APTA Celebrates National Apprenticeship Day with MTA NYC Transit!
4/24/2025
Ahead of National Apprenticeship Day (April 30), APTA is spotlighting the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Elevators & Escalators Apprenticeship Program at New York City Transit (NYCT). With a dedicated team of 400 employees maintaining more than 600 pieces of equipment, NYCT’s program is an outstanding example of how to grow and sustain a skilled workforce.
Tune in and listen to a special episode of APTA’s official podcast, The Transit Authority, to hear from:
- Assistant Chief Damion Thomas, who began his career as an elevator and escalator apprentice.
- Supervisor (Lisette), maintainer (Robert), and an apprentice (Singh), who share their career journeys.
- Chief Stephen Carson, who outlines the steps to launch an apprenticeship program, which include:
— Conducting a needs assessment to identify the skills an organization requires.
— Building relationships with local and state government officials to align with labor laws and codes.
— Embedding mentorship into the program by pairing apprentices with maintainers, supervisors, and other seasoned professionals.
APTA’s Challenge for National Apprenticeship Day!
APTA is calling on its members to help build the industry’s future talent pipeline. Now is the time to launch or expand your apprenticeship program, whether it is in technology, engineering, or the trades. Share your organization’s innovative and success stories with the industry: contact driddy@apta.com or workforce@apta.com and APTA will feature your workforce initiatives, data, dashboards, and processes in Passenger Transport!