Already understaffed, most of the nation’s transit agencies will need to replace a majority of their workers due to retirement, but recruitment efforts are not yet keeping up with the need.

Public transit agencies will have to replace most of their maintenance workers by the end of the decade, according to a new report from TransitCenter.
Writing in Governing, Jared Brey explains, “The report, Developing Transit Talent Pipelines, is the last in a series that has examined workforce challenges in the industry over the last several years.” As many transit workers reach retirement age and recruitment lags, agencies “have much more work to do to solve the challenge — and prevent it from making public transit’s woes much worse.” Currently, roughly 13 percent of mechanic positions in the industry are vacant, forcing service cuts in some fleets.
The report concludes with recommendations for filling staffing gaps that include apprenticeship programs, expanded efforts to recruit diverse populations, competitive compensation, good workplace culture, and more funding directed to workforce development. “Above all, transit agencies need to steadily improve job quality to make transit jobs attractive to young workers.”
FULL STORY: Transit Agencies Must Replace Most Maintenance Workers This Decade

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

Oregon Legislature to Consider Transit Funding Laws
One proposal would increase the state’s payroll tax by .08% to fund transit agencies and expand service.

Housing Vouchers as a Key Piece of Houston’s Housing Strategy
The Houston Housing Authority supports 19,000 households through the housing voucher program.

Rural Population Grew Again in 2024
Americans continued to move to smaller towns and cities, resulting in a fourth straight year of growth in rural areas.
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