(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser launched a new pilot Workforce Training Program designed to prepare residents for careers in transportation as sign installers. The Mayor also kicked off #GoodSignDC – a social media initiative that calls on residents and motorists to help DC Government replace confusing or dysfunctional street and parking signs.
The pilot program is a partnership between the Department of Employment Services (DOES) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). The 12-month training program includes two weeks of required classroom instruction at the DC Infrastructure Academy, preparing participants for entry-level transportation positions. Trainees will then receive six weeks of on-the-job training with DDOT’s Street Sign Installation unit, earning a wage of $16.10 per hour. Upon completion of the program, participants will gain hands-on experience in sign installation and earn certifications in Flagger and OSHA-10 Construction Safety. Trainees who have completed the program will also have the opportunity to compete for employment opportunities at DDOT. The 12-month program began April 1, 2019, with six District residents enrolled in the first cohort.
The Bowser Administration opened the DC Infrastructure Academy in 2018 as a way of training more District residents for high-paying jobs and careers in the fast-growing infrastructure industry. The academy provides residents with training opportunities in various sectors of the infrastructure industry, including transportation, where participants can earn their Commercial Driver's License, enroll in automotive technician training, and more.
Through April 15, residents are encouraged to share #GoodSignDC on social media to alert the District government to confusing parking signs and other street signs that need replacement.