Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority won the Grand Champion Award at the prestigious 34th International Bus Roadeo held in conjunction with the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus and Paratransit Conference in Seattle, Wash., this week. Announced at the May 5 banquet, the Grand Champion award recognizes the bus operator and maintenance team that has the highest combined score.

Second place for the Grand Champion Award was the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency team. Third place went to the team from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas.

“The winners of 2009 International Bus Roadeo showcase professionalism and top-notch skill in their work,” said APTA President William W. Millar. “These performances are an example of excellence to the entire industry.”

Brentt Mackie, of Pierce Transit, Lakewood, Wash., was named best driver in North America, beating out 53 other competitors to win first place in the 40-foot bus competition, a test of bus operators’ driving skills. Second place was awarded to Juan Navarro of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Elroy Williams of the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas, Texas, received third place honors.

Twenty-four bus operators competed in the Operator Competition for 35-foot buses. Daniel R. Schmidt of Ben Franklin Transit, Kennewick, Wash., won first place as the best bus operator in North America in the 35-foot category. Darrion Mitchell from Metro Transit System in Columbus, Ga., received second place honors and Kevin Grady from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency earned third place.

Thirty-six teams competed in the Maintenance Competition, which tests mechanics’ abilities to troubleshoot mechanical problems and fix them quickly. Community Transit, of Everett, Wash., won first place in the category. The maintenance team from Omnitrans in San Bernardino, Calif., earned a second place finish and the team from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles, Calif., received third place honors for the second year in a row.

Gabe Fernos of Spokane Transit Authority was the first place winner in the Pre-Trip Inspection Competition; followed by Ramon Farfan of Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville, Fla., in second place; and Jairo Naranjo of the Chicago Transit Authority came in third.

The fourth annual Customer Service Challenge Awards, which judges professionalism, customer service skills, and problem-solving creativity, were also held at the conference. Jairo Naranjo of the Chicago Transit Authority was the first place winner. Paul Goodwin of Kitsap Transit, Kitsap, Wash., earned a second place finish.