SMART Announces In-House Training Program For Essential Positions

PETALUMA, CA — Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit — SMART— will create a new in-house training program for signal technicians, the North Bay transit agency announced Wednesday at its Board of Directors meeting.

"It has long been a goal to train and hire qualified local candidates at SMART," said Eric Lucan, chair SMART's Board of Directors. "Qualified candidates for these specialized positions have been difficult to find because railroads have not operated in the North Bay for nearly 60 years."

SMART has been meeting with local colleges since 2016 to discuss the development of career technical education programs that would teach skills relevant to critical positions at SMART, including signal technician and vehicle maintenance technician.

District staff also participated in employer advisory panels hosted by the colleges.

Now, SMART has moved forward with developing the new in-house signal technician training program as the most efficient way to position SMART to fill these essential jobs.

"This program moves us forward in filling mission-critical positions like Signal Technician, that have been so difficult to fill," said SMART Human Resources Manager Lisa Hansley. "We have been working in partnership with our colleges and labor unions, and we are providing our local workforce an exciting opportunity to start a new career in railroad."