Bus operations and maintenance winners move onto national event
ORANGE – Two Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) teams took home honors at the Southern California Regional Bus Roadeo competition and will travel to Seattle in May to compete in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Annual International Bus Roadeo.
At the April 18 competition, Coach Operator Alonzo Valenzuela won first place for safely and successfully driving a 40-foot long bus through a timed obstacle course with 12 hidden challenges.
“We’re proud of our employees who performed so well at the regional Roadeo event,” said James S. Kenan, OCTA Interim CEO. “Customer and employee safety is OCTA’s top priority and these competitions are a great way for coach operators and maintenance employees to highlight skills and further improve them. We look forward to the APTA competition in May.”
APTA’s Annual International Bus Roadeo brings together the nation’s best transit bus operators and mechanics in a showdown to test their knowledge, skill and proficiency. It is designed to encourage excellence and professionalism in the transit industry.
Maintenance team Ernie Booe, Ray Consiglio and Paul Bagga won fourth place at the April 16 Roadeo event, hosted by Metro in Los Angeles. The three-man team competed in a series of timed events in which their troubleshooting and diagnostic skills were put to the test. They also will compete at the APTA Roadeo.
