For the fifth year in a row, the Fairfax Connector maintenance team has proven they are the gold standard in Virginia. Technicians Jerry Salgado, Matthew Bender, and Martin Lopez secured first place at the 2026 Virginia State Bus Roadeo this March, at the annual event held by the Virginia Transit Association and sponsored by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

The Virginia State Bus Roadeo brings together transit professionals from across the Commonwealth to compete in real-world scenarios, including vehicle inspection and troubleshooting challenges. While Fairfax Connector technicians’ work is often done out of the public eye, this latest achievement highlights their unrivaled dedication to ensuring that our buses can be relied on by thousands of passengers every day.

The team will represent the Commonwealth at the APTA International Bus Roadeo, May 15-19, 2026, in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will test their skills against transit systems from across North America. Please join us in wishing Jerry, Matthew and Martin the best of luck as they take on their next competition. 
 

2026 Virginia State Roadeo Maintenance Competition Winners (L-R): Matthew Bender, Martin Lopez and Jerry Salgado. Photo courtesy of Transdev.

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