Port Authority wants to resume its annual skills competition for bus and rail operators next month, but opposition from the drivers’ union may limit participation again.

The agency hasn’t participated in the annual competition, sponsored nationally by the American Public Transit Association, since 2002. The last time it tried, in 2005, the Amalgamated Transit Union told members not to participate and no one attended.

Authority CEO Katharine Eagan Kelleman, who joined the agency at the beginning of 2018, wants to reintroduce the competition as part of her employee engagement program that includes recognizing drivers for safety achievements.The agency put out a news release Friday pushing the April 14 event and Ms. Kelleman told the authority board how happy she was to start the event again.

But Steve Palonis, president and business agent for Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, said Friday his executive board has told members not to participate. Initially, the union endorsed the event but Mr. Palonis said poor communication with the company on several recent issues caused the board to come out against it.

“We sent a notice to our members telling them not to participate,” Mr. Palonis said. “I’m disappointed. Originally, I said we wanted to participate, but our board voted unanimously to tell our members not to.”

Mr. Palonis said the union has had problems in recent weeks with new senior managers that Ms. Kelleman has brought in, trying to implement policies about topics such as violence in the workplace and the use of social media without discussing them with the union. He called the issues “little, nagging things” that have occurred because new managers “don’t know how we do things here yet.”

Eighteen bus drivers and light-rail operators signed up to participate in the games, but Mr. Palonis said he doesn’t know how many will back out. In rodeos more than 15 years ago, he said, so many drivers participated that the authority had practice courses in four different places.

Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said the agency is happy it has some participants and disappointed the union doesn’t want its members to compete.

“It’s an opportunity for them to showcase their skills,” he said. “”Clearly there are operators who see the benefits and value of this.”

Mr. Brandolph also acknowledged the issues that concern the union.

“We are working with that,” he said. “We certainly will not be negotiating those internal issues in the newspaper.”

Mr. Palonis said the union has two meetings scheduled with the authority next week to discuss its concerns but it is unlikely there is time for the executive board to change its position.

Called a “roadeo” for buses and “rodeo” for rail, authority operators who participate will compete to see who’s best at their everyday skills, such as driving in narrow corridors, stopping in precise locations and responding to unexpected vehicle problems.

The authority is going ahead with plans to close the Castle Shannon park-and-ride lot for the next three Saturdays so drivers can practice. It recommends riders use other lots at Washington Junction, St. Anne, Dormont, Memorial Hall or South Hills Village Garage.

The rail competition will take place at the South Hills Village Rail Center but there will be no effect on riders.

The bus competition will be open to the public but the rail event will not be. The local winners will move on in May to the International Bus Roadeo in Louisville and in July to the International Rail Rodeo in Toronto. The events are sponsored by the American Public Transit Association.

Ed Blazina: eblazuna@pist-gazette.com, 412-263-1470 or on Twitter @EdBlazina.

First Published: March 29, 2019, 3:43 p.m.
Updated: March 29, 2019, 11:16 p.m.