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Transportation Request forms for 2010-2011

Quality Service Begins with Quality Training
(Flint, Michigan, March 29, 2010) Flint’s Mass Transportation Authority lives by its mission statement to,“transport all the people who desire public transportation services in Genesee County through an integrated system that is safe, efficient, affordable and responsive.”
First and foremost, this begins with the training of the new MTA employees to become truly professional drivers. Throughout the three to four weeks of the development, students are given intensive training on the importance of safety and security, vehicle and passenger emergencies, customer service, pre-trip inspections, passes and fares as well as learning the equipment and route training. The students first exposure to simulated driving experiences takes place during the initial training, before going out independently on routes. The use of computer generated imagery gives drivers the opportunity to experience various driving conditions throught the use of a “virtual reality” program. Using training applications from the Transportation Safety Institute and the Federal Transit Administration, trainees are taught about vehicle operation, and are tested on their Commercial Drivers License, ( CDL) skills as well as given a road test. The students learn to drive the different vehicles in the fleet from New Flyers and RTS Vehicles to Blue Birds, MCI’s or vans. Throughout the hands on training, the students are taught various methods of assistance with passengers, particularly disabled passengers.
In week two of the training, students get their first taste of training behind the wheel of the vehicles, which includes basic controls, pre trip inspections and peak route training.
In week three, trainees learn the various vehicles and begin the process of learning the routes. During week four, training begins on MCI vehicles and learning the regional routes covered.
Once the three to four week training is over, drivers still go through refresher classes with five minute daily safety talks before going out on the road.
Continuous training on new methods and equipment is given to both experienced and new drivers. A total of 120 hours of group training is given behind the wheel and 40 hours in classroom training.
Included in this program for trainees is training on simulators which use computer generated imagery to provide situational awareness training to transit bus operators and trainees. The simulators enable drivers and students to get the experience they need in situational awareness training, decision making, skill training, judgment training, vehicle handling training and skills assessment for driver trainees in the safe operation of a transit bus or van. Simulated driving surfaces such as pavement, grass, gravel and dirt and sand with traction and sound variations on each for both dry and wet as well as weather conditions provide hands on vehicle operation. This is all controlled by a driving trainer.
Since last June, drivers have been receiving two to four hours of training on new Mobile Data Terminals. This will be incorporated into training, but the experienced drivers will have to be retrained. The Mobile Data Terminals, or MDT’s, keep track of mileage, passenger counts, etc. The information is downloaded and stores it, and sends it back to main computer.
For the MTA’s Your Ride Paratransit services, this will allow MTA’s control center personnel to look at schedules ahead of time and make adjustments on a as needed basis. The MDT also contains mapping programs which will enable dispatchers to locate vehicles in Genesee County.
Along with the training of drivers, MTA’s Training Coordinators must learn new systems, in order to train appropriately. MTA Training coordinators spend 20% of their time writing programs, 20-25% entering records and updating training files and up to 40% of the coordinator’s time is spent in classroom activity and refresher training.
All drivers will go through training on MTA’s newest equipment which contains trapeze programs and Mobile Data Terminals. Training Coordinators at MTA use a “Bus in a Box” module that simulates what the computers look like, and gives hands on experience, either one on one or in group settings.
MTA’s training goes beyond just training drivers. Training personnel is a high priority at MTA. The organization believes that consistent updated training is the key to the future in public transportation. MTA’s management attends monthly training sessions where customer service is a focus. Managers also go through a six week series of “Walk the Talk” a managerial leadership training program. Both Management and Maintenance are required to spend 8 hours covering policies, regulations and procedures. In addition, Maintenance will spend an additional eight hours in MIOSHA training. Maintenance employees go through five minute daily training talks at the beginning of their shifts.
In all, MTA’s training is never ending. Consistent refresher courses and information are brought to the drivers, maintenance employees and management. The training sessions are held in order to create more reliant, safer ride for passengers as well as to create better customer service.

The MTA adapts training requirements to the changing industry. The future of public transportation depends on drivers who have high quality driving skills, and employees who provide quality service in each department. The MTA will continue to live by its mission statement of “safe, reliable” transportation by providing the best training available.
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