General Manager Kevin Desmond, left, congratulates Porter Mathis III on being chosen as Metro's 2003 Operator of the Year.
Every year for the past 26, Metro bus drivers have selected one of their own as “Operator of the Year.” But, this year's winner has also been endorsed by bus passengers, who have mentioned him as “driver of the year material” in numerous letters and commendations sent to Metro.
Porter Mathis III was thoroughly surprised last week to find out he had been named to this elite circle of bus drivers who are honored for going the extra mile to deliver safe and courteous service for Metro's customers. Using a little trickery, his supervisors lured Mathis back to South Base where an audience of family, friends and dignitaries waited to pay tribute to him.
Those who know Mathis consider him to be a man of many talents – ballplayer, chef, gardener, and counselor. He is a deacon in his church, and he specializes in working with families who are recovering from addictions. His big heart and ability to empathize with all people carries over into his work as a bus driver, where he has helped train other drivers on appropriate protocols for assisting people with disabilities.
He has received more than 75 commendations from customers and supervisors over the years. Passengers cite his patience, cheerfulness, and outstanding customer service as the reasons they like to ride any route Mathis is driving.
“These comments from customers sum up what a great representative Porter is for our agency,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond. “His dedication to his passengers is a model for all our operators.”
Mathis, 52, has been driving for Metro since 1975. He has a 23-year safe driving record. He is a graduate of Garfield High School, where he was a standout athlete in football and baseball. He and his wife have three children and live in Auburn, where he loves to garden and prepare gourmet meals. He currently drives Metro routes 168 (serving Kent and the Kent East Hill area) and 190 (Seattle to Star Lake).
Metro employs more than 2,500 bus operators who do all they can to help riders reach their destinations safely and efficiently. Since 1978, the drivers themselves have selected the best of their peers to hold the title of Metro Transit's Operator of the Year. In order to receive the award, a driver must be chosen as Operator of the Month from one of the seven transit bases. At the end of the year, the Operator of the Year is selected by a vote of all fellow Operators of the Month.
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Transit service for Torchlight Parade
It's another big party this Saturday, as Seattle takes to the streets for the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade. As usual, traveling by Metro can help you beat the crowds and the parking hassles.
Both before and after the parade on Saturday, there will be extra trips on select Metro regular routes serving the downtown. Also, the downtown Seattle transit tunnel will be open until 11:45 p.m. that evening. Be aware that some Metro service will be rerouted to avoid the parade as it travels down Fourth Avenue from the Space Needle to the International District. See Metro Online for all the details.
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Sunday closure scheduled for South Park Bridge
The King County Road Services Division will close the South Park Bridge over the Duwamish River on 14th /16th Avenue South this Sunday, Aug. 1 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for repairs.
Recently, the bridge has been difficult to operate due to long-term movement of the drawbridge piers. During the closure, crews will be working to realign the two sides of the drawbridge for smoother opening and closing. Motorists can detour via the First Avenue South Bridge.
Studies of the South Park Bridge show that the condition of the 74-year-old span is severely deteriorated and was made worse during the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake. King County is proceeding with an EIS process that will allow a decision to be made regarding the future of the bridge. The crossing is used by approximately 20,000 vehicles a day, and has a moveable span that opens to accommodate large marine vessels on the river.
Here is a list of other King County Department of Transportation projects that may disrupt traffic and travel in the coming weeks:
Northeast 124th Street, south of Duvall – The section of Northeast 124th Street between State Route 203 and West Snoqualmie Valley Road will be closed from 5 p.m. Friday, July 30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2 while crews install a larger culvert under the roadway to reduce flooding problems near Pickering Creek. Motorists should use alternate routes.
204th Place Northeast, east of Redmond – 204th Place Northeast will be closed between Redmond-Fall City Road and Northeast 61st Street through late August, while crews replace retaining walls and install guardrails. Motorists should use alternate routes.
Northeast 155th Street, east of Woodinville
– Northeast 155th Street will be closed from Monday, Aug. 2 to Friday, Sept. 3 between Avondale Road and 188 th Avenue Northeast, while crews install a larger culvert under the roadway. Detour via Avondale Road and Northeast 159th Street.
288th Avenue Southeast, east of Enumclaw – A 300-foot section of 288th Avenue Southeast will be closed from 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12. The closure is near Southeast 477th Street, where crews will be replacing a deep drainage pipe on the narrow road. Motorists should use alternate routes.
Novelty Hill Road, east of Redmond
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Novelty Hill Road, between West Snoqualmie Valley Road and 243rd Avenue Northeast, will be closed until early August for safety and drainage improvements. Motorists should use State Route 203 and Woodinville-Duvall Road as a detour route. Alternate routes include Trilogy Parkway, Northeast 133rd Street, Redmond Ridge Drive and Union Hill Road.
Dockton Road, Vashon – Dockton Road on Vashon Island, between Point Robinson Road and 75th Avenue Southwest, will be closed through Friday, July 30 for culvert replacement. Motorists can detour via Southwest Point Robinson Road, Southwest 240th Street, and 75th Avenue Southwest. Bus passengers who use the Route 119 should check Metro Online for reroute information.
Cherry Creek Bridge, east of Duvall – The bridge over Cherry Creek on Kelly Road will be closed through Friday, Aug. 27 for repairs and upgrades. Motorists should detour via Big Rock Road, State Route 203, and Cherry Valley Road.
Northeast 124th Street, north of Redmond –
Work continues through October 2004 on Northeast 124th Street between Willows Road and State Route 202. Expect periodic traffic delays.
Duvall Bridge – Crews will be working on a seismic upgrade of the Duvall Bridge on the Woodinville-Duvall Road through September. Most of the work will occur underneath the bridge. Full road or bridge closures are not expected, but flaggers will be controlling truck and equipment traffic.
Wyanco Bridge, east of Auburn – The Wynaco Bridge on 168th Way Southeast is closed through September for repairs and upgrades. Motorists should detour to Auburn-Black Diamond Road and Kent-Black Diamond Road.
Edgewick Bridge, east of North Bend - The Edgewick Bridge on 468th Avenue Southeast remains closed, and traffic has been diverted to a temporary one-lane bridge. The project is expected to last through mid-October.
South 277th Street, between Auburn and Kent – There will be no lane closures, but motorists may experience periodic traffic disruptions on South 277th Street between the West Valley Highway and 72nd Avenue South through October 2005 as a result of this major reconstruction project.
124th Avenue Northeast, in Kingsgate –Work is ongoing for street improvements along 124th Avenue Northeast between Northeast 132nd Street and Northeast 146th Place.
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DOT Dash