Denver RTD shines at APTA International Rail Rodeo
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefThe American Public Transportation Association says Denver’s Regional Transportation District won the Operators Competition for APTA’s 18th annual International Rail Rodeo. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority won the rodeo’s Maintainers Competition.
The competition was held on June 6 at the VCC/Clark Station in Vancouver, B.C. APTA honored both agencies and other winners Sunday evening at an awards dinner in Vancouver at the 2010 APTA Rail Conference. Nine public transit systems from across North America competed in this international competition, which recognizes the men and women who keep rail systems safe and efficient.
Denver’s RTD, winner of the Rail Transit Team Achievement Award, was recognized for the highest rail operator and maintainer team combined score. The winning RTD team members were Robert Dennis, Randall Lovegove, and George Sweeney.
The Operators Competition measures professional skills including: train operation; knowledge of safety regulations; train equipment; and track right-of-way rules and procedures. First place in the Operators Competition was won by RTD’s Robert Dennis. Michael Shepard from Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) was second; the team of Lee-Ann Knight and Ven Rao from BC Rapid Transit (SkyTrain) of Burnaby, B.C., took third place.
The Maintainers Competition judges the ability to troubleshoot maintenance problems. LACMTA’s maintainer team of Glen Abraham, Ronnie Burt, and Eric Czintos notched the top spot; Denver’s RTD won second place with the team of Randall Lovegove and George Sweeney. SEPTA’s maintainer team of Ed Carruthers, Mike O’Grady, and Jason Rickert took third place.
