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Rota, Tinian, PSS take part in COTA certification training
Special assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho Maratita and master trainer Ginger Porter M.Ed. pose with the 30 participants for the PASS training. (COTA)
The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority team participated in a three-day professional development and certification on passenger assistance and sensitivity training.
A total of 30 participants made up the three-day training, which also included two employees from the CNMI Public School System: Office of Pupil Transportation, two transit employees on the island of Rota, and two transit employees on the island of Tinian.
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- Master trainer Ginger Porter M.Ed. conducts the PASS hands-on wheelchair safety securement test with COTA transit operators. (COTA)
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- Kaia Lazaro of Tinian undergoes the PASS hands-on training role as a transit rider. (COTA)
This yearly certification is conducted by Certified Community Transportation of America Passenger Service and Safety master trainer Ginger Porter, M.Ed. “It was a special privilege to provide the recent Passenger Assistance Safety and Sensitivity training to all of COTA, including those providing new service to Tinian and Rota. Customers of CNMI’s transit system will appreciate attention to safety and customer specific needs from all 30 agency personnel. I have observed the maturation of COTA as it moves forward with a new transportation facility and equipment, and find it satisfying to be a part of the measurable progress in the development of their personnel,” said Porter. This is Porter’s sixth time conducting COTA’s certification training for the Transit Authority.
“This year’s training and certification opportunity was particularly special because we are able to include transit operators from the islands of Rota, Tinian, and our CNMI Public School System,” said special assistant for Public Transportation Alfreda Camacho Maratita.
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- CNMI PSS: Office of Pupil Transportation’s Jesus Nicdao and Nobert Ambalan go through the PASS hands-on testing for wheelchair securement. (COTA)
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- Patrick Ogo of Rota carefully uses the wheelchair lift to perform the hands-on testing for the PASS certification. (COTA)
“In order for COTA to continue delivering safe and courteous transit services for our community, the proper training opportunities should be afforded to the state’s transit agency as it continuously expands. The need for this particular type of training echoes the fact that passenger transportation is a service industry. The most important asset in any transit agency or provider are the transit operators. By providing these training opportunities, skills and knowledge are enhanced for each team member which will, in turn, benefit our CNMI community as a whole,” Maratita added. (PR)
