Join TriMet in recognizing the hard work and dedication of our region’s transit operators on Tuesday, March 18
What’s the best way to show a transit operator you appreciate the work they do?
There’s the classic Portland way, with a wave and a “thank you” as you head out the door, and there’s the more formal way, when you call, text or connect with TriMet customer service online, to submit a commendation. For example:
“Shout-out to Operator Sean! His friendly face and cheerful greeting each morning on Line 14 get my workday off to a great start. I appreciate him, and I can see his other riders do, too.”
“He is very personable… Being on a first-name basis makes me feel more connected to the community. He is also always on time and a great driver. I want him to know how much I appreciate him.”
And there’s another way to show your appreciation: Transit Driver Appreciation Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 18. This one makes it easy for everyone, riders and non-riders alike, to say “thanks.” Simply share a wave, a smile or a kind word with any transit driver you see! Visit trimet.org/thankyou to learn more and find ideas for showing support.
Look for our big public display in Downtown Portland. The annual “Tunnel of Appreciation” is a daylong gathering of cheering employees and supporters on the Portland Transit Mall. This year, we’ll come together from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Southwest 6th Avenue, between Alder and Yamhill, and Southwest 5th Avenue, between Main and Jefferson. We’re also posting banners that the public can sign, at PSU Urban Plaza and four regional transit centers: Beaverton, Clacakamas Town Center, Gresham Central and Rose Quarter. Stop by and join us!
A little something for everyone
Every day, TriMet operators maneuver massive machines – buses that weigh up to 40,000 pounds and MAX trains that weigh up to 100,000 pounds – safely through the streets of Portland and communities throughout Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties. They serve thousands of stops and stations and tens of thousands of people daily, but it’s the personal connections that keep them going.
“Ninety-nine percent of it is just great people getting around. Sometimes, you know, somebody needs a little help. So that’s what we do,” said Line 14-Hawthorne/Foster bus operator, Sean.
With about a decade of service behind the wheel for TriMet, Sean keeps the job interesting by connecting with riders one-on-one.
“I talk a lot … probably more than I should,” he said. “But I greet everybody the same – always. And I thank you out the door.”
“I want to make a commendation about one of my drivers that is super awesome. He’s helped me so much in the last 6 months. He’s been a really good spirit in my heart and kept me going. His name is Sean. He also got together with other people and got me an electric-powered wheelchair, and I can’t tell you how thankful I am.”
– Bill
One of those riders was Bill Townsend. Bill has a degenerative bone disease, and he recently started using a manual wheelchair to get around his Southeast Portland neighborhood. Bill rides the bus a lot, and it did not take Sean long to notice that using the manual wheelchair seemed to take its toll on Bill’s strength and energy. Sean wanted to do something to help. An unexpected message from his mom gave him an idea.
“Bless her heart, she lost her little brother, my uncle,” Sean recalled. “She texted and said, ‘Hey, do you know anybody that could use a mobility device?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I really do.’ And that was Bill.”
Sean picked up the motorized device and held on to it until he could coordinate a special delivery for bus rider Bill, who in a very short time had become a close friend.
“We were texting back and forth, and Bill said, ‘I’ve got something to show you.’ He comes cruising down the road and I was like, ‘Wow, sweet!’ It was really heartwarming.”
More than 1,600 reasons to say ‘thanks’
TriMet has more than 1,600 bus and rail operators, and Sean believes every single one would have done the same thing for a person in need.
For 55 years, TriMet has helped millions of people travel throughout the three counties that we serve. Our buses and trains provide a safe, convenient and reliable ride to destinations across our service area, and the people who operate them bring a friendly face with a promise of hope and support along the way.
Our operators are essential frontline workers who are up early and out late, connecting people to jobs, education, shopping and vital services. They are friendly faces with steady hands, cool heads and unwavering commitments to the community. Let’s join together, to give them their due, on Transit Driver Appreciation Day!
