JACKSONVILLE, April 8, 2019 –Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus operators and maintenance technicians brought home the Grand Champion Trophy at Saturday’s 2019 Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo held in Jacksonville.
JTA’s technicians Tommy Crews, Richard Ballard and Michael Paskanik – known collectively as The Three Amigos – finished 1st place in the overall Maintenance Competition by winning five of the seven events.
JTA’s past national bus operator champion Ramon Farfan was at it again Saturday as he won 1st place in the Fixed Route Operator Competition.
In the Maintenance Paratransit competition, Sherman Polydore placed 1st place in the written test and 4th overall in his division.
The Three Amigos and Farfan will now represent the Florida Public Transportation Association in the International Bus Roadeo, May 17 in Louisville, KY.
This competition showcases the importance that is placed on driver safety, operating well-maintained vehicles, handling wheelchairs properly for transit customers with special needs and conducting thorough bus inspections before taking vehicles on the road.
“We are extremely proud of all our JTA contestants,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “We wish our team well as they compete in the national competition next month.”