Colorado Departmentof 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– 303.512.5502– David.Wieder@dot.state.co.us

• Jason Brunner, Ph.D.– Academy Director– 303.512.5531– Jason.Brunner@dot.state.co.us