Santa Clara VTA graduates six overhead line workers from new apprenticeship program

Dec. 6, 2018

The graduates will fill highly skilled, but hard-to-fill positions, some of which that have been open for close to five years.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has six new full-fledged overhead lineman who passed a two-year apprenticeship program 'with flying colors.' — Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has six new full-fledged overhead lineman who passed a two-year apprenticeship program "with flying colors."

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has six newly skilled workers, custom trained to maintain its overhead electrical wires thanks to an innovative approach to workforce development, or as Santa Clara VTA calls it, growing their own.

The six employees are graduates of a two-year Overhead Line Worker Apprenticeship, which is part of the Joint Workforce Investment (JWI) program that Santa Clara VTA developed in partnership with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU). According to its website, JWI is dedicated to creating a work environment that supports the long-term professional development, health and wellness of employees.

Santa Clara VTA calls overhead line work one of the most sensitive and potentially dangerous jobs in the transportation industry as workers routinely work on wires that carry close to 1,000 volts of electricity. The apprenticeship program's collaboration between labor and management trains and mentors employees in an effort to fill vacant jobs from within the agency and retain workers in an industry with traditionally high turnover.

Santa Clara VTA describes the overhead line positions as nearly impossible to fill with many being open at Santa Clara VTA for more than five years.

“Given the highly skilled aspect of the job, we haven’t been able to find the kind of talent from outside the agency that we needed,” said Steve Jovel, the Santa Clara VTA assistant superintendent in charge of the apprenticeship program.

The overhead line program joins a growing list of apprenticeships Santa Clara VTA already has including programs for bus operators, track workers, mechanics and light-rail operators

The current class of six can now work as full-fledged overhead linemen, but Santa Clara VTA said the they will still retain the relationship with their more experienced ATU mentors for any guidance and encouragement they may need along the way.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.