2019 Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo

On April 5-6, Florida’s best technicians and operators participated in the 2019 Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo in Jacksonville, Florida. The 2019 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 300 competitors, judges, sponsors, guests and dignitaries participated in the two day event.

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 JTA.

There were training opportunities for the participants. Then the bus operator participant’s skills were tested with a written test and the on-course competition. The maintenance technicians faced similar challenges with a written test and a series of diagnostic tests.

As always, the event concluded with an Awards Banquet that crowned and recognized the 2019 champions in the paratransit van and cutaway divisions, the fixed route bus division, the individual paratransit maintenance technician, and the maintenance technician’s team competition.

Florida RTAP Paratransit Roadeo Winners

Above and Beyond Award Winners

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:

1. The driver took time on a regular basis to create a safe and secure environment for passengers with special needs,
2. The driver properly secured the mobility aid and occupant restraints, and
3. The driver demonstrated sensitivity toward individuals with special needs.