METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Dallas wins 'Grand' prize at APTA Bus Roadeo

Event held in conjunction with Bus and Paratransit Conference in Long Beach, Calif.

May 10, 2012
Dallas wins 'Grand' prize at APTA Bus Roadeo

 

2 min to read


Dallas Area Rapid Transit won the Grand Champion Award at the 37th International Bus Roadeo held in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus and Paratransit Conference in Long Beach, Calif.

The Grand Champion Award recognizes the system with the highest combined bus operator and maintenance team combined score.

Ad Loading...

Winning second place overall achievement honors was the team from San Antonio-based Via Metro Transit, with third place overall achievement honors going to Honolulu’s Oahu Transit Services Inc. team.

In the 40-foot bus competition, Ramon Farfan of Fla.-based Jacksonville Transportation Authority was named best driver in North America, beating out 52 other competitors to win first place. Second place was awarded to Kevin Grady of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Zennon Rinylo of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority received third place honors.

In the 35-foot bus competition, Arthur Murillo of Austin, Texas’ Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority won first place as the best bus operator in North America, beating out 19 other competitors. Gabe Beliz of Ben Franklin Transit in Richland, Wash., and Lloyd Eisemen of Jefferson Transit Authority in Port Townsend, Wash., received second and third place honors, respectively.

Gerald Waters of the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County in Reno, Nev., was the first place winner of the Customer Service Challenge Awards, which was also held at the conference. This competition judges professionalism, customer service skills and problem-solving creativity.

More Bus

East Colfax BRT
Busby StaffMay 4, 2026

Denver RTD breaks ground on Aurora segment of East Colfax BRT

The beginning of the final BRT segment advances construction across all five segments, reflecting steady progress toward shorter travel times, improved accessibility, and a more dependable connection to jobs, businesses, and community destinations.

Read More →
A VIA bus
Busby StaffMay 1, 2026

San Antonio's VIA Launches Next Round of Bus Improvements

The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.

Read More →
Federal Reserve Bank visiting ENC
Busby StaffMay 1, 2026

Fed Leaders Highlight Growth, U.S. Manufacturing at ENC

The visit is part of the SF Fed's ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A person working on a bus
ManagementMay 1, 2026

Data-Driven Maintenance: Focusing Effort Where It Matters Most

Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.

Read More →
frontrunner bus
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

ADA Compliant Transit: Easier, More Dignified Travel for Every Passenger

Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.

Read More →
Cover photo for Part 2 with Cecil Blandon
Managementby Alex RomanApril 30, 2026

Bus Tech Talk: Part 2 with AC Transit’s Cecil Blandon

In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A Valley Metro bus
Managementby StaffApril 28, 2026

Keolis Contract Extended for Valley Metro's East Valley Fixed-Route Bus Service

Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.

Read More →
A Des Moines DART bus
Busby StaffApril 28, 2026

Iowa DART Prepares for June Bus Network Launch

The new network reflects extensive input from riders and the community through Reimagine DART on what matters most in public transit — and those priorities are reflected in the changes ahead.

Read More →
A Route 8 bus travels on Denny Way in congested traffic.
Busby StaffApril 24, 2026

Seattle Speeds up Service on Denny Way

A new bus lane project aims to improve reliability on one of King County Metro’s busiest and most congestion-prone corridors.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
WMATA 7000-series railcars at Navy Yard
Managementby StaffApril 24, 2026

WMATA Adopts FY2027 Budget, Boosts Service Without Raising Fares

While recognizing regional economic constraints and continuing to improve service, the budget increases the jurisdictional subsidy to less than 1.8%, significantly below the inflation rate and the 3% regional target, said agency officials.

Read More →