2021

Across Ohio and throughout the world we’re experiencing an era of
 unprecedented mobility technology innovations – which some are calling the “transformation of transportation” – changing the ways we move people and goods every day. These “smart mobility” solutions offer the potential for significant improvements in transportation safety, mobility, access, and reliability across our communities – but to fully realize this potential, the most important ingredient is talent.

DriveOhio, an initiative of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the state’s one-stop shop for automated and connected vehicles on the ground and in the air, is preparing Ohio’s workforce with a portfolio of smart mobility workforce development programs – for emerging workers, from Pre-K to PhD – and for existing workers, from career technical programs to higher education certificates and degrees. During this poster session, we will provide an overview of DriveOhio’s statewide portfolio of smart mobility workforce development programs that engage, prepare, and up-skill Ohio’s workforce, including recent case studies and upcoming initiatives.

Case studies will include: (1) up-skilling programs for automotive technicians on topics including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle (CV) technology; (2) capstone projects for higher education and high school students linked to DriveOhio smart mobility initiatives; and (3) statewide K-12 design challenges focused on smart mobility and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, in collaboration with the Ohio STEM Learning Network.

The Center for International Trade and Transportation (CITT) at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) partnered with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to develop a Sustainable Freight Foundations pilot certificate program for middle managers. The first cohort will complete the program in December 2020.

Environmental and other compliance regulations have changed workforce responsibilities for managers in transportation and supply chain industry sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic, moreover, has further increased these demands. Compliance reporting, efficient and effective program management using KPIs; foundational knowledge of the supply chain, energy ecosystems, infrastructure, and legal issues in risk management; and the use and presentation of data require targeted training at the middle managerial level. This program’s aim is to provide training so managers can identify inefficiencies in production, improve operations, increase revenue, and enhance both environmental and economic sustainability.

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the core competencies needed by State DOT Highway Safety Engineers as perceived by Highway Safety experts in the United States. First, a list of competencies was identified. Next, a panel of Highway Safety experts determined the importance of each identified competency for the current year (2020) and for the future (year 2030). Finally, ratings provided by the panel were tested for the presence of consensus.

For this study, the researcher used a Delphi Method as classified by Delbecq, Van de Ven, and Gaustafson (1975). Through this method, a panel of forward-thinking experts in the field of Highway Safety were surveyed to find consensus of important and needed technical competencies for current and future Highway Safety Engineers (Gupta & Clarke, 1996). Through three rounds, these panel members were able to suggest and rate competencies, with the option to provide any feedback they deemed necessary.

Based on previous literature, a review of various professional organizations, and extensive interviews, 50 competencies were generated. During Round 1, this list of competencies was sent to identified highway safety experts across the U.S. and asked, “Is this competency important for Highway Safety Engineers for the year 2020 (or 2030)?” Here, the panel suggested edits to 9 currently listed competencies and defined 18 additional competencies. In Round 2, participants rated all 68 competencies on a five-point anchored scale. In Round 3, the panel was provided the median scores for each competency listed in Round 2 and asked to keep or change their rating to match the group’s rating and provide any justification as necessary.

At the conclusion of Round 3, all competencies were listed as achieving consensus as established a’ priori at greater than 50% indicating a set of core competencies essential to the role of Highway Safety engineers in the year 2020 and 2030. Since the panel was shown to be effective and forward-thinking in their views, the researcher recommends state DOTs and national organizations involved in trainings regarding highway safety engineers move toward the inclusion of all competencies rated substantial or high importance in required training.

Technology Transfer is a vital component in the process of timely implementation of innovative emerging technologies. Workforce development programs and organizational excellence that understands the needs of the customer, are crucial in any technology transfer process. Effective research-to-practice initiatives require a robust and credible technology transfer program. Resilient and sustainable systems, considering the new norm of COVID-19 will also require innovative approach in workforce development, moving towards 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center (PRLTAP-T2), since its foundation in 1986, has been promoting technology transfer in the different areas associated with planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the built surface transportation infrastructure. Eight (8) federal legislation bills have been approved since the establishment of the Puerto Rico RTAP, currently known as LTAP-T2 (STAA, STURAA, ISTEA, NHS, TEA-21, SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21, and FAST)*, that have impacted the quality of life of all users of the surface transportation system in the US.

This poster will describe the success partnerships associated with workforce development and organizational excellence that the Puerto Rico LTAP has participated in an exciting journey of training and technology transfer, serving as the bridge in the Americas in technology transfer and workforce development.