NJ TRANSIT and Rutgers CAIT to Establish First Regional Training Center in North America for Public Transportation

NJ TRANSIT, Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) have teamed up to establish the first-ever North American Regional Training Center (RTC) at Rutgers University. This partnership will put New Jersey on the map as a transportation hub and allow the state to showcase its commitment to investing in the growth and development of its public transportation workforce.

This exciting news was announced by NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett, UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani, and Rutgers CAIT Director Dr. Ali Maher, who signed the agreement formalizing the partnership on March 16, 2023, at the Rutgers CAIT. The first four training programs for 2023 have already been scheduled, with courses covering everything from public transport fundamentals to ticketing and fare management.

“This partnership affirms both NJ TRANSIT – and the state of New Jersey – as worldwide leaders in public transportation services,” 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.”

UITP is the only worldwide network dedicated to bringing together all public transport stakeholders to advance the quality of life in our cities for everyone. The establishment of a North American RTC will provide a unique opportunity for industry leaders to share their expertise with a new audience. The training sessions will provide a worldwide network of data and catalogs of programs driving innovation within rail, bus, and much more.

“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,” said Dr. Ali Maher, Director of Rutgers CAIT. “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.”

NJ TRANSIT will lead the regional partnership by sponsoring four training programs annually, providing guest speakers when possible, and leveraging its experience as a leader in the delivery of public transportation throughout the area. CAIT will act as a key partner by coordinating with UITP and NJ TRANSIT to provide necessary logistics and administrative support.

The benefits of this partnership are far-reaching and include a boost to transportation services for participating organizations, global brand visibility for all agencies taking part in the sessions, and additional commerce to strengthen the local economy. With this partnership, New Jersey is poised to become a transportation hub for North America, and the training sessions will play a critical role in the growth and development of the public transportation workforce.

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

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000-weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations, and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.

About Rutgers CAIT

Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) tackles some of the country’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, especially those that are endemic in high-volume multimodal corridors like the Northeast. The bulk of our efforts fall within several broad areas: assessing and monitoring the health of bridges, roads, and pipelines; creating and implementing revolutionary technologies, materials, and tools; formulating strategies to prolong the service life of infrastructure; and training the current and future workforce. Since 1998, CAIT has been a University Transportation Center (UTC)—a group of academic research institutions sanctioned and supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was named one of only five National UTCs in 2013 and has led the Region 2 UTC since 2018.

About UITP

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) works to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being by supporting and promoting sustainable transport in urban areas worldwide. As a passionate champion of sustainable urban mobility, UITP is internationally recognized for its work to advance the development of this critical policy agenda. With more than 1,900 members in 100 countries, UITP has a long history to its name and is the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes