MTA Bus operator behind the wheel.
Almost exactly six years ago in March 2020, the nation – and the Baltimore and Washington Capital regions in particular – learned the meaning of the term essential employee, when millions of people were told to work at home to help contain the spread of COVID-19.
Exemptions to the work-at-home protocol included healthcare workers, grocery store employees and anyone considered essential to the health and well-being of the region and its inhabitants. To no one’s surprise who depends on public transit to get to medical appointments, grocery stores, schools and jobs, transit workers were almost instantly recognized as also being essential employees. Otherwise, in a city like Baltimore in which about 31% of households do not own a car, public transit was key to staying afloat for literally hundreds of thousands of people.
Recognizing their critical role, Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus, light rail and metro subway vehicle operators, MARC engineers and conductors, and hundreds of mechanics, field supervisors and other support staff of MTA stepped up and stayed on the job because that’s what essential professionals do. And they did. Otherwise, who would take responsibility for getting doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters – and yes, food suppliers – to their workplaces safely?
Transit worker replaces tire on a bus. (David Trozzo/MDOT)
That’s why Transit Employee Appreciation Week at MTA is far more than a date on the calendar; it’s a powerful reminder of the dedication behind the work that ensures every bus departure, every train arrival and every paratransit trip is safe, timely and connects riders with everything life has to offer. Even when – or maybe especially when – no one else is providing that essential service.
Transit Employee Appreciation Week was first celebrated as Bus Operator Appreciation Day in various regions nationwide more than a decade ago. It is typically celebrated annually on March 18, commemorating the launch of the first omnibus – meaning “for all” – horse-drawn vehicle line in Paris in 1662.
While most are familiar with front line transit workers, like bus and train operators, who greet passengers with a smile, a “good morning” and a safe ride, behind-the-scenes staff like mechanics, dispatchers, customer service agents and countless of others do more than just get people to where they’re going. They dedicate themselves to turning instruments of steel, glass and rubber into opportunity, access and equity for riders.
Inspectors walk the light rail tracks in Ferndale, MD. (David Trozzo/MDOT)
That’s why Transit Employee Appreciation Week is for all transit workers, as a celebration of their commitment to our riders’ well-being, because behind every satisfactory ride, reimagined route map and finely tuned schedule is a team of individuals dedicated to service to their community.
There are many ways to acknowledge the work of transit professionals, including the thank you button on the Transit app at the conclusion of your ride. But maybe the best way is a simple and personal thank you to your operator on your way out the door. It’s not only the easiest and most certain way to brighten their day. It’s a sign of respect and appreciation for the essential service they deliver, and a recognition of their dedication to getting you where you need to go.
Gerry Hanlon is a project manager for the Maryland Transit Administration