NEWS

CATA drivers win statewide ‘Roadeo’

Matt Mencarini
Lansing State Journal

LANSING – Capital Area Transportation Authority bus drivers took top honors Thursday at a statewide competition that tested drivers’ knowledge and skills behind the wheel.

Mike Beech finished first in the individual competition and was also part of the CATA team, along with Kate Gardner and Steve Soliz, that first place in the team competition, according to a news release.

“We definitely put a lot of pressure on ourselves in practice,” Beech said in the release. “We called it ‘tough love.’ We were confident going in, and we really wanted to do well.”

Beech advances to the national competition in May 2016.

The Small Bus Roadeo, which was held for the 40th time, includes a written test and an obstacle course, among other events. It was held in Frankenmuth and included 18 public transportation agencies and 48 drivers, according to the release.

Contact Matt Mencarini at (517) 267-1347 or mmencarini@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattMencarini.