Transit workforce development is no longer a separate planning exercise. As agencies modernize fleets and adopt new vehicle technologies, they also need to prepare operators, technicians, supervisors, and support staff for new systems, tools, and operating demands. This presentation will highlight CALSTART’s perspective on how workforce development can better support fleet modernization, with a focus on practical strategies agencies can apply in the real world.

Drawing from CALSTART’s work across clean transportation, technology transition, and transit engagement, the session will examine common workforce challenges tied to modernization, including skill gaps, training needs, recruitment pressures, and the need for stronger coordination between agencies, training providers, and other partners. The presentation will also discuss lessons learned, promising approaches, and actions agencies can take to better align workforce planning with vehicle deployment, infrastructure needs, and long-term operational readiness. Attendees will leave with practical takeaways to strengthen workforce readiness within their organizations.

This session provides a practical roadmap for planning, executing, and winning a public transit ballot initiative campaign. Participants will explore the full lifecycle of a successful initiative—from identifying a viable policy issue and building a coalition to fundraising, messaging, voter outreach, and Election Day strategy. Drawing on real-world case studies, the session will examine what separates winning campaigns from losing ones, including legal considerations, research, messaging, media strategy, and grassroots mobilization. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and strategic insights to help navigate the political, operational, and communications challenges of advancing policy change through the ballot process.