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Transportation Today
Week of Jun. 25, 2007

Metro honors its top bus driver for 2006

Pat Calman
Operator of the Year 2006: Pat Calman.
King County Metro Transit’s 2006 Operator of the Year has a degree in psychology, but his 27 years behind the wheel of a bus have probably taught him more about human nature than any textbook could. It’s enhanced his own natural friendliness and compassion – just two reasons other bus drivers selected Geme “Pat” Calman for Metro’s annual top honor.

A bus driver since 1980, over the past several years Calman has worked as a “report operator” for Metro. Report operators are on constant stand-by waiting to fill any unexpected hole in the bus driving schedule caused by another driver’s illness or unexpected absence. That means Calman reports for work every day at Metro’s Bellevue Base not knowing what his assignment will be, or what route he will be driving.

“A report operator like Pat has to be an expert on every route at the base,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond. “They tend to be our most experienced drivers, and they serve as a great resource for the newer drivers. Pat has repeatedly demonstrated his value as a mentor, and his willingness to help out whenever called upon is a tribute to his professionalism.”

Pat Calman
Pat talks to local news reporters.

Metro managers also applauded Calman for his willingness to go the extra mile for passengers and co-workers.

“Pat is always customer oriented,” said Transit Operations Manager Jim O’Rourke. “His contributions to our organization extend far beyond driving a bus. He’s worked on a variety of committees and projects, including taking a leadership role in workplace health and safety issues.”

Metro employs more than 2,600 bus operators who do all they can to help riders reach their destinations safely and on time. Since 1978, the drivers themselves have selected the best of their peers to hold the title of Metro Transit’s Operator of the Year.

The annual award honors operators who demonstrate safe driving skills, exceptional customer service, and an outstanding overall work record. In order to receive the award, a driver must be chosen as Operator of the Month from one of the seven transit bases. At the end of the year, the Operator of the Year is selected by a vote of all fellow Operators of the Month.


Ken Montgomery is Metro’s top in vehicle maintenance

Ken Montgomery
Ken Montgomery
Metro mechanic Ken Montgomery's outstanding technical abilities and exceptional work ethic have earned him honors as Employee of the Year for the Vehicle Maintenance unit.

During his 23 years at Metro, Montgomery has demonstrated outstanding talent as a mechanic. Montgomery is assigned to Metro’s South Base in Tukwila, where his supervisors say he takes an active role in acquiring new skills, and is generous in mentoring of new co-workers. Montgomery volunteered for extra training in maintaining the new hybrid buses, serving as a valuable resource for Metro’s other mechanics.

“Ken is truly an outstanding employee,” said Metro Vehicle Maintenance Manager Jim Boon. “But, he is also typical of our entire vehicle maintenance staff who take great pride in providing our passengers with safe and clean buses.”


Mariners host day game on Wednesday

The Seattle Mariners host the Boston Red Sox in a day game on Wednesday, June 27 at Safeco Field.

Wednesday’s game starts at 1:35 p.m. Fans leaving the game at Safeco could affect the late-afternoon commute and early evening traffic in downtown Seattle. Regular commuters may want to adjust their work 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.

Detailed information for all Mariners service is available on the Metro Online website. Or, call (206) 553-3000 (voice) or (206) 684-1739 (TTY)

 

Open house for May Valley project

The King County Road Services Division will host an open house this week to update the public on an upcoming bridge replacement project on Southeast May Valley Road.

The Bandaret Bridge crosses upper Issaquah Creek where it intersects with Southeast May Valley Road near 230th Avenue Southeast. The current bridge is narrow and doesn’t meet seismic safety standards. At next week’s open house, project engineers will present an update on the design and alignment plans for the new bridge. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2008 and last up to 18 months.

The open house will be held Wednesday, June 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Foothills Baptist Church, 10120 Issaquah-Hobart Road SE, Issaquah. For information about the meeting, contact Marnie McGrath at (206) 684-1154 or by email.


Upcoming bridge closure will impact access to Alpine Lakes area

Wagners Bridge, which carries North Fork Road Southeast over the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River about 10 miles northeast of North Bend, will be closed for construction from Monday, July 9 through November.

The road is a popular access point to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness for hikers and recreationalists. The one-lane bridge was built 30 years ago with untreated timber, and is now deteriorating. It has a restricted load capacity and is vulnerable to damage by floods and earthquakes. The King County Road Services Division will build a concrete girder bridge on the same location and alignment as the existing bridge. The new bridge will be built to current safety standards, will support legal highway loads, and will span the 100-year flood plain.

While the bridge is closed, motorists can purchase a vehicle access permit to the Hancock Forest Management Group's private road network to get into the public recreation areas beyond the bridge. For information about the vehicle permit call Julie Stangell at (360) 879-5823. Vehicle permits are also available for sale at the Ace Hardware in North Bend. There is also access to the Alpine Lakes area on Forest Service roads from the north and east.

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