When Julie Timm came to Metro Transit 35 years ago, she never thought that working in the Transit Information Center would become a satisfying, lifelong career.

“I came here kind of by accident,” Julie said. “I was unemployed after the hotel I worked for closed unexpectedly. After I saw an ad for Metro Transit, I thought, ‘I can probably do that for a while,’ but I quickly realized I loved the work!”

And Julie loves Metro Transit as a customer, too. Since 1982, she hasn’t owned a car and relies exclusively on Metro Transit. “I became a strong believer in transit,” she recalled. “I realized I didn’t need a car anymore, so I sold it. Transit became my lifeline.”

Her initial role in TIC involved helping customers navigate the city’s transit system. As technology evolved, so did her job. In 2000, Metro Transit introduced the online trip planner, dramatically improving efficiency. “When we moved to Automated Trip Planning System ATIS, it was a game-changer,” Julie said. “We could train new staff faster and help customers more accurately.”

Julie’s passion for transit made her a key player in the department. In 1992, she was promoted to supervisor, a role she held for the remainder of her career. Through the years, continuing changes involved the introduction of online trip tools and real time information, further improving the work TIC staff could do.

Over the years, Julie’s contributions extended beyond just managing staff—she loved serving as a transit ambassador helping people in the field and she mentored and advocated for both her colleagues and customers. “What I’ll miss most is the people I’ve worked with and the customers I’ve helped,” she reflected.

In retirement, she plans to do some overdue renovations at her home and add to the 25 countries she’s already visited with stops in Japan and Central Europe. And, she’ll continue to ride Metro Transit throughout the metro.