Grand Champions
The 34th International Bus Roadeo Grand Champion Award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) went to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Grand Champion awards recognize the bus operators and maintenance teams that have the highest combined score. The Grand Champion 2nd place winner was San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency team, and 3rd place went to Austin’s Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority team.
“The winners of 2009 International Bus Roadeo showcase professionalism and top-notch skill in their work,” said APTA President William W. Millar. “These performances are an example of excellence to the entire industry.”
The best driver in North America is Brentt Mackie of Pierce Transit, Lakewood, Washington who beat 53 other bus operators to win first place in the 40-foot bus competition. Second place winner was Juan Navarro of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Elroy Williams of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, took home third place honors.
Twenty-four drivers competed in the 35-foot bus category. Daniel R. Schmidt of Ben Franklin Transit, Kennewick, Washington won first place as the best bus operator in North America in that category, while Darrion Mitchell from Metro Transit System in Columbus, Georgia took second place, and Kevin Grady from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency earned third.
Community Transit of Everett, Washington won first place in the Maintenance Competition, which tests mechanics’ abilities to troubleshoot mechanical problems and fix them quickly. This year, 36 teams competed, with Omnitrans in San Bernardino, California winning second place and Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority winning third place.
Other competitions in pre-trip inspection and customer service challenges rounded out this year’s national bus roadeo competition in Seattle, Washington.