APTA unveils Bus Roadeo winners

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority won the Grand Champion Award at the prestigious 32nd International Bus Roadeo held this week in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus and Paratransit Conference in Nashville, Tenn. This honor is given to the bus operator and maintenance team that has the highest combined score. In the 40-foot bus competition, a test of bus operators' driving skills, first place went to Brentt Mackie of Pierce Transit, in Tacoma, Wash. Daniel Schmidt from Ben Franklin Transit in Richland, Wash., won first place as the best bus operator in North America in the 35-foot category. First place in the Maintenance Competition, which tests mechanics' abilities to troubleshoot mechanical problems and fix them quickly, went to the team from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Judged on the competitors' professionalism, customer service skills and problem-solving creativity, first place for the best Customer Service Challenge Award went to Richie Bell of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority in Fort Worth, Texas. The winner of the MCI Multiplex module trouble-shooting event went to the maintenance team from Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Mark Johnson of the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority in Nashville, Tenn., won the top honor in the Operator Pre-Trip Competition, a demonstration event sponsored by New Flyer.