This autumn, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is recognizing James “Jimmy” E. Smith for 45 years of safe driving and 47 years of service. Smith joined GCRTA in 1978. He is known for his patience, professionalism, and care for passengers. He started his career after a friend suggested he apply for a driver position with the Community Responsive Transit (CRT) service. At that time, Smith was working in a factory. With support from his family, he decided to move to public transit.
CRT began as a small program serving seniors in certain neighborhoods. Smith became well-liked among his passengers. As the service expanded, especially after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Smith helped Paratransit grow to serve all of Cuyahoga County. He has also worked in dispatch and as a Service Monitor, gaining broad experience in the transit system.
Smith says his work is guided by the idea that every passenger is important. He credits his safety record—two preventable collisions in nearly five decades—to strong training and lessons from his father. He learned to drive early and was taught patience and awareness…