On Thursday, the Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) announced it had partnered with NJ Transit and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) to create a center for the next generation of transportation professionals.
The North American Regional Training Center will be housed at the CAIT building on Rutgers University’s Busch campus. Officials said the center will educate current and future transportation professionals on the challenges of the 21st century. It is the first UITP regional training center in North America.
“New Jersey residents will reap massive benefits from this newly forged partnership, which convenes NJ TRANSIT, New Jersey’s premier state university, and a worldwide leader in sustainable public transportation,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. “By hosting the first Regional Training Center on the continent, New Jersey will earn worldwide recognition as a North American transportation hub. Just as importantly, the establishment of the training center emphasizes our ongoing commitment to invest in the growth and development of our critical public transportation workforce.”
Officials said the center will be dedicated to advancing public transportation’s sustainable urban mobility and will provide high-level courses on the fundamentals of public transport, bus planning, rail operations, railroad maintenance, fare management, and more. Additionally, the courses will cover topics like railroad track servicing, inspection, and repair; and analyzing urban mobility trends for transportation professionals.
The center’s first course – Public Transportation Fundamentals for North America, will be offered from July 10-12, 2023.
“It is a privilege for NJ TRANSIT to lead this partnership that is establishing UITP’s first-ever North American Regional Training Center,” NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett said. “NJ TRANSIT has benefitted greatly from its membership in UITP since 2018, which has given us access to industry best practices around the globe, as well as our strong, long-standing partnership with Rutgers CAIT.”