AC Transit Wins “Best of the Best”

Press Releases
09/25/2002

AC Transit’s four-person International Roadeo championship team swept to top honors – “Best of the Nation’s Best” for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year – in the 27th annual American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Bus Roadeo.

The combined team score of AC Transit Bus Operator Jesse DeLa Cruz and Mechanics James Souza, David Splan and Eduardo Villarreal in competition in Las Vegas totaled 1,657 points – besting the nearest roadeo contenders (from Dallas, Texas) by nearly 50 points.

“This repeat performance by Operator DeLa Cruz and Mechanics Souza, Splan and Villarreal reflects the commitment to excellence that has become ingrained at AC Transit,” stated General Manager Rick Fernandez. “The pride we take in this year’s Roadeo achievement mirrors our regard for the high levels of performance, individual and collective, being realized throughout the agency.”

More than 100 bus operators and 52 maintenance teams, the top performers from transit systems across North America (and as far away as Australia), competed in this year’s event, held in North Las Vegas in conjunction with APTA’s annual national conference this week. AC Transit entrants in this prestigious industry event have swept to “Best of the Best” honors every year since the team competition’s inception in 1999.