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    1. Rail
    2. Maintenance

    SMART to develop in-house training program for signal technicians

    Dec. 18, 2020
    Finding qualified technicians has been difficult because it has been six decades since the North Bay has heavy rail operations.
    Related To: Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District
    SMART
    Smar Ttrain Crossingarmsdown Credit Smart 5fdbfcc51d95f

    Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) will create a new in-house training program for Signal Technicians - positions that have been hard to fill for the rail service.  

    SMART began meeting with local colleges in 2016 to discuss the development of career technical education programs that would teach skills relevant to critical positions at SMART, such as Signal Technician and Vehicle Maintenance Technician. District staff also participated in employer advisory panels hosted by the colleges. SMART has moved forward with developing the new in-house Signal Technician training program as the most efficient way to position SMART to fill these essential jobs.

    "It has long been a goal to train and hire qualified local candidates at SMART," said Eric Lucan, Chair of the SMART Board of Directors. "Qualified candidates for these specialized positions have been difficult to find because railroads have not operated in the North Bay for nearly 60 years."

    "This program moves us forward in filling mission-critical positions like Signal Technician, that have been so difficult to fill." said SMART Human Resources Manager Lisa Hansley, "We have been working in partnership with our colleges and labor unions, and we are providing our local workforce an exciting opportunity to start a new career in railroad."