September 2005 APTA

Metro named ‘Grand Champion’ at international transit roadeo

King County Metro Transit claimed top honors in the 30th International Bus Roadeo in Dallas this past weekend by winning the Grand Champion Award. It is the first time in Metro's history that the agency has won the top award in the competition sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA [external link]).

APTA’s Grand Champion Award recognizes the men and women who keep North America’s bus systems safe. It is given to the agency with the highest combined score of maintenance team and bus operator performance. Metro employees finished first in vehicle maintenance competition and fourth in the 40-foot bus operation.

Metro’s vehicle maintenance team of Ryan Stringfellow, Larry Fitzpatrick and Leonard Emry beat out 44 other teams to finish first in two maintenance categories. It is the third consecutive year this Metro team has won the top maintenance award.

The maintenance teams compete in a timed, troubleshooting event that pits the mechanics against different parts of a bus that have been intentionally "bugged" with the kinds of problems vehicle maintenance workers might encounter on the job. Only for the international competition, the problems are designed to be more difficult than normal to detect and fix.

Bus driver Michael Grady finished fourth out of 70 competitors in the 40-foot bus competition. The bus operator competition measures professional skills including: driving ability on an obstacle course; knowledge of safety regulations; bus equipment; and personal appearance.

"I am very proud that this group of first-line personnel once again demonstrated Metro’s and King County’s commitment to excellence in service and safety," said Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond.