Hey guys,
I usually post over on the NJ Transit board since I am a bus operator for them. But I was recently speaking with an MTA b/o who was riding my bus and he mentioned that he had switched depots and that the MTA actually gives you the opportunity to switch from one depot to another once a year during what they call a general pick, and you keep your seniority. Anybody have any more information or details about this?
I think it would be great if NJ Transit had the same policy. As it is now, the only way you can switch garages is:
1) If making the move from part time to full time and you put down a different garage on your application (no guarantee you'll get it, though). I went through this process when I went from part time at Market Street to full time at Oradell.
2) If a line from your garage gets transferred to another garage - they open up the opportunity for a limited number of operators to make the move as well.
3) If your garage closes. There was a big shakeup back in 1999/2000 or so when Madison Avenue (in Paterson) closed and Wayne Garage opened. Lines from Madison Avenue were shifted to Market Street and Wayne; and from Market Street to Wayne, and operators were shifted as well.
4) You *can* transfer from one garage to another as a full timer without the above occuring but then you lose your seniority.
Personally, I'd love to opportunity to transfer to different garages every so often just for a change of scenery.