Quarterly RIDE Fall 2021

CEO Kenneth A. McDonald’s Column

It is hard to believe that we’ve entered the Fall season. It has been a busy summer with many changes and more signs of things getting back to “normal,” including the resumption of fare collection, the return of AquaLink service, and expanded bus service in the City of Carson.

LBT recently implemented two major initiatives with cross-collaborative teams across multiple departments. These examples, one of which I will detail below, are examples of what I am calling “LBT 2.0.”

LBT 2.0

LBT 2.0 means working together, communicating across the organization, and focusing on the customer, both internal or external. For corporate initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, I encourage Managers and ED/VPs to begin with the goal in mind and include employees from a cross-section of departments. “LBT 2.0” means breaking down the silos and being more inclusive across the organization.

Fare Collection

On September 19, LBT resumed collecting customer fare after 18 months of operating with rear-door boarding and no fare collection. Returning to fare was an incredibly complex feat involving all departments and requiring a high degree of internal communication.

Over several weeks, managers and ELT members discussed all the elements to resume fare collection, which would not begin until all the Bus Operator barriers were installed on the entire fleet. The group coordinated the completion of several tasks, from getting fare boxes ready to communicating with Bus Operators and ensuring customers were ready to pay the fare.

I am proud of the entire organization for the fare collection rollout. So many LBT employees worked together to ensure its successful implementation. The early feedback I’ve heard is that our employees and customers were well-informed and properly prepared. Again, a big thank you to all LBT employees!

City of Carson Service Expansion

On September 26, LBT began expanded service in the City of Carson. With four new routes serving the residents of Carson, the launch of this service happened after months of work with a cross-section of LBT employees.

As mentioned, these two examples highlight the future of LBT. Again, thank you to all LBT employees for your commitment to making everyday life better for the customers and communities we serve.

Grand Prix

The annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach made its way back to Long Beach this year and LBT was proud to participate in the lifestyle expo. With an on-site activation presence, we showcased one of our battery-electric buses, including signage that highlighted our efforts toward providing sustainable public transit. Thank you to all volunteers and employees who assisted during Grand Prix weekend. In just a short few months, Long Beach will welcome back the Acura Grand Prix for springtime races and we look forward to promoting our service to the community with a new activation.

AquaLink

AquaLink made its 2021 debut this summer, with an average of over 300 customers riding each weekend! With the return of fare collection, AquaLink customers are now required to pay $5.00 for a one-way ride. In the coming weeks, LBT plans to launch a ticketing app that will allow AquaLink customers to pay with their phones. For the time being, credit card and exact cash are accepted onboard LBT water taxis. Safety guidelines are still in place to promote the health and safety of our community. Before you travel, learn more about the new guidelines and schedule at ridelbt.com/aqualink.

New Faces at LBT

Meet the new faces at LBT! As an organization with over 600 employees, we know it can be hard to connect with new employees when we onboard them, especially during the pandemic. We want to make sure our newest team members feel as welcome as possible, even if we don’t see them every day. Without further ado, here are the newest faces at LBT as of September 2021. If you see them around, be sure to say hello!

Akinwale Akinyinka

Network Engineer

Ivonne Aquino

Staff Accountant

Iev Be

Bus Operator

Ariyel Brown

Bus Operator

Elizabeth Brown

Executive Director/VP, Organizational Development and Administration

Deyon Carter

Bus Operator

Antonio Chacon

Community Relations Coordinator

Brittney Christian

Supervisor, Transit Service Delivery

Annasue Cowains

Bus Operator

Cristina Davidson

Bus Operator

Justin Esparza

Utilities

Ray Flemister

Bus Operator

Kenisha Greer

Bus Operator

Nicholas Hartley

Mechanic

Gerald Haynes

Utilities

Coquice Johnson

Bus Operator

Rodney Johnson

Mechanic

Dominique Johnson

Bus Operator

Duane Kenton

Bus Operator

Juan Lara

Mechanic

Travieon Lewis

Bus Operator

Carlos Lopez

Mechanic

Shomari Lucas

Utilities

Enrique Madrid Valdovinos

Bus Operator

Dashawn Matthews

Bus Operator

Michelle McElroy

Bus Operator

Anthony Metoyer

Bus Operator

Ryshauna Moore

Bus Operator

Jayson Morales

Bus Operator

Latoya Morgan

Bus Operator

Maikol Moris Pena

Bus Operator

David Na

Mechanic

Cesar Ortega

Mechanic

Jessica Perez

Bus Operator

Brian Quintana

Custodian

Kay Rainer

Bus Operator

Mario Rios

Bus Operator

Richard Rodriguez

Manager, Fleet Mainteance

Manuel Rodriguez

Bus Operator

Roberto Rojas

Mechanic

David Romero

Mechanic

Joshua Romero

Mechanic

Stephanie Rosales Alvarizaes

Customer Care Clerk

Chris Sanchez

Mechanic

Tommy Sar

Custodian

Andrew Sedillo

Custodian

Olajuwon Tarver

Custodian

Eduardo Zambrano Reynoso

Customer Care Clerk

Evelyn Zeron

Bus Operator

Now Hiring Operators and Mechanics

LBT is growing! We are currently hiring Operators and Mechanics. Have someone in mind who would make a great Operator or Mechanic here at LBT? Encourage them to take the next step in their career.

For more information on requirements and benefits, interested candidates can visit our Careers page at ridelbt.com/careers.

Learn More

Hello LBTeam

Hello LBTeam is a voluntary internal communication system that uses text messages to share important information on LBT operations with employees, including service changes, COVID-19 procedures and other necessary information. It is a quick and easy way to be in the know.

To sign-up, just text “HELLO” to 855.922.2770 to opt-in, no additional app download needed.

If you have questions regarding Hello LBTeam or need assistance signing up, please contact Amanda Quezada, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, at x8463 or aquezada@lbtransit.com.

Congrats to All the Employees of the Month!

Thank you to all the Employees of the Month who have shown their hard work and dedication over the last quarter. To celebrate and acknowledge the incredible workforce at LBT, Quarterly RIDE features all the Employees of the Month from the previous quarter. Congratulations to all recipients!

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