NEWS - Top bus drivers named in Small Bus Roadeo competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2015

 

CONTACT:
Dennis Adams, Isabella County Transportation Commission, 989-621-6404

Jill Drury, Charlevoix County Public Transportation, 231-920-9645

Jocelyn Hall, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-245-7117, hallj20@michigan.gov

 

Top bus drivers named in Small Bus Roadeo competition

 

Fast Facts:

- Fourteen public transit systems competed in the 40th Michigan Annual Small Bus Roadeo.

- First-place individual honors went to Mike Beech, Capital Area Transportation Authority in Lansing.

- First-place team honors also went to Capital Area Transportation Authority.

- There are more than 3,700 buses on Michigan streets daily, serving 100 million passengers annually.

 

September 2, 2015 -- Fourteen public transit systems from around the state competed in the 40th Annual Michigan Small Bus Roadeo in Frankenmuth on Aug. 27, with individual and team competitions. Drivers competed in roadeo events designed to test the skills and knowledge of Michigan public transit bus drivers. The event was met with perfect weather conditions, and followed with two days of training sessions for drivers, dispatchers, operations staff, and mechanics through the Frontline Training Conference.

            Jill Drury, director of the Charlevoix County Transit, and co-chair of the statewide bus roadeo reflected on the day. "This event is a great opportunity to recognize the highly skilled, dedicated, and hardworking transit drivers of Michigan. The importance of Michigan transit drivers was recognized by Gov. Snyder, as he declared Aug. 27 as 'Public Transit Driver Day.'"

            Drivers competed for points based on a written test, driving skills on an obstacle course, a test on passenger assistance, and a pre-trip vehicle inspection. The top three individual winners are eligible to attend the CTAA National Roadeo in Portland, Oregon, in May 2016.

First-place honors in individual competition went to Mike Beech of Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) in Lansing. Roberta Keast of Gladwin City/County Transit in Gladwin took second, and third place went to Mark Brown of Huron Transit.

            CATA also took first place in the team competition, with drivers Steve Soliz, Kate Gardner, and Mike Beech. Second place went to Gladwin City/County Transit, with drivers Deanna Hughes, Roberta Keast, and Harold Smith. Third place was secured by Clare County Transit, with drivers Marvin Frayer, Kevin Stamper, and Ron Decker.

            "Rookie of the Year" was awarded to Dick Shoup of Clinton County Transit. The highest score on the written test was a tie between Marvin Frayer of Clare County Transit in Harrison and Deanna Hughes of Gladwin City/County Transit.

            Top winners received cash prizes and trophies donated by the Michigan Association of Transportation Systems (MASSTrans) and the Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA). The expenses for the trip to compete in the National Bus Roadeo are provided through federal training funds.

            Sponsors of the event include MASSTrans, MPTA, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and commercial vendors.

 

 

Pictured above, Mike Beech of CATA, individual winner of the 40th annual Small Bus Roadeo.