|
Week of Aug. 11, 2008
Two bus drivers win gold with their peers Watch the ceremony video
Metro drivers Richard Boehmer and Nate Chappelle were surprised to hear they were sharing "Operator of the Year" honors. | Every year, the best King County Metro Transit bus drivers are asked to select the single best operator from their own group. This year, they couldn’t do it. Instead, they doubled up on the excellence and voted for two of their peers to receive Metro’s top award.Between them, Richard Boehmer and Nate Chappelle have 59 years of service behind the wheel for Metro, including 50 years of accident-free driving and dozens of commendations from customers. The 2007 Operator of the Year honors were bestowed on the pair in a surprise ceremony on Aug. 11. “Richard and Nate are great examples of transit employees who not only deliver excellent service, but also go the extra mile to assist customers and their co-workers,” said Metro Operations Manager Jim O’Rourke. “And with Richard and Nate, everything is done with a smile and a kind word.”
Boehmer | Boehmer has been driving for Metro since 1979. His wife says he hired on at Metro “just to have some money while looking for a real job.” But, he quickly took to bus driving and has always enjoyed interacting with customers. He currently drives Route 222 serving Bellevue.Chappelle has worked for Metro since 1978, and currently drives on all of the trolley routes. In 2006, while operating a Route 2, Chappelle noticed a man with a leg on each side of the bridge railing over Interstate 5. Thinking the man was about to jump, Chappelle distracted him, while police approached the jumper from behind and quickly got him to safety.
Chappelle | Both Boehmer and Chappelle are noted as selfless individuals, who put others before themselves. Boehmer received the “George Turner Award” for the second quarter 2007. This award recognizes operators who best exemplify a positive attitude and keen awareness of the elderly and disabled. While operating from Bellevue Base, Boehmer received a commendation for frequently assisting an elderly passenger in a wheelchair and his attendant with boarding the bus. The attendant commented on Boehmer’s sincere caring attention and his gentleness in providing service. The attendant said, “He made the whole process very easy.” Chappelle has received similar compliments from his passengers, and is noted for his extra efforts behind the scenes at Metro. He has served as the Chief Shop Steward for Atlantic Base for the past ten years, and is currently chair of the Atlantic Base Security Committee. He also worked on the Public Safety Partnership and other special transit projects. Metro employs more than 2,600 bus operators who do all they can to help passengers 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.
They may fly through the sky with the greatest of ease – and 1,300 gallons of jet fuel – but the U.S. Navy’s elite Blue Angels squad also help the dreams of local students take flight. When the Blues were in town earlier this month for Seafair, they made time in their busy schedule to meet with students from King County International Airport’s Opportunity Skyway program and from the Highline School District’s Aviation High School. Meeting aviation heroes up close is always a thrill for the students. Watch this video to find out how this year’s Opportunity Skyway visit went. |
|
It’s been a busy summer for the King County International Airport staff, with the 80th anniversary of Boeing Field, repaving of the taxiway, and annual visit by the Blue Angels. But once Sharyn Parker read that the Georgetown Food Bank had terribly low supplies of basics such as milk and eggs, largely due to the rising costs of transporting goods/fuel prices, she knew the airport had to be a good neighborhood. Parker and co-worker Penny Wade created 10 gifts baskets and sold raffle tickets to staff, tenants, and visitors at the 80th anniversary and Seafair events at Boeing Field. They even had the fountain in front of the airport cleaned up, and collected the change at the bottom. All together, they raised more than $500 in cash and donated groceries for the food bank. Parker said they didn’t do it alone. “We had a lot of support from our co-workers who purchased tickets and also donated items for the cause,” she said. “Efforts such as this do not ‘just happen,’ everyone participated to one degree or another. We're pleased to have helped out the food bank at a critical time.” | Subscribe to DOT DashSign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.
|
