training setting, teams are more willing to share what’s working, the agency said.
“These opportunities are also a way to keep institutional knowledge within the institution,” Winther explained. “If we don’t come together and collaborate, we’re not able to share as much or learn from each other.”
[Editor’s note:AASHTO Technical Training Solutions, a technical service program offered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, offers a library of more than 250 online training modules covering a variety of topics within three primary disciplines: operations, maintenance, and materials. For more information, click here.]
Concurrently, state DOTs also use equipment skills contests as another training tool for both their own employees as well as outside agencies.
For example, transit operators from across Alabama recently gathered for the annual ALTRANS Roadeo March 13-14 to sharpen their driving skills and reinforce safety protocols.
Hosted by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), the ALTRANS Roadeo brings together drivers from rural transit agencies statewide for a mix of training courses and competitive events. Throughout the Roadeo, participants navigate a driving course designed to test precision, awareness, and control – the same skills they rely on while transporting passengers in their communities, the agency noted in a statement.
While the competition draws attention, the purpose behind it runs deeper, ALDOT said, as the Roadeo gives transit operators a chance to practice in a controlled environment, learn from one another, and build confidence behind the wheel. It also highlights the level of professionalism required in a job that often happens quietly but plays a critical role in keeping people connected, the agency said.
ALDOT administers the ALTRANS program, which supports rural public transportation across the state with federal funding. The program helps provide access to jobs, medical care and daily needs for residents who may not otherwise have reliable transportation options, the agency noted.
