News

ITLC Attends WMATA’s Bus Operator Graduation

Posted September 2023

On August 11, ITLC/TWC staff attended the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Bus Services Combined Graduation at WMATA’s new headquarters in Washington D.C. The ceremony honored six bus operator mentors, who are the first graduates of WMATA’s pilot mentorship program run by the Amalgamated Transit Union's (ATU) Local 689. The ceremony also celebrated the commencement of WMATA’s new bus operators and the promotion of a bus superintendent, bus operator managers, and bus trainers/ safety instructors. The ceremony’s many speakers expressed their excitement and support to the graduates, including WMATA’s Senior Vice President of Bus Services Leroy Jones, Chief Operating Officer Bryan Dwyer, and General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke, who provided a video congratulating the class on their achievements. The graduates recited the WMATA operator pledge and accepted their certificates while their loved ones and colleagues cheered them on. At the end of the ceremony, ITLC staff had the opportunity to interview the graduates as they talked about their journey working in transportation and the value of mentorship.