Position Purpose:

This position involves all duties and responsibilities associated with transit vehicle operation. Duties include carrying out functions pertaining to the safe, courteous, and efficient operation of assigned transit vehicles on routine and/or special service routes. Responsibilities include but are not limited to, employing defensive driving techniques, maintaining professional courtesy while under stress, making public address announcements, properly answering questions, solving transit-related concerns of passengers, and exercising prudent judgment under a variety of constantly changing operating conditions. This is a safety-sensitive position and is subject to the rules and regulations of the RFTA Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Essential Duties:

• Conducts self appropriately as a representative of RFTA, works effectively in a diverse work environment, always uses prudent judgment, performs duties in a safe manner, and delivers professional quality services to all external and internal customers.
• Operates transit buses in revenue and non-revenue service while in strict compliance with RFTA policies, directives, and procedures and all Federal and Colorado traffic laws and regulations. This includes using proper defensive driving techniques.
• Maintains working knowledge of streets, current bus routes, and stops within RFTA’s service area as well as RFTA's current fare structure and bus pass programs.
• Maintains current knowledge of—and adherence to—all RFTA operating policies, directives, and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge of—and remains in strict compliance with—Federal and Colorado traffic laws and regulations, as well as Department of Transportation (DOT) rules and regulations.
• Performs RFTA pre-trip inspections of transit buses for mechanical problems prior to beginning scheduled runs. This includes conducting visual inspections and pre-testing all necessary equipment, safety mechanisms, communications equipment, and transit bus controls for use while in service. Also conducts internal visual inspections at the end of revenue service to collect and turn in found items.
• Completes accident and incident reports promptly, accurately, and legibly as necessary.
• Completes farebox and bus maintenance defect reports as necessary upon completion of scheduled shifts.
• Provide customer service information in a courteous, professional manner. This includes operating the automated stop announcements system and/or stating stop and public information announcements over the public address system. It also includes properly answering questions and solving transit-related concerns of passengers.
• Stocks bus on-board racks with RFTA-approved brochures and distribute official information fliers and surveys as required.
• Understands how to log in to and out of computerized transit control head (TCH) devices, knows how to override the TCH and use manual systems, operates fareboxes, inspects various bus passes, and distributes and collects bus transfer cards in a professional, courteous manner. Also records and maintains passenger counts as necessary.
• Complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in operating transit buses. This includes providing accessibility for passengers with disabilities to board and de-board by properly operating accessibility lifts and safely securing passengers in a courteous manner. It also includes verbally announcing designated stops and major crossroads as needed.
• Performs various physical duties to successfully complete job responsibilities. These can include but are not limited to, boarding and de-boarding transit buses, operating the disabled passenger accessibility lift, properly securing disabled passengers, properly operating all transit bus controls and operating devices, and loading and unloading passenger baggage as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of, and the ability to use, standard and advanced defensive driving techniques.

• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Ability to tell time and keep a timely schedule.
• History of satisfactory attendance, which includes the ability to report to work in a punctual manner.
• Ability to read and understand maps and timetables, which includes determining directions and following a mapped-out route.
• Ability to use prudent judgment and common sense in making quick, safe decisions with minimal supervision and adapt to constantly changing operating environments.
• Ability to work any day or night shifts (24/7/365), split shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, while interacting with customers and RFTA staff in a courteous, professional manner. This includes providing good customer service by attending to the needs of a diverse customer base in a sensitive manner.
• Ability to work and maintain professional composure while under stress and pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a diverse workforce.

Qualifications:

Education

• High school diploma preferred but not required.
• Licenses, Examinations, and Certifications
• Must possess and maintain a Colorado Driver’s License. Must be able to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination by obtaining a DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate for a minimum of a 2-year qualifying period and then maintain current DOT Medical Examiner’s Certification thereafter.  If an employee possesses an out-of-state driver’s license they must provide a Colorado license within 90 days of hire.

Experience

• Must be at least twenty-one years of age. Must have at least five years of licensed driving experience.
• Any combination of experience which would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability to perform the job is required. Some experience operating large vehicles is preferred but not required. No more than two minor violations within the past three years. No major violations within the past five years. 

Working Conditions:

• Moderate physical activity required by handling objects up to twenty pounds regularly and up to fifty pounds infrequently. Drives motorized vehicles for long periods of time. Also encounters hazardous weather and road conditions, equipment failure, passenger complaints, non-English speaking passengers, and route detours. 
• Demonstrated physical ability to climb stairs, reach above shoulder level, walk for an extended distance, bend, stoop, lift, push/pull up to 70 pounds without assistance, and sit for extended periods.
• Ability to work in environments with dust, fumes, exhaust, and varying noise levels and temperatures for extended periods—in various outdoor weather conditions—as required.