Join TriMet in showing gratitude for transit professionals who keep us moving
TriMet’s transit operators serve our community every day. On Transit Driver Appreciation Day, show them some love!
We’re cheering on operators at transit centers and other public transportation hubs across TriMet’s service area this Wednesday, March 18. Please join us! You can also show your support for transit professionals by leaving a written message at trimet.org/thankyou, or share a graphic on social media.
And, of course, you can always brighten your operator’s day — on Transit Driver Appreciation Day, or any day — with something simple. Try greeting them when you board, or waving to them before you get on or off the train. Say a quick “thank you” when you get off the bus, as TriMet riders have been doing for generations.
Transit professionals are real people who work hard to provide you with a safe, reliable and comfortable ride. Leslie Newton, TriMet’s 2025 Bus Operator of the Year, is one of those people.
“You really got to love what you do,” Newton says, “and I really love serving my community.”
Leading with heart
Newton has been driving for TriMet since 2012. She remembers driving as one of her first professional experiences in high school. Later on, after college, she started driving school buses before coming to TriMet — following the example of family members who also worked here.
“I love the family aspect,” Newton says of working for TriMet. “It is like family here. But most importantly, I’m an active member in my community.”
One of the strongest influences in Newton’s life growing up was the nonprofit Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), which provides services, programs and assistance to Portlanders in need. It’s been a fixture in Portland’s Black community since 1981. Newton’s involvement with SEI is what drew her to serving and giving back to her community.
“It helped me create my morals and standards of the way I want to live my life,” says Newton.
Now, Newton says, she’s able to carry that experience forward and pass it along — as a mother, an award-winning TriMet operator who has also been the face of advertising campaigns, and a mentor and dance instructor at SEI. It moves her to know that young people look up to her and can see the example she’s setting.
“Representation matters, and that matters to me,” Newton says.
Transit Driver Appreciation Day trivia
What makes TriMet operators like Leslie Newton so special? Here are five of the many reasons:
- All TriMet bus operators undergo nine weeks of training and certification, before they can begin driving on their own and serving riders. MAX operators go through 20 weeks of training. Whether a trainee drove a bus before, like Newton, or they’re new to driving professionally, they go through the same training process.
- Safety and customer service training are a key part of the process for new operators. Providing everyone on board with safe, reliable and welcoming service is TriMet’s mission — and our operators are at the heart of that mission.
- Operators may drive a single line most of the time, or they may be assigned to different lines as needed. As Newton will tell you, every operator has their own favorite line to drive!
- Through their work, operators often get to know “regulars” who ride on their route. They may build a rapport over time and even create lasting friendships, as this heartwarming video shows.
- For operators who enjoy serving the public and building connections, like Newton, every day is a new opportunity to make a difference. She says it’s humbling to serve and get to know riders from all different backgrounds and walks of life, all across the Portland metro area.
Join us in celebrating Leslie Newton and other TriMet operators on Transit Driver Appreciation Day! Across the United States and Canada, March 18 is a day to show your appreciation and gratitude for the hardworking professionals who keep you on the move. Share a thank-you note on our website!