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Roads winners advance to national roadeo

Winners from the local roadeo held last month, now advance to the national competition in Colorado.

The Roads Services Division holds an annual competition each July to determine the “best-of-the-best” truck drivers and equipment operators. Those who triumph go on to represent King County at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Western Snow and Ice Conference and National Snow Roadeo in Estes Park, Colorado.

This year’s winners in the truck driving competition are Corey Green and Scott Baker, and the winners in the equipment operator competition are Clint Willaford and Andy Allen. All competitors had to pass written and safety tests. After successfully passing those tests, they moved on to the on-the-road judging, which included obstacle courses for both dump trucks and heavy equipment.

The APWA event will take place in September. Both at the local and national level, the competition challenges employees to keep their skills current, encourage continued mastery of all aspects of equipment operation and truck driving, while setting an example for the best safety practices.

TRAFFIC WATCH: Afternoon baseball game Wednesday

The Mariners finish the series against the Minnesota Twins with a day game on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 1:40 p.m.

Depending on when the game ends, afternoon commute traffic in the south end of downtown Seattle could be disrupted or congested, which could delay bus travel through the area.

Regular commuters may want to adjust their schedules to leave town earlier that day, or avoid the area around the stadium. For those going to the game, Metro Transit offers lots of regular service that travels near Safeco Field in the mid-afternoon. After the game is over, avoid the congestion, by taking regular bus service home. There is no special shuttle service either before or after the day games.

Check Metro Online for more information, or call (206) 553-3000 (voice) or (206) 684-1739 (TTY).

REI employees jump into vanpooling

In July, King County Metro Transit’s Rideshare Operations group conducted a special VanPool orientation class at REI headquarters in Kent. This class was scheduled at the request of REI's employee transportation coordinator to meet the escalating demand for vanpools at the company.

Forty-two REI employees attended the orientation for vanpool drivers and bookkeepers, and five new vanpool groups were formed. That brings REI’s total to 19 Metro vanpools and four vanshares serving their Kent campus.

Interest in vanpooling is at an all-time high, and the general orientation classes hosted by Metro are filling up fast. If you’re interested in starting up a vanpool or vanshare this fall for work or school, now is the time to contact Rideshare Operations either online or by calling (206) 625-4500.

Cicci earns first Turner Award for 2008

The quarterly George Turner Award was given recently to a Metro bus driver who has an excellent safety record and a track record for kindness.

Dennis Cicci from East Base was the Turner Award recipient for the first quarter of 2008. The award is given by the Northwest Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans Association to recognize and show appreciation for transit operators who best exemplify a positive attitude and awareness of the needs of the elderly and disabled in our communities.

Cicci’s commendation prompting the award described his helpful attitude assisting a quadriplegic bus rider in the Issaquah Highlands. “Having someone like Dennis drive me to work in the mornings was very comforting. It has helped me transition back to work and feel comfortable taking the bus again,” the passenger wrote to Metro.

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Updated: August 05, 2008

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