MPTA Recognizes Two Local Transit Operators as Champions

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Sept. 30, 2022) … Chris Leslie and Fernando Salcedo, operators at City Utilities of Springfield, were both recently presented with a 2022 Missouri Transit Operator Champions award by the Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA), the statewide transit association representing all 34 transit providers. The award was designed to honor transit operators across the state for their selfless dedication and heroism. The MPTA recognized a total of 16 transit operators with this award at the 2022 State Conference and Expo, held in Springfield earlier this week.

Leslie and Salcedo were both nominated for this recognition by the City Utilities of Springfield for taking extraordinary action and care for riders.

Leslie showed heroism in March when he was driving the bus on the Line 6 route west on Grand and noticed a person in a wheelchair stuck on a railroad crossing. The gentleman’s wheelchair wheel was stuck between the sidewalk and the rail perpendicular to the rail, preventing him from moving. Leslie was able to park the bus at a safe spot and, with the assistance of a passenger, cross the street and push the gentleman to safety.

Similarly, Salcedo was driving the Line 26 route west to Mt. Vernon one night in March when a shadow darted across the road a short distance ahead of him. He quickly distinguished the figure to be a toddler running down the road. Salcedo safely stopped and secured the bus before crossing the street to pick up the child. He brought the child back to the safety of the bus, where he called for assistance from supervision and the police. Upon arrival, police were able to return the child to the parents without incident.

“Despite countless challenges these past two years, transit operators have provided critical public transportation services in every county, every single day in Missouri,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of the Missouri Public Transit Association. “This would not be possible without the dedication of hundreds of operators, many of whom go way beyond the call of duty to assist riders. They leave lasting impressions on those within the communities they serve, but their stories often go unnoticed by the masses. This award aims to recognize them for their dedication.”
To learn more about the Missouri Public Transit Association and its work, visit www.mopublictransit.org.

Missouri Public Transit Association (MPTA) was established in 1980 as a Missouri non-profit corporation. It was formed to provide a unified voice for public and specialized transportation providers in Missouri and to work toward elevating the status of public transit as a national priority.