2025 CATS Bus Roadeo Recap

By Natalie Bouchard
Communications Division

Winners Take the Wheel: CATS Bus Roadeo Recap

This past Saturday, March 29, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) hosted its annual Bus Roadeo competition at the Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center in Charlotte. The event is a chance for operators from CATS, the Mecklenburg Transportation System and CLT Aviation to show off their skills, compete with their colleagues and have some well-earned fun!

Operators from the CATS Bus Operations Division and Special Transportation Service put their safe driving skills through a series of challenging tests. The competitors were judged on how safely and timely they completed the course, in addition to completing a written safety test. 

"CATS Bus Roadeo is more than an annual event,” CATS Chief Operations Officer Victoria Johnson said. “It's an opportunity to highlight the courage and commitment of our hardworking operators. Watching them put their skills to the test reminds us of the integral role they play in helping move people forward. I am tremendously proud of each participant."

CATS held its first Bus Roadeo in 1981 and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has been organizing a Bus Roadeo since 1971.  

CATS wants to send heartfelt thanks to all Bus Roadeo participants, congratulations to our Bus Roadeo winners and luck to qualifiers on their upcoming competition. 

The winners advance to the State Roadeo, which will be held during the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA) Conference in Cherokee from April 25-30. The Bus Operations Division's first place winner advance to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) International Roadeo and STS first place local winner advances to CTAA International Roadeo. These competitions showcase talented champions of operations and maintenance teams from across the country.

CATS is always moving people forward, and we will definitely be cheering on our winners as they move forward in this competition! Stay tuned with CATS to see how far our winners go.

This year’s winners:

CATS Special Transportation Services (STS)

1st: Twanda Buckhalter-Reid
2nd: Alfonzo Foust
3rd: Dorothy Campbell
Maverick Winner: Kalisa Mitchell

CATS Bus Operations Division

1st: Miguel Delvalle
2nd: Trevor Wheaton
3rd: Ever Martinez
Maverick Winner: Kevin Duurham

CATS Administration

1st: Henry Staten
2nd: Robert “Sterling” Faggart
3rd: Leroy Blackmon

Mecklenburg Transportation System (MTS)

1st: Quai Sikes
2nd: LaKeisha Jones-Alexander
3rd: Dorothy “Jeanette” Newton

CLT Aviation

1st: Keith Myers
2nd: Stephan Okemba
3rd: Merian Kea 

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