Certificate of Achievement in Light Rail Operator

Certificate of Achievement in Light Rail Operator

Upon successful completion of 21 units of course requirements and 2000 hours of related work experience, graduates of the Certificate of Achievement in Light Rail Operator will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion of Light Rail Operator Apprenticeship from two government entities: the State of California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Apprenticeship Standards, and the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship. Graduates are employed as Light Rail Operators, an entry-level position in the mass transit field. A Light Rail Operator employed by a transit agency can readily transfer/promote into a wide range of transit career positions, if qualified.

Program Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate the skills needed to safely operate light rail vehicles on multiple transit lines in a dynamic public transit environment, while maintaining on-time performance.
• Students will display a sound command of radio, signals, switches, and physical communication systems skills in light rail vehicle operation.
• Students will utilize effective personal and interpersonal skills with a diverse community of coworkers and the riding public and deliver professional high quality transit service.

254 students have received their Transportation Program certificates through 2021. There are 273 active students currently enrolled as of February 2022; 155 of these active students need only one or  more course to complete. There is an additional projected enrollment of 75+ students through December 2022. Currently, the program has a retention/success rate of 94%.

The Certificate of Achievement in Light Rail Operator is part of the certificate programs of the Valley Transportation Authority in partnership with Mission College. The Certificate of Achievement in Light Rail Operator includes the successful completion of 21 units, including a 3-unit work experience course. The students will initially be taught through a lecture series and video training on multiple light rail lines. The students will shadow a line instructor to learn the different signals, switches, safety procedures and vehicle driving skills. Lastly, each student will drive the multiple light rail lines with their line instructor. Graduates of this program will start their career in an entry-level position in the mass transit field, with a projected retention rate of 90%.

This program supports the college mission by serving a diverse student population. Our goal in this program is to have at least 40% minorities and women receiving certificates by the end of 2022. Graduates of this program will start their career in an entry-level position in the mass transit field. Students will have access to highly qualified faculty with an average experience of over seven years in the transportation field. 

Career/Transfer Opportunities:

Career opportunities for qualified persons entering the public transit industry are very diverse. Depending on the student’s career interest and courses taken, light rail operator graduates find employment as light rail operators, coach operators, dispatchers, supervisors; and are eligible to transfer to other public transit careers such as maintenance, scheduling, or information technology (IT).

Upon successful completion of 21 units of course requirements, graduates will be qualified to perform the full duties of a light rail operator at a transit agency.

 
Required Courses:                                                                                                       Units
TRN101 – Foundations of Public Service for Transit Workers                                   2.0
TRN501 – Light Rail Operator Safety Certification                                                    2.0
TRN502 – Light Rail Operator Yard Certification                                                       2.0
TRN503A – Light Rail Infrastructure: Mainline Operation Certification                      2.5
TRN503B – Light Rail Infrastructure: Blue Line Familiarization                                 2.5
TRN503C – Light Rail Infrastructure: Orange Line Familiarization                            2.5
TRN503D – Light Rail Infrastructure: Green Line Familiarization                              2.5
TRN504 – Light Rail Train Operations                                                                       2.0
WRK300TN – Occupational Work Experience for the Transportation Industry         3.0
 
Total Required Units: 21.0

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
TRN503D	Light Rail Infrastructure: Green Line Familiarization	2.5	Y1/S1
TRN503C	Light Rail Infrastructure: Orange Line Familiarization	2.5	Y1/S1
TRN503B	Light Rail Infrastructure: Blue Line Familiarization	2.5	Y1/S1
TRN503A	Light Rail Infrastructure: Mainline Operation Certification	2.5	Y1/S1
TRN502	Light Rail Operator Yard Certification	2	Y1/S1
TRN501	Light Rail Safety Certification	2	Y1/S1
TRN504	Light Rail Train Operations	2	Y1/S1
WRK300TN	Occupational Work Experience for the Transportation Industry	3	Y1/S2
TRN101	Foundations of Public Service for Transit Workers	2	Y1/S2

Consistent with both EMP’s goals and the CCCCO’s vision, Mission College Transportation Program continues to shape the Transportation Certificates with updated revision of their courses to bridge the gaps between workforce and education. One of the strengths of the Transportation Program is its willingness to engage in open communication towards the goal of continuous improvement. As a result, we are revising a number of new courses and certificates to better align with today’s demands in the field. This program has the distinction of being one of the leading partnerships of a community college and a government agency. The partnership has grown to where many other transportation entities have reached out to Mission College to explore other alliances. Mission College as formed a new Public Transit Hub to better serve the regional workforce development needs of the public transit industry.

There are no other colleges in our service area that would be impacted by the Certificate of Achievement Light Rail operator. COE reports the following for our service area: There are no community colleges in the Bay Region issuing awards on average annually (last 3 years ending 2018-19) on TOP 0947.40 Railroad and Light Rail Operations. In other areas, College of Marin: Golden Gate Transit (new CCCCO California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) grant for bus operator apprenticeship begins April 2022) Santa Rosa Junior College: Golden Gate Transit (new CCCCO California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) grant for bus operator pre-apprenticeship program begins April 2022)(linked to College of Marin’s new CAI grant described above)