On June 4, 2026, Palm Tran held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the Florida Transit Technical Program (FTTP) at its Belle Glade facility, the first of its kind in Southeast Florida . The Florida Department o f Transportation (FDOT) funded program combines classroom and hands-on training in partnership with Lively Technical College to provide f ixed -route and p aratransit maintenance technicians with up-to-date and specialized industry knowledge.

The event marked a significant milestone in advancing the training and development of public transportation technicians statewide. The ceremony brought together officials including Gabe Matthews, State Public Transit Manager for FDOT; Randy Free, Paratransit Instructional Program Project Manager at Lively Technical College, Broward County Transit and Miami - Dade Transit and members of the Palm Tran Executive Leadership Team.

The centrally located Belle Glade facility enables technicians from across the S outheast and N orthern regions the opportunity to participate in training , networking , and sharing best practices at Palm Tran , making access to education more convenient . It also provides an opportunity for building relationships within the industry .

Palm Tran's Maintenance and Facilities Director, Darryl Ramkissoon, stated, "This local training initiative is built for the future. Like Lively Technical College and FDOT, Palm Tran works to foster a culture of workforce development in transit, empowering students who are ready to take on the challenges posed by modern transit vehicles and providing refresher training to technicians, so they are up to date with advancing and new technology . "

Palm Tran Maintenance trainers and technical specialists assist in building the curriculum and provide hands-on, on-the-job training involving buses and equipment.

Matthews , emphasized the importance of the partnership , saying , "We value the opportunity and the alliances we have with Palm Tran, Palm Beach County and Lively Technical College. We want to ensure that we contribute to safer communities and healthier, more effective ways of working for our customers and partners through cutting-edge training."

The program equips technicians with essential skills for key bus systems , including air conditioning, brakes , and wheelchair lifts. It represents a vital investment in strengthening public transit for the community.