Mayor Teri Johnston and the Key West City Commission on Thursday proclaimed March 18th through the 22nd as Transit Worker Appreciation Week.
March 18, 1662 is believed to be the first day of scheduled public transit bus service for Blaise Pascal’s “Five-Penny Coaches” in the City of Paris. Locally, Eduardo Hidalgo Gato introduced a mule-powered streetcar system to connect "Gatoville" to the downtown Key West area in the 1880s.
Transit team members start their days before the sun rises and finish them long after the sun sets, including working weekends and on or around holidays. In addition to meeting stringent safety requirements, transit team members must demonstrate customer service, patience, empathy, and understanding to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all community members and visitors.
“Transit team members work hard each day to help customers access jobs, health care, school, community services, and many other personal, social, and civic opportunities,” reads the proclamation, “all with a smile.”
In the photo from L to R: Commissioners Lissette Carey and Jimmy Weekley; Transit Operations Manager Rogelio Hernandez; Transit Director Rod Delostrinos; Mayor Teri Johnston, Transit Workers Scott Robertson and Tom Morley; Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman; and Commissioner Billy Wardlow. Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover and Clayton Lopez were in attendance via Zoom.