2010 Jack R. Widmeyer Transportation Research Conference

California’s Transportation Infrastructure and Workforce Development

Peter J. Haas, Ph.D.Mineta Transportation Institute

San Jose State University

November 4, 2010

Meanings of “Workforce Development”

1. Enhance existing workforce with skills and knowledge

2. Attract and add to existing workforce with new workers

3. Fill existing vacancies with existing workers4. Others (?)

Each understanding implies different strategy

• Enhancing workforce implies training and education programs

• Adding to workforce implies programs that socialize and attract younger persons

• Filling positions implies making them more attractive, e.g. with higher salaries or immigration status

Transportation is at disadvantage for each definition

• Lack a unified academic “home”• Lack a specified career track to train and

educate for• Lack glamour and reputation for high pay• In some cases, lack specific ideas of what is

needed (e.g., high-speed rail)

UTCs seek to balance the playing field

Example: Mineta Transportation InstituteInterdisciplinary institute, housed in SJSU

College of Business since 1991Offer programs that (a) train (b) educate (c )

attract workforce participants.

Example: Garrett Morgan

Program• for middle-school students• Transportation agencies sponsor teams• MTI provides curriculum • Teams create projects to solve sustainable

transportation issues• Agency reps work with students

Videoconference in March with SecTrans

Top team receives $1000 for classroom

Example: Summer Transportation Institute

MTI program for high school students• Three weeks of summer classes• Learn about transportation issues, careers• Take field trips– Port of Oakland– Mineta San Jose Airport– Bay Bridge Authority– Transit agencies, etc.

• Meet transportation leaders• Three college credits in environmental studies

Example: MSTM Graduate Program

• Ten graduate-level courses• 19th class graduates in June• Certificates in management, security,

and (new) high-speed rail• New candidates, career-changers, those

seeking advancement

MTI’s Master of Science in Transportation Management

Enrollment, Fall 2009

• 105 enrollments• 75 pre-enrolled for Spring A* • 55 matriculated students* • 18 MSTM 2010 graduates projected

* Highest in program history

Program growth since inception

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MSTM Graduates 2001-2010 Academic Year

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MSTM Graduate trend line

Awards and Scholarships, AY 2009/10

• U.S. DOT Student of the Year – Herman Sealey - Caltrans, District 4

• APTA Foundation Scholarships– Kenneth Johansson - Caltrans, District 11

Ernesto Chavez - LA Metro• (CUTC) Parker Award for Outstanding Non-

thesis Masters Degree Paper in Policy and Planning – Darren Grilley - SeaTac, Washington

Selected Faculty

• Therese McMillan, Deputy Director MTC (now Deputy Administrator, FTA)

• Mark Raymond, Marketing Director, LA Metro• Dr. Nick Compin, Associate Planning Director,

Caltrans• Gary “Mr. Roadshow” Richards, San Jose

Mercury News

MTI Financial Aid, Fall 2009

•15 MSTM Fellowships Awarded • 2 CTM Fellowships Awarded

More than 300 MTI fellowships have been awarded since 2000

Contact Info

• Peter J. Haas, Education Director• Mineta Transportation Institute• Peter.haas@sjsu.edu• (408) 924-5691