Each month, the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) spotlights transit operators from across the state to highlight their work and commitment to transit. For the month of April, we are pleased to spotlight Janna Roberts from St. Joseph Transit.
For the past 23 years, Janna has been committed as a transit operator, both for the city of St. Joseph and their school district as a school bus driver. Her favorite thing about the job is out and around people during her workday, meeting new faces, and seeing familiar ones.
Roberts’s team highlights her as a very dedicated driver. “She does a great job every day, day in and day out,” says City of St. Joseph’s General Manager Michelle Schultz. Her drive is to help her passengers feel welcomed on her bus whether it is their first time riding or their normal routine. She loves coming to work knowing that there is something different that could happen every day and looks forward to seeing what is around the corner. “My bus or any bus around town can take you just about everywhere a car can and is much less expensive than paying for gas or a taxi,” said Roberts.
For someone interested in becoming a transit operator, she spoke about patience being critical in the transit industry. “It’s about having patience and focusing on taking on the things a new day may bring. Stay focused and have a give a good day to those that ride your service,” added Roberts.
Janna’s 23-year commitment as an operator is why St. Joseph nominated her for the MPTA Operator of the Month.
If you have an operator that you would like to nominate for next month’s MPTA Operator of the Month, email our staff at mmenn@mopublictransit.org