St. Clair County Transit District Employee Recognized for Outstanding Safety and Leadership

The St. Clair County Transit District (SCCTD) recently recognized Willie Drisdel, transit ambassador for SCCTD and resident of East St. Louis, for his exceptional professionalism, initiative and commitment to public safety. Drisdel received a formal Letter of Commendation from Ronald Forrest, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Metro Transit, on behalf of Metro Transit and the Bi-State Development team, and was honored during an employee luncheon hosted by SCCTD.

Drisdel was recognized for his proactive actions and timely communication during a developing emergency situation in the Metro East on Aug. 12, which enabled transit leaders to quickly assess conditions, implement operational adjustments and help safeguard the well-being of transit riders and employees. After identifying hazardous conditions resulting from a chemical fire in Sauget and the potential impact on Metro’s Illinois bus operations, he promptly alerted Metro Public Affairs and shared critical information that enabled transit officials to implement service reroutes, communicate with riders and maintain safe, reliable operations.

“Willie’s professionalism, situational awareness and commitment to public safety exemplify the highest standards of service,” said Ronald Forrest, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Metro Transit. “His actions demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the mission of public transportation and served as an outstanding example of the vigilance and responsibility that help keep our transit system safe and reliable.”

Managing Director of St. Clair County Transit District Ken Sharkey added, “Willie’s dedication and attention to detail reflect the values we strive to uphold every day at the St. Clair County Transit District. We are proud to join Metro Transit and Bi-State Development in recognizing him for going above and beyond in support of our shared commitment to safety, reliability and public service.”

SCCTD contracts with Bi-State Development to provide public transportation services throughout St. Clair County, Ill., via 11 MetroLink stations and 14 MetroBus routes. It also contracts with Southwestern Illinois College to provide both paratransit and on-demand microtransit services. To learn more about SCCTD and its services, visit www.scctd.org.