EDWIN 'ELECTRIC' NEGRON WINS INTERNATIONAL BUS 'ROADEO' |
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Topics: Edwin Negron
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NJ Transit
Source: PressReleasePoint.com
29 October 2004
Best bus operator in North America works NJ TRANSIT's 13 line
NJT-04-053
NEWARK, NJ - NJ TRANSIT bus operator Edwin 'Electric' Negron has won the American Public Transportation Association's prestigious 29th International 'Bus Roadeo' in Atlanta. The individual victory was a first for NJ TRANSIT Bus Operations.
Negron, a NJ TRANSIT employee for 19 years, scored 594 out of 650 points to claim first place and earn the title of best bus operator in North America. This year's victory was Negron's first in six appearances at the international competition. His previous best finish was seventh place.
For his accomplishment, Negron was honored during NJ TRANSIT's Board of Directors meeting in October and during a luncheon in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
"Ed is truly a talented bus operator who contributes extra value - on many levels - to the commuting experience," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director George D. Warrington.
"We are very proud of Ed's accomplishment, which further proves that he is a world-class operator," said Jim Gigantino, NJ TRANSIT's Acting Vice President and General Manager of Bus and Light Rail Operations, which finished seventh overall in the bus operator and mechanics competition. "Thanks to his personal and technical skills, Ed delivers our mission statement on a daily basis: safe, reliable, affordable service."
To compete at the international level, bus operators must win the state competition, which Negron has done six times. Within seven minutes, operators must drive a one-mile course around cones. Points are deducted any time an operator makes contact with a cone and for every minute over the time limit.
"I had an idea that I had a good run," said Negron, who won the 40-foot competition even though he drives a 65-foot articulated bus.
Currently, Negron operates a bus on the 13 Broad Street-Clinton Avenue line, which runs between Irvington and Clifton. Since winning the international competition, Negron has been provided exclusive use of �his� bus, which is now decorated with first-place decals. When he is not working, the bus is used as an emergency backup at Big Tree Garage in Nutley.
Asked why he has the nickname 'electric', which was given by a former supervisor, Negron responded, "I move around a lot."
Dubbed the 'Bus Olympics' among participants, the annual competition attracts top bus operators and mechanic teams from various countries including Canada and Australia. More than 120 bus operators and 40 mechanic teams participated in this year's event.
Negron lives in Kearny with his wife, Magali, and his stepson, Keven, 11. Negron also has two sons, Edwin Jr., 33, and Carlos Ivan, 32, and one daughter, Wined, 25.