Germaine Wells, a CSA Building Futures construction pre-apprenticeship program graduate who began working as a mechanic for the DC Streetcar in May 2014, began her 30 hours of streetcar driving last Friday, heading into the Labor Day weekend. Wells (right) and the other mechanics are being trained to operate the six streetcars in case they are called on to move the streetcars for repair. After much preparation on the test track, she began driving the 2.4 mile length of the H Street/Bladensburg line in Northeast DC. As car and bus drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists are all learning to share the road with the new streetcars, Germaine’s approach is to be very cautious and liberally ring the warning bells. Of driving the streetcar, Germaine says, “It’s a challenge, but I love it!” Wells credits the Building Futures program with helping turn her life around, and gives back to the program by helping to recruit more women and making presentations about perseverance, hard work and the benefits of the program’s staff assistance.
- photo by Jennifer Gajdosik
- photo by Jennifer Gajdosik