Transit operators: part of the community
Metro's operators do more than just drive a bus. They are the eyes and ears for the safety of their passengers. And many part-timers are artists, students and retirees.
King County Metro employs 2,500 operators who do all they can to help riders reach their destinations safely and efficiently, and every day they're taking that extra step to be part of our community.
Whether it's assisting riders with navigating the bus system or dealing with medical emergencies, Metro drivers practice compassion and caring on a daily basis.
A quick decision by one operator on Route 106 meant that a small fire in Skyway did not turn into a disastrous one. In January she saw flames coming from a house, stopped the bus, grabbed her portable fire extinguisher, and because of her transit safety training, aimed the extinguisher at the base of the flames and saved the structure.
Rider Bee Dyer celebrated her 80th birthday on the bus last week, because some of her best friends are Metro bus operators. Mrs. Dyer is a lifelong customer of public transit and never saw the need for a driver's license. She takes up to six buses a day to shop, visit friends, attend classes and volunteer. Her family is delighted that Metro Transit has provided the active senior with a safe arrival to every destination for 80 years, and counting. Mrs. Dyer is just one of more than 10 million seniors who ride Metro buses annually.
Watching out for the public is something all operators are trained to do. Metro drivers fight crime through their work in a Public Safety Partnership with Local 587 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, neighborhood groups and the King County Sheriff's office. Metro trains its drivers to be the eyes and ears for the system while on the road. And they have participated in more than 450 public meetings, talking with almost 20,000 community members. If there's a problem on the bus, alert the bus driver. All Metro buses are equipped with two-way radio communications to summon police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel.
Drivers are also now trained in Calling Out Stops, to aid riders who need assistance, such as people unfamiliar with a neighborhood, people who ride the bus infrequently, and blind and partially sighted riders who rely on drivers to let them know when the bus has reached their stop. Metro policy requires drivers to announce major intersections, destination points and transfer points to other routes.
Metro drivers go above and beyond the call of duty every day, and on Thursday Metro will honor its 2000 Operator of the Year at noon at East Base in Bellevue. The program--now in its 23rd year --recognizes operators who demonstrate safe driving skills, courteous and helpful attitudes toward customers, and who pay conscientious attention to job requirements such as attendance, appearance, and discipline. Each month, one operator is selected from each of the seven transit bases by the previous months' winners. At the end of the year, the Operator of the Year is selected by a vote of fellow Operators of the Month.
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