SUMC’s Fireside Chat with FTA Acting Associate Administrator Mary Leary

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Introduction

On September 8, 2022, the Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC) hosted a fireside chat between Benjie de la Peña, SUMC CEO, and Mary Leary, Acting Associate Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation, to discuss the evolution of mobility innovation. 

The FTA’s Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation aims to improve the country’s public transportation by accelerating innovation. In pursuing this, the office provides grant funding to agencies developing innovative mobility projects all over the country. You can learn more about some of these projects from the Mobility Innovation Collaborative, a FTA and SUMC partnership that captures stories and lessons, facilitates knowledge exchange, and increases awareness about developments in mobility innovation.

A few takeaways from the conversation:

Innovation goes beyond good ideas. It is important to think of mobility innovation not just as technological advancements, but as a framework encompassing organizational culture, mission, people, goals, and more. Some of what FTA is exploring in the realm of mobility innovation include:

• Safety – For both riders and operators, safety is the #1 priority. The FTA supports innovative paths to make transportation safer; for example, battery research programs to make batteries smaller and less toxic. 
• Equity – In light of historic inequities surrounding transportation projects, it is key that those who rely on public transportation can access it. The FTA and transit agencies across the country are focusing on equity now more than ever before, and there are various new programs, funding, and legislation dedicated to it. 
• Collaboration – Innovation and collaboration go hand-in-hand. Connecting federal agencies, local government, non-profit organizations, and community leaders helps get a holistic view of what improvements are needed and how transportation can most effectively benefit a community. 
• Economic strength and global competitiveness – Many of the country’s clean energy and clean transportation goals are currently hindered due to supply chain issues and chip shortages. It’s important to ensure that the United States will be able to support upcoming technological advancements, with the ultimate goal of helping the America of the 21st century.

Cost effectiveness – While the FTA has been providing grant funding to agencies to demonstrate innovative ideas, the question about how to measure the impacts and success of a pilot project is still under discussion. The FTA is figuring out how to assess projects’ impacts to produce data to assess community benefits as well as the cost effectiveness of federal investments. This data would help to inform Congress about the value of innovative mobility projects when supported by wisely spent research funding.

Workforce development is a major concern in the transportation industry. In light of labor shortages in transit agencies across the country, the connection between innovation and workforce needs was discussed at length. Ensuring that people have the training and job security that they need makes for a healthier workforce and better transportation for all.

The conversation touched on a couple of innovative programs and organizations devoted to achieving this goal. One was the Transit Workforce Center, the first FTA-sponsored technical assistance center focused solely on workforce development. The Transit Workforce Center’s mission is to assist the transportation industry as it recruits, hires, trains, and retains transportation professionals.

A second innovative program discussed was the Chicago Transit Authority’s Second Chance Program, which provides job skills and career opportunities for people with barriers to employment to re-enter the workforce. Through this program, more than 450 participants have been hired full time to work with the CTA.

We may need to think about a culture shift. To support innovation and foster workforce growth, some agencies may need to rethink – parts of – their culture. People still want jobs in the transportation industry because they understand how public transportation benefits society, but with transit agencies competing with trucking and delivery companies, agency culture is a determinant of employee retention and recruitment. One specific challenge that was discussed was that those beginning in transit careers may not be able to find schedules flexible enough to meet their personal needs, which can make it difficult for agencies to recruit new employees. Even if the agency can recruit enough staff, rough hours or inflexible schedules can make it difficult to retain them. The transportation industry cannot innovate without dedicated workers, and agencies may need to reflect on their cultures to foster workforce development.

Thank you Acting Associate Administrator Mary Leary for joining us for this engaging and informative conversation.

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