June 23 , 2005

For more information contact:
Donna Johnson
donna.johnson@dot.iowa.gov
515-233-7875

Three vehicle operators take top spots at bus roadeo

AMES, Iowa - Three Iowa transit vehicle operators are bound for a national level competition after their driving skills earned them top honors in Iowa's 19th Annual Public Transit Roadeo held in Cedar Rapids June 11. Operators moving on to the national competition, and who will represent Iowa and their public transit system, are:

•  Jean Dalsing of Dubuque, winner in the competition for van operators representing the Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Dalsing has received first place honors in this division several times in previous years. Dalsing also placed second in the small bus competition this year.

• Julie Mooney of Bettendorf won the competition for small bus operators, representing the city of Bettendorf transit system. Although Mooney has ranked high in previous roadeo's, this is the first time she has won this competition.
• Ben Walhood, a University of Iowa student hailing from Minot, ND, representing the University of Iowa CAMBUS transit system and currently living in Iowa City, took first place in the large bus competition. This was Walhood's first time competing in the statewide roadeo.

Dalsing and Mooney will represent Iowa in the National Community Transit Roadeo sponsored by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). That association's annual meeting will be held in Orlando , Fla. in June 2006. Walhood will represent Iowa in the American Public Transit Association's International Bus Roadeo conducted in conjunction with its annual meeting in Dallas , Tex. , in September of this year.

The Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Public Transit Association, with funding under a Federal Transit Administration program, cosponsor the annual roadeo. This year's event was held at the Rockwell-Collins complex in Cedar Rapids. The roadeo's purpose is to promote and provide recognition for safe driving skills by Iowa's public transit vehicle operators.

At this year's roadeo, 42 operators from 20 transit systems displayed their skills. Each operator performed a series of maneuvers that represent many of the actual situations they encounter carrying out their daily duties. Some of the maneuvers included were: pulling up to the curb at a bus stop closely flanked by parked cars; making left and right turns in narrow lanes that might be created by parked cars along a route; stopping short of an obstacle; and backing into parking stalls.

Five Seasons Transportation and Parking, (FST&P) Cedar Rapids, hosted the event. Members of the Iowa Public Transit Association, representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation, and local volunteers, including United States Army Reservists, conducted judging of the competition. Bill Hoekstra, FST&P Director, said, “the contributions of the sponsors, volunteers and participants made this year's roadeo a success.”

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Van Division

First place – Jean Dalsing , Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority

Second place – Susan Davis , Keyline Transit, city of Dubuque

Third place – Rob Littschwager, Johnson County SEATS, Iowa City, a subcontractor to East Central Iowa Transit, Cedar Rapids,

Small Bus Division

First place – Julie Mooney , Bettendorf Transit System, city of Bettendorf

Second place - Jean Dalsing , Delaware, Dubuque and Jackson County Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

Third place - Susan Davis , Keyline Transit, city of Dubuque

Large Bus Division

First place – Ben Walhood , University of Iowa Cambus, Iowa City

Second place – Kevin Riley , Five Seasons Transportation and Parking, city of Cedar Rapids

Third place – Chris Wilcox , Five Seasons Transportation and Parking, city of Cedar Rapids

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