Eugene Mitchell has relied on a collection of mirrors for more than three decades to safely drive METRO RTA buses throughout Akron.
The mirror above his head allows him to observe activity inside the bus. Another one positioned outside the bus, to the left, lets him monitor traffic. Mitchell uses them to see alongside and slightly away from the 40-foot-long, 39,000-pound public transportation vehicles.
“I use a little more caution because I keep in mind I got a caboose behind me,” Mitchell said of METRO buses, which can hold as many as 30 riders.
Before Mitchell rolls out of the bus garage, his pre-trip routine includes sanitizing the steering wheel, his phone and the immediate work space. Along the way, Mitchell, 76, who recently earned the 2024 Ohio Public Transit Association’s Excellence Award, has made dozens of friends while safely serving tens of thousands as they commute to and from work, home and activities.
“Eugene’s a respected team member,” said Jarrod Hampshire, chief operations officer at METRO.
As a younger man, Mitchell worked at Summit Steel, welding, painting and fabricating many of the beams and columns in the old METRO bus garage on Kenmore Boulevard. He later worked at Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., where he constructed tires similar to the bus tires he rides on now.
Now at METRO, he’s admired by his peers for his longevity. He’s seen it all. And driven it all en route to a lifetime achievement award. He recently completed his 32nd year on the job.
His reward? Seniority. Mitchell is No. 1 on METRO’s list of bus operators, so he gets to pick his favorite work shift. He prefers 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. This means the buses he drives during colder months are already warmed up by morning bus operators, and Akron streets are already paved. During warmer months, Mitchell’s late start allows him time to tend to his yard before work.
In 2023, Mitchell and his fellow bus operators transported more than 4 million passengers on fixed routes across Akron.
He enjoys many elements of his job, including his schedule and the driving. But the best part is the people.
“I pride myself on trying to please people, trying to make passengers as comfortable as I possibly can,” Mitchell said.
He has regular riders on routes 40, 3, 25 and 8. He knows where some of their stops are before they pull the bell cord — which signals operators that a stop is requested.
Mitchell said some of his passengers love to talk.
Before riders get settled, Mitchell may have a brief conversation. But once it’s time to pull into traffic, Mitchell focuses on the road.
He’s a silent driver.
When asked about retirement, he said he loves his job and plans to continue driving across Akron.
Said Mitchell: “I love my job more than Jack loves Jill.”