Developing an ROI Assessment Model of Training, Apprenticeship, and Mentorship Programs in California Transit Agencies

There is little research on the ROI associated with investments in workforce training in the public sector and even less that specifically addresses transit agencies. Multiple recent reports produced by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), TransitCenter, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) emphasize the importance of training and enhancing the skillset of transit agency employees, either to improve retention or to keep employees up to speed on present policy and technology developments. Yet, this collective call-to-action remains difficult to implement as a substantial change in organizational policy in part because of the lack of metrics or criteria necessary for a transit agency to justify expenses incurred as a result of workforce training, both within the agency itself and to external stakeholders.