Paratransit Roadeo
2023 Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo
After a 3-year hiatus on March 31-April 1 Florida’s best bus operators and maintenance technicians participated in the 2023 Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo in Orlando, Florida. The 2023 Florida Triple Crown Roadeo once again combined the FPTA and RTAP Roadeos into a single, colossal weekend honoring all of Florida’s maintenance technicians, paratransit and fixed route operators. Over 250 competitors, judges, sponsors, guests, and dignitaries participated in the two-day event, making it a great success. The paratransit operator division included 19 cutaway drivers and 9 of those operators were competing for the first time as rookies.
The year’s event was a joint effort of the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA), the Florida Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the Florida Association of Coordinated Transit Systems (FACTS) and hosted by the LYNX.
2023 Paratransit Roadeo Winners
2023 Cutaway Division Winner | 2023 Paratransit Maintenance Technician Winner |
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1st place: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Senior Citizens | 1st place: William Hernandez, Big Bend Transit |
A special thank you to LYNX for providing the photos. |
Florida RTAP Paratransit Roadeo Winners
2023 (Hosted by LYNX, Orlando) | |
Cutaway Division | Paratransit Maintenance Technician Division |
1st: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Senior Citizens 2nd: Gabe Cole, Sarasota County Transit 3rd: Kelle Newton, Marion Senior Services | 1st: William Hernandez, Big Bend Transit 2nd: Sherman Polydore, JTA 3rd: Peter Manis, PSTA |
Individual Awards | |
Highest Written Test Score: TaRachel James, StarMetro Highest Pre-Trip Inspection Score: Jamie Fairo, MTM Transit, Jamie Fairo | Yardstick award winner: Dewayne Barber, Liberty County Transit Rookie of the Year: Kelle Newton, Marion Senior Services |
2019 (Hosted by JTA, Jacksonville) | |
Van Division | Cutaway Division |
1st: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 2nd: Melissa Saunders, Liberty County 3rd: Antonio Puca, HART | 1st: Chris Cowles, LeeTran 2nd: Alberto Guerrero, Citrus Connection 3rd: Alexander Levett, Manatee County Area Transit |
Paratransit Grand Champion (combined van, cutaway, and technician scores) | Paratransit Maintenance Technician Division |
LYNX: Roderick Hightower, Rhoda Scott, Angel Melendez | 1st: William Hernandez, Big Bend Transit 2nd: Angel Melendez, LYNX 3rd: Mike Erdman, Votran |
2018 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Cutaway Division |
1st: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf Transportation 3rd: Bob Stutzman, Sarasota County Area Transit | 1st: Chris Cowles, LeeTran 2nd: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Senior Citizens 3rd: Jose Hernandez, MV Transit |
Overall Paratransit Champion (combined van, cutaway, and technician scores) | Paratransit Maintenance Technician Division |
Big Bend Transit: Iris Porter, Van Johnson, William Hernandez | 1st: Sherman Polydare, Jacksonville Transit Authority 2nd: William Hernandez, Big Bend Transit 3rd: Angle Melendez, MV Transit |
2017 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Cutaway Division |
1st: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf/Franklin Transp. 3rd: David Frayer, Sarasota County Area Transit | 1st: Chris Cowles, LeeTran 2nd: Charles Ford, JTrans 3rd: Jody Revell, Star Metro |
Overall Paratransit Champion (combined van and cutaway scores) | Paratransit Maintenance Technician Division |
JTrans: Tommy Griffis, Van Operator; and Charles Ford, Cutaway Operator | 1st: Damian Woodard, Ride Right 2nd: George McGarry, JTA 3rd: Bruce Haney, Levy County Transit |
2016 (Hosted by Lee Tran, Fort Myers) | |
Van Division | Cutaway Division |
1st: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transportation 2nd: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 3rd: Len Murray, Sarasota County Area Transit | 1st: Chris Cowles, LeeTran 2nd: Deandre Moore, LYNX 3rd: Timothy Smith, Calhoun County Transit |
Overall Paratransit Champion (combined van and cutaway scores) | |
JTrans: Tommy Griffis , Van Operator; and Charles Ford, Cutaway Operator | |
2015 (Hosted by PSTA, St. Petersburg) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 2nd: Deandre Moore, LYNX 3rd: Peggy Shiver, Liberty County Transit | 1st: Dante Marinell, LeeTran 2nd: Ryan Boyer, Manatee County Area Transit 3rd: Timothy Smith, Calhoun County Transit |
Overall Paratransit Champion (combined van and cutaway scores) | |
Calhoun County Transit: Michael Wimberly, Van Operator; and Timothy Smith, Cutaway Operator | |
2014 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transp. 3rd: Peggy Shiver, Liberty County Transit | 1st: Dante Marinell, Passport Services/LeeTran 2nd: Linda Attaway, JTrans 3rd: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit |
2013 (Hosted by LeeTran, Fort Myers) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transp. 2nd: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 3rd: Frank Dyar, Liberty County Transit | 1st: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transp. 2nd: Tommy Griffis, JTrans 3rd: Frank Dyar, Liberty County Transit |
2012 (Hosted by SunTran, Ocala) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transportation 3rd: Peggy Shiver, Liberty County Transit | 1st: Gary Walker, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Mary Kamasinski, Manatee County BOCC 3rd: Paul Leavens, Polk County Transit |
2011 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Gus Goodwin, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County 3rd: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit | 1st: Jack Binegar, St. Johns County COA 2nd: Benjamin Gonzalez, LYNX 3rd: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit |
2010 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Gary Walker, Calhoun County COA 3rd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf County Transportation | 1st: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit 2nd: Linda Attaway, Calhoun County Transit 3rd: Micek Snopek, St Johns County COA |
2009 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Peggy Shiver, Liberty Transit 2nd: Raymond "Elmo" Aylmer, Gulf County Transportation 3rd: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit | 1st: Howard Jones, JTRANS 2nd: Jack Binegar, St. John's Council on Aging 3rd: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit |
2008 (Hosted by StarMetro, Tallahasee) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Raymond "Elmo" Aylmer, Gulf County Transportation 2nd: Chris Crosby, JTRANS 3rd: Michael Wimberly, Calhoun County Transit | 1st: Howard Jones, JTRANS 2nd: Linda Attaway, Calhoun County Transit 3rd: Jeno Demers, Sarasota County Area Transit |
2007 (Hosted by LeeTran, Fort Myers) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Gary Walker, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Linda Attaway, Polk County Transportation 3rd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf City Transportation | 1st: Timothy Smith, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Jean Voltaire, Calhoun County Transit 3rd: Peter Day, Polk County Transportation |
2006 (Hosted by VOTRAN, Daytona Beach) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Timothy Smith, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Jesse Lindsey, Polk County Transit 3rd: Ralph Riley, J-Trans | 1st: Peter Day, Polk County 2nd: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit 3rd: Linda Attaway, Calhoun County Transit |
2005 (Hosted by Taltran, Tallahassee) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Peggy Shivers, Liberty County Transit 2nd: Raymond Aylmer, Gulf City Transportation 3rd: Tracy Gortt, Calhoun County Transit | 1st: Jody Lehman, Polk County Transit 2nd: Terry Sue Hawks, Citrus County Transit 3rd: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit |
2004 (Hosted by MV Transportation in Orlando) | |
Van Division | Small Bus Division |
1st: Tim Smith, Calhoun County Transit 2nd: Donna Driver, St Johns County COA 3rd: Peggy Shivers, Liberty County Transit | 1st: Ernest Rittman, Big Bend Transit 2nd: Greg Strickland, VOTRAN 3rd: Jeno Demers, SCAT+ Plus |
Above and Beyond Award Winners

2012 Above & Beyond Award Winner
Dottie Higgins, VOTRAN
Between 2004 to 2012, each year at the RTAP Florida Paratransit Roadeo, the Florida Department of Transportation Public Transit Office, with the assistance of Sure-Lok, Inc., selected and recognized an exemplary Florida paratransit operator for the “Above and Beyond Award.”
The purpose of the award was to honor a driver who consistently performed in an outstanding manner and showed great care and concern for passengers with special needs.
There were three primary eligibility criteria. They were:
- The driver took time on a regular basis to create a safe and secure environment for passengers with special needs,
- The driver properly secured the mobility aid and occupant restraints, and
- The driver demonstrated sensitivity toward individuals with special needs.
Year | Award Recipient | Transit Agency |
2012 | Dorothy (Dottie) Higgins | VOTRAN |
2011 | Curtiss Simmons | Baker County Conuncil on Aging (COA) |
2010 | David Cole | St. John's County Council on Aging (COA) |
2009 | Lawson Willis | VOTRAN |
2008 | Barbara Hohmann | Space Coast Area Transit |
2007 | Bob Sirois | VOTRAN |
2006 | Kathlyn L’Esperance | Polk County |
2005 | Lydia Phillips | Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) |
2004 | Richard Montoro | Lee County Transit (LeeTran) |