NJ Transit, Rutgers CAIT, International Association of Public Transport partner to establish first regional training center in North America

NEWARK, NJ – NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett, along with International Association of Public Transport (UITP) Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani and Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) Director Dr. Ali Maher, announced the formation of a partnership between NJ TRANSIT, UITP, and CAIT at Rutgers University to establish UITP’s first North American Regional Training Center (RTC).

“New Jersey residents will reap massive benefits from this newly forged partnership, which convenes NJ TRANSIT, New Jersey’s premier state university, and a worldwide leader in sustainable public transportation,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “By hosting the first Regional Training Center on the continent, New Jersey will earn worldwide recognition as a North American transportation hub. Just as importantly, the establishment of the training center emphasizes our ongoing commitment to invest in the growth and development of our critical public transportation workforce.”

“NJ TRANSIT is proud to be a part of establishing UITP’s first Regional Training Center in North America,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “The training sessions to be held at the Rutgers CAIT will offer valuable information to help drive innovation in our industry. This partnership affirms both NJ TRANSIT – and the state of New Jersey – as worldwide leaders in public transportation services.”

“It is a privilege for NJ TRANSIT to lead this partnership that is establishing UITP’s first-ever North American Regional Training Center,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO and North American Representative to the Policy Board of UITP Kevin S. Corbett. ”NJ TRANSIT has benefitted greatly from its membership in UITP since 2018, which has given us access to industry best practices around the globe, as well as our strong, long-standing partnership with Rutgers CAIT.”

“Throughout its long history as an association, UITP has worked to advance sustainable urban mobility by collaborating alongside our members and external partners,” said UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani. “Collaboration is key – and we strive to do this across the globe to best reflect our international membership. I am delighted that UITP will partner with NJ TRANSIT and Rutgers CAIT to establish the first UITP Regional Training Center in North America. This is an important time for our sector, and this new partnership will provide an excellent opportunity for industry leaders to bring their expertise to a whole new audience in North America.”

“Healthy infrastructure and transit systems serve as the backbone of the US economy, and require a skilled workforce to maintain, operate, and improve them,” said Dr. Ali Maher, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rutgers University and Director of Rutgers CAIT. “The current and future transit workforce will be tasked with addressing climate change impacts, building with resilience, and improving the equity of our transportation systems. This North American Regional Training Center serves as an opportunity to share industry knowledge on a national scale and develop the next generation of transit leaders. Rutgers CAIT is excited to leverage its extensive workforce development and technology transfer programs in support of this Regional Training Center and in partnership with NJ TRANSIT and UITP.”

UITP is the only worldwide network dedicated to bringing together all public transportation stakeholders – from all forms of sustainable transportation – to advance the quality of life in our cities for everyone. UITP currently has Regional Training Centers in Europe (France, Germany, and Spain), Asia-Pacific and Eurasia (China and Turkey), South America (Chile), and South Africa, and will look to make history with NJ TRANSIT and Rutgers CAIT by establishing the first RTC in North America.

The RTCs offer first-class transportation training through the establishment of uniform standards and best practices for all areas of sustainable transportation. Additionally, the training sessions will provide a worldwide network of data and catalogs of programs driving innovation within rail, bus and much more.

NJ TRANSIT will lead the regional partnership by committing to sponsoring four training programs annually, providing guest speakers for programs when possible, and leveraging its experience as a leader in the delivery of public transportation throughout the area.

The Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) at Rutgers will act as a key partner in this endeavor by coordinating with UITP and NJ TRANSIT to provide necessary logistics and administrative support. They will also assist in the marketing of training courses, and by hosting the training sessions.

The four training programs for 2023 are:

• Public Transport Fundamentals for North America – July 2023
• Electric Buses: Fleet & Infrastructure Planning, Operations and Maintenance for North America – September 2023
• Rail Operations and Maintenance for North America – October 2023
• Ticketing and Fare Management for North America – November 2023

The benefits of this partnership include:

• Across the board enhancement of transportation services for participating organizations
• Worldwide recognition of New Jersey as a transportation hub for North America
• Additional commerce to strengthen local economy
• Global brand visibility for all agencies taking part in the sessions

For more information on this groundbreaking initiative, and links to the scheduled programs visit njtransit.com/uitp.