Category: News & Announcements

CONCORD, CA – East Bay bus transit operators County Connection, LAVTA (Wheels), Tri Delta Transit, and WestCAT applaud California lawmakers for approving the Connect Bay Area Act, Senate Bill 63 (SB 63). The bill paves the way for a regional funding measure that could stabilize transit service for millions of Bay Area riders, including thousands who depend daily on the Tri-Valley and Contra Costa County’s bus systems. 

SB 63 authorizes a Public Transit Revenue Measure to be placed on the November 2026 ballot if sufficient voter signatures are collected. The measure would establish a half-cent sales tax in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties, and a one-cent sales tax in San Francisco, creating a sustainable funding stream to preserve and expand essential transit service. 

“This is a turning point for East Bay bus operators,” said Bill Churchill, General Manager of County Connection. “For too long, bus operators like ours have stretched every dollar just to maintain basic service. SB 63 has the potential to provide stable, long-term funding that allows us to maintain essential services and respond to new demands. With this support, we can better serve our riders, reduce congestion, and meet climate goals.” 

For smaller transit agencies, SB 63 could mean the difference between cutting essential services and building a system that meets the needs of a changing region. 

“SB 63 gives our communities a chance to secure reliable funding that ensures students can get to school, seniors can access essential services, and workers can depend on us to reach their jobs,” said Christy Wegener, Executive Director of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, provider of Wheels services. “It’s about protecting the everyday trips that keep the Tri-Valley moving.” 

Without new revenue, many East Bay operators would face difficult decisions about reducing service – cuts that would hit transit-dependent riders the hardest. 

“The mobility needs of Contra Costa County’s most vulnerable populations depend on frequent, safe and reliable bus service,” said Rashidi Barnes, CEO of Tri Delta Transit. “SB 63 is a vital step toward ensuring we can provide equitable, safe, and consistent transportation in Eastern Contra Costa—where transit is essential to both economic mobility and quality of life. This bill brings real hope to the people we serve.” 

“WestCAT plays a unique role in connecting riders in Western Contra Costa to the broader Bay Area,” said Rob Thompson, General Manager of WestCAT. “Sustainable funding from SB 63 means we can protect these lifeline services, expand where demand is growing, and invest in cleaner, greener buses. It’s a smart investment in equity, the economy, and the environment.” 

The Tri-Valley and Contra Costa transit partners extend appreciation to Senators Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguin for authoring the legislation, Governor Gavin Newsom for his leadership, and the region’s legislative delegation for continued support of transit riders.  

Media Contacts: 

County Connection 
Ryan Jones | rjones@cccta.org | 925-680-2037 

Wheels 
David Mark | dmark@lavta.org | 925-455-7553 

Tri Delta Transit 
Leeann Loroño | llorono@eccta.org | 925-754-6622 

WestCAT 
Mica McFadden | mica@westcat.org | 510.724.3331 

You may be familiar with the Oscars and Grammys, but the AdWheel Award is a lesser-known accolade celebrated in the public transit marketing sphere. The AdWheel is a coveted recognition by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)–and County Connection is a 2025 recipient. Woot! 

The AdWheel Awards are presented annually at the APTA Marketing, Communications, & Customer Experience Workshop, which takes place at various locations across the nation. The awards recognize excellence in three main categories:  

• Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development 
• Best Marketing and Communications to Increase Ridership or Sales 
• Best Marketing and Communications Educational Initiative  

Each category features five subcategories based on platform or marketing format, including print media, electronic media, special events, social media, and comprehensive campaigns. Agencies must submit applications and, when applicable, samples of their campaigns, months in advance to be considered for an award. 

This year, County Connection won the AdWheel Award for Best Marketing and Communications on Workforce Development (Social Media) for our March 2024 campaign in honor of Transit Operator & Worker Appreciation Day. This annual event recognizes the contributions of those who not only drive our buses, but keep them clean and operational, providing essential service to our community. 

About our 2024 Campaign 

For our 2024 campaign, County Connection’s marketing team invited passengers to submit messages of appreciation for our transit workers through an online form. We received nearly 100 submissions, which staff used to create a graphic template that included the sender’s first name, age, and city alongside their message. We also highlighted our transit workforce by preparing posts featuring photos of three County Connection staff members representing our operators, maintenance team, and customer service team. Transit Operator & Worker Appreciation Day took place on March 18, 2024 (and every March 18), and the graphics from our award-winning campaign were shared throughout the day on social media. 

County Connection is proud to receive this recognition and aims to show our workforce how much they are valued, particularly as the public transit industry seeks to fill vacant positions. (BTW, we’re hiring!) 

Submit a message for our Appreciation 2025 campaign 

We’re repeating our efforts again this year and putting out a call for messages that we can share with our transit workforce. This year, you may submit a message (such as “Thanks for greeting me each morning”), or include a photo or video, and even haikus are welcome from those feeling poetic for transit workers! We will select as many submissions as possible to share (and tag if you wish) on our social media pages. 

Thank you for helping us celebrate the dedicated individuals who make public transit possible! 

Maybe this ain’t your first Roadeo (yes, that’s how it’s spelled). But if it is, buckle up: in public bus circles, the International Bus Roadeo, run by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is the ultimate test of skill. A Roadeo is a bus-handling competition held annually, challenging public bus agencies to pit their top operators against an obstacle course of hard turns, quick stops, and serpentines—all timed, of course. For most operators, however, it is just another day at the office. 

To qualify for the International Bus Roadeo, held this year in Austin, TX, agencies must first hold their own competitions, adhering to the same judging criteria, and course problems. County Connection hosts its competition in late Winter/early Spring, inviting any staff with a Class B driver’s license to participate. But only an APTA-qualified* operator winner can advance to the international stage.  

Like County Connection, many agencies turn their local competitions into mini-industry-only events, inviting partner agencies for judging, food trucks, and even a bounce house for the kids—all fostering a spirit of camaraderie and friendly rivalry. And yes, there is a good chance for everyone to ride through a bus wash while singing “The Wheels on the Bus”—pure joy for both kids and kids-at-heart! 

On the international stage, local competition winners face off against other top operators from around the country for the top prize. The operator with the highest score receives a trophy, Champion Ring, and $1,000. In addition to navigating the obstacle course, participants are evaluated on personal appearance and complete a pre-trip inspection of the bus—a true test of expertise. 

 While a simple left or right turn may seem easy, bus drivers navigate these 13-ton, 30–40-foot long vehicles daily, maneuvering through bustling freeways and narrow streets. Add in unexpected challenges like accidents or animals darting across the road, and the demands become clear. Bus operators possess skills often overlooked, or at least not easily noticed. With each trip, they must balance precision, quick thinking, stellar customer service, and a high level of professionalism. It’s no wonder so many agencies strive for excellence at the APTA International Bus Roadeo, displaying the remarkable skill set required to sit behind the wheel of a bus.  

In a time when County Connection and the public transit industry grapple with financial sustainability, recover ridership lost during the pandemic, and strive to fill numerous vacant operator positions, the Roadeo represents more than just a contest. It’s a point of pride for agencies; a reminder that while competition can be fierce, it’s the everyday dedication of operators that truly keeps our communities moving safely.  

For over 25 years, County Connection has proudly sent over 10 operators to compete nationally, many of whom competed more than once. The agency also has the top female driver, who in 2010 ranked in at #4 nationally, and is still the top-scoring female competitor.  

So, as drivers tackle the Roadeo gauntlet, both on small and big stages, they also reflect the real-life obstacles they face daily—because in the world of bus driving, every day can feel like a Roadeo. 

*To be APTA-qualified, operators must not have had any accidents, suspensions, or attendance warnings in the year prior to competing.