Colorado Department of Transportation Maintenance Training Academy (MTA) Overview

MTA Origin Established: 1999 Original Objectives: – To provide required CDOT training courses to Transportation Maintenance workers – To provide consistent training throughout the state in order to standardize operating procedures Original Funding: Contributions from each Maintenance Section

MTA Training Programs 1,500 employees trained annually over 45 weeks New Hires Transportation Maintenance LTC Ops Specialty – Electrician – Mechanic – Storeroom – Structural Trades – Traffic – Welder

MTA Courses Safety Defensive driving CPR & first aid Equipment inspection & maintenance Traffic control Storm management Environmental/water quality National Incident Management System Survival skills Leadership Computer skills Drug and alcohol Diversity Workplace harassment

MTA Facilities Former Colorado Army National Guard base Classroom and office building (classroom capacity: 48, 24, 10) Four dormitories (old mess halls) containing 32 sleeping rooms (15, 6, 6, 5 room dormitories) Meal service through Colorado State Patrol Academy dining hall

WPA Plaque

MTA Staffing Academy Director Program Assistant Instructors: – Selected Maintenance managers and supervisors – CDOT subject matter experts – External contract trainers

MTA Budget Approximately $1 million (annual) – Includes: Staff compensation Contract trainers Operating expenses Facilities (e.g., custodial, classrooms, dormitories) Food service – Excludes: Employee (attendee) salary & travel CDOT course developer & instructor salaries

Curriculum Design & Oversight 20+ member MTA Curriculum Committee – Representatives selected by each Section’s Maintenance Superintendent – Membership representative by Maintenance Section, position level (TM I to Superintendent), and specialty areas

Maintenance as a “Family” Application of “Family Systems” theory to strengthening work units – Similarities of families to work units – Use of family counseling strategies Communication & conflict resolution skills Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of members Partnership with Univ. of Denver psychologists

Questions?

MTA Contact Information David C. Wieder, P.E. – Maintenance & Operations Branch Manager – – Jason Brunner, Ph.D. – Academy Director – –