Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Triangle Transit Authority sent seven representatives to compete in the North Carolina Public Transportation Association (NCPTA) Bus Roadeo on Sunday.

Operators must qualify to participate in the event. The qualifications include no preventable accidents, no disciplinary suspensions and an outstanding attendance record in the previous year. NCPTA set the criteria, and each company internally invites operators who qualify.

Demetrius Hyman, senior operator for TTA, placed second in his division. He competed against 25 other operators. Hyman has one previous second-place finish and one first-place finish.

The following TTA operators also qualified for the Roadeo: William Bell, Angela Nance, Joseph Smith, Stephanie Smith, Clarence Yarborough and Esther Nunn. They also performed extremely well, said Alan Placer, TTA dispatcher and Bus Roadeo team leader.

"I am extremely proud of the way all of our Roadeo Contestants performed," Placer said. "Each of them has competed in previous Roadeos and this year showed a great improvement in their performance. They are the top operators we have when it comes to safe driving."

The Roadeo encompasses a driving slalom, written test, pre-trip inspection, wheelchair securement test, drug and alcohol training and several other classroom events. Participants earn points for completion of the tasks.

Participants are given a time limit to complete the wheelchair securement test and the pre-trip inspection test. They are given 10 minutes to perform the multiple and lengthy tasks of the pre-trip inspection. The slalom competition has a seven-minute limit.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. In addition to its regional bus services and commuter resources, TTA plans to implement a 35-mile regional rail system with 16 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The regional rail transit system is expected to be operational in late 2007 or early 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919)549-9999.